Autumn Food and Wine Festival

26th Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival
September 9-11, 2011 – The Village at Northstar

Join fans of fine wine, good times and great food for the high point of autumn at Lake Tahoe. In addition to food, wine and cooking competitions among renowned chefs and vintners, the skies of Northstar will resonate with music, art, seminars, cooking demonstrations, tastings, a grape stomp all topped off with the Sunday Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting.

MAKE PLANS FOR THIS THREE-DAY SPECTACULAR

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Visit this site often for final program details.

Here’s a sample of this year’s lineup:

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FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 9
VILLAGE AT NORTHSTAR

Noon- 2:30pm
Registration begins at 11am

Team of Four - Includes Stomp, Lunch, Beer & Wine Tasting - $200
Single Stomp - Entry including Lunch, Beer & Wine Tasting - $50
Luncheon Only - Includes Beer & Wine Tasting - $40

8TH ANNUAL VILLAGE GRAPE STOMP AND VINEYARD LUNCHEON
OVERLOOK PAVILION, VILLAGE AT NORTHSTAR
Join us for this silly, hilarious, annual rite of passage. You can register your team of four or we can add you to a team in need of additional big feet! Teams furiously stomp fresh-from-the-vineyard grapes trying to extract the most juice. The winning team receives bragging rights for the year and some exciting prizes.

The team entry fee includes grape stomping, wine and beer tastings from five Belgian Style breweries including Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Shock Top, Leffe, Land Shark Island Style Lager and a delicious alfresco luncheon prepared by the Northstar culinary team.

If you don’t want to join in the stomp, invite your friends and stop by to watch the fun, enjoy lunch, tastings and live music. Stompers: Costumes, bathing suits and board shorts are encouraged. There will be fresh water available for a rinse off along with changing facilities.

Please note: you must be 21 to participate in the grape stomp and wine/beer tasting. Your children are welcome to come for lunch and watch the stomp.

EVENING

HUNGRY?
Winemaker dinners, special tasting events, and special wine promotions at North Shore and Truckee restaurants, tasting rooms and wine shops. Please visit the link below for specific events.
GoTahoeNorth.com/indoors/dining

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SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 10
VILLAGE AT NORTHSTAR SKATING RINK

11:00am-Noon
OUTDOOR GRILLING WITH CHEF MARK ESTEE - FREE
Chef Mark Estee is becoming a national culinary figure as well as something of a legend locally. He is everywhere from the Food & Wine Classic at Pebble Beach to the classic Chef’s Holiday Dinner at the Awahnee Hotel in Yosemite. His Truckee Burger Me was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network, is the chef/owner of the wildly popular Moody’s Bistro & Lounge in Truckee, and he is currently working on his new concept, Campo, on the Truckee River in Reno. Come early, limited seating.

11am-6:00pm
NORTH TAHOE PLEIN AIR ART SHOW AND SALE
Village at Northstar
Over thirty nationally known artists have been selected and will paint at locations throughout Truckee/North Lake Tahoe from September 8 through the morning of September 11. The judging, public exhibit and sale of these paintings will take place on Saturday September 10 and Sunday September 11. The event is a benefit for North Tahoe Arts and its non-profit partners. For more information and a complete list of participating artists, visit North Tahoe Arts or send an email to tahoe.pleinair@gmail.com.

Noon-4:00pm
GOURMET MARKETPLACE WINE AND BREW WALK - $25.00
Taste your way through a wonderful collection of wineries and appellations. Featured appellations (wine growing regions, or AVA’s) are Lake County and Santa Cruz County. Lake County is the up and coming hot spot for well priced, well made wines. Discover them along with some of your California favorites from Napa, Sonoma, Foothills, Placer, Amador and other regions. Love Belgian Style Brews? Have a taste of Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Shock Top and Land Shark Island Style Ale. Entry fee includes souvenir glass. Must be 21.

Noon-6pm
GOURMET MARKETPLACE TRADE FAIR - FREE
Bring your shopping bag as we have the largest Gourmet Marketplace ever. Sample olive oils, tapenades, olives, vinegars, gourmet ingredients,unique products; artisan jewelry and accessories, art, photography all interwoven throughout the Village. From Noon-2:30pm kids crafts are available at no charge, enjoy free live music and entertainment all afternoon. Bring a friend!

