Sonoma Wine-3rd Annual Carneros Heritage Fest - BBQ & Winetasting

Mark your calendars for the 3rd ANNUAL CARNEROS HERITAGE FEST on May 31. The Carneros Wine Alliance will host a celebration of the wines, heritage and distinctive qualities of the Carneros region’s products, culture and character. The Fest will feature the Carneros Lamb BBQ, tastings of Carneros Wine Alliance Premium and Ultra Premium Wines, a young chef competition, musical entertainment, sheepherding