12:30-1:45pm
THE CHOCOLATE BAR RESTAURANT - Price TBA
The Chocolate Bar chef’s are designing another chocolate based in-restaurant cocktail and food seminar and demonstration. Check back often for specifics and pricing.

12:15pm-1:15pm
COOKIN’ HARD ROCK © STYLE - FREE
Chef Jason Gronlund, Hard Rock Café International
Back by popular demand is the always entertaining, crazy-man, globe trotting chef extraordinaire, Jason Gronlund. Jason was recently appointed as Senior Director of Culinary and Executive Chef for Hard Rock Café International. Wow. They have cafes in just about every state and in 51 countries around the globe. Join him in his culinary journey showcasing great techniques and delightful recipes. Come early, limited seating.

1:30pm-2:30pm
SOME LIKE IT HOT - Big, Bold California Wine and American BBQ Food and Wine Sensory Training - $45.00
Lars Kronmark, Chef Instructor, Culinary Institute of America, Napa
Finally! A seminar demystifying the terminology and methodology of matching wine to food. Lars presents a practical, user-friendly approach grounded in understanding the direct relationships and reactions between food and wine components, flavors, and textures. This seminar is geared towards casual home chefs and amateur winemakers as well as professionals. We know you will enjoy Lars’ teaching style, humor and expertise in a very relaxed setting. Food and wine tasting. Must be 21. Very limited seating.

1:30pm-2:30pm
FAMILY HANDS-ON COOKING CLASS –THAI SPRING ROLLS - $10
Lara Ritchie, Chef/Owner, Nothing To It Culinary Center, Reno
The delightful Chef Lara returns to the Festival with new ideas to inspire the young chef in your home as they learn to cook side-by-side with Mom and Dad. Cooking together can be an amazing bonding experience for the family, with some very tasty results. You will taste your creation after completion. Young chefs must be a minimum of 9 years old. Limited space, reserve early.

2:45pm-3:45pm
CUISINE UNIQUE COOKING DEMO - FREE
Douglas Dale, Chef/Owner, Wolfdale’s Restaurant Tahoe City
He’s a local legend. He’s set the bar very high for exquisite dining. His mission is simple:
The Theme: Fresh food, simply prepared
The Fundamentals: Asian and European
His Spirit: California
Chef Dale’s cooking demonstrations are an inspiration as he guides you in finding new elements, ingredients, techniques and unconventional food combinations. Find out how YOU can stay vibrant and thrilled about cooking. Learn from the master. Pure and simple…

WINES WITH ALTITUDE
A DISCOVERY TASTING OF LAKE COUNTY APPELLATION - $40.00
Winery and Winemaker Staff
With a rich history of grape growing and winemaking, Lake County is one of California’s newest wine country destinations for those looking to enjoy fine wines in a relaxed, down-to-earth, rural and breathtaking environment. This award-winning, yet relatively undiscovered wine region is located just 20 miles north of the Napa Valley. The combination of high elevation, diverse soils, unique microclimates and sustainable farming practices produce the premium quality grapes that provide the origin of Lake County’s highly acclaimed wines. You will taste Petite Sirah from three wineries and Sauvignon Blanc for another three wineries paired with some light appetizers.

3:00pm-4:00pm
FAMILY HANDS-ON COOKING CLASS –THAI SPRING ROLLS - $10
Lara Ritchie, Chef/Owner, Nothing To It Culinary Center, Reno
The delightful Chef Lara returns to the Festival with new ideas to inspire the young chef in your home as they learn to cook side-by-side with Mom and Dad. Cooking together can be an amazing bonding experience for the family, with some very tasty results. You will get to taste your creation upon completion. Young chefs must be a minimum of 9 years old. Limited space, reserve early. Check this listing often.

TASTE THE PRIDE - PRIDE MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS HORIZONTAL TASTING - $65

Suzanne Pride Bryan, Stuart Bryan

We are proud to present a wine experience usually available only to the restaurant and wine trade. This horizontal tasting of the entire portfolio of wines is handcrafted onSt. Helena's Spring Mountain (Napa/Sonoma appellation) by Pride Mountain Winery’s award winning team headed up by winemaker Sally Johnson. The seminar is skillfully presented by Pride co-owner, Suzanne Pride Bryan and Stuart Bryan. They will be pouring a 2009 Viognier, 2006 Syrah, 2006 Merlot, 2006 VS Merlot, 2006 Cabernet Franc, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 VS Cabernet Sauvignon, and a 2006 RESERVE Cabernet Sauvignon. Limited seating, book early. Subject to sell out.

4:00pm-5:30pm

SANTA CRUZ VINTNERS & FISCALINI CHEESE PAIRING - $65.00
All details to come

BLAZING PANS© MOUNTAIN CHEF COOK OFF - $15.00
Chef David Lutz, Evergreen Café, Tahoe City
Chef Sean Conry, Longboards Bar & Grill at Plumas Pines Golf Course
Blazing Pans is the signature event and entertainment extraordinaire of Saturday’s festivities. Featured is a fierce, live cooking battle between two-time defending champion Chef/Owner David Lutz of Evergreen Restaurant, Tahoe City, and this year's challenger, Executive Chef Sean Conry of Longboard Bar & Grill. Chef Lutz and Conry will be presented with a secret ingredient unveiled at the start of the competition.

The only things Chef’s can bring to the culinary stage are their personal knives, 2 chef assistants, incredible culinary expertise and nerves of steel. This is live entertainment at its best... Iron Chef© style! Dress up in costume; bring your finest cheering voice, noisemakers and a thirst for an ice-cold Charbay cocktail, hosted by Marko & Jenni Karakasevic, Charbay Artisan Winery & Distillery, St. Helena, CA. Demonstration. Must be 21.

5:45pm-7:15pm
CHARBAY ARTISAN WINERY & DISTILLERY - $65.00
ANNUAL RELEASE PARTY
RACER 5 WHISKEY
Master Distiller Marko Karakasevic and Jenni Karakasevic
If you know Marko at Charbay, you know he is always pushing the limits of distilling. This year, you will be tasting the beer Charbay Whiskey is distilled from, then trying the un-aged whiskey, and finally tasting the barrel aged version. Where else can you try whiskey in all of its stages? Bear Republic’s Big Bear Stout and Racer 5 IPA beers are award winning, and distill into amazing whiskey. Appetizers skillyfully prepared by Chef Jason Gronlund. This is a year not to be missed Must be 21. Limited seating.

EVENING

Check with your favorite local restaurant for winemaker dinners, special tasting events, live music and Autumn Food & Wine specials.

Buy Ticket Now

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
VILLAGE AT NORTHSTAR

1:00pm-4:00pm
CULINARY COMPETITION AND GRAND TASTING
$75 online thru Sept. 9
$90 at the door
Food and wine pairings, live music, gourmet marketplace, Silent auction, art show and Vineyard Row Tastings.
The grand finale to Autumn Food & Wine, the Grand Tasting, features the food and wine of over 30 of the finest restaurants, caterers and chefs from the Lake Tahoe region, paired with premium world-class wineries. This is an incredible opportunity to sample the culinary and winemaking talents of the chef’s and wineries you always wanted to try, including Tahoe’s newest restaurants. The culinary offerings are over the top utilizing fresh seasonal ingredients prepared with the amazing skill of our chefs, perfectly paired with new and known wine finds. You will also discover new wineries and sample their latest vintage or newest varietal during the Grand Tasting on Vineyard Row and at the Gourmet Marketplace.

Also taste the latest Belgian style brews from Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Shock Top plus Land Shark Island Style Ale all under blue skies in the great outdoors at the new Village at Northstar. You must be minimum 21years of age to attend the Grand Tasting. Sorry, no children or strollers.

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Please note: All ticket sales are final. Event goes rain or shine. No refunds.
Program subject to change.

Agate Bay Realty will have discounted vacation rentals and lodging for this great September culinary weekend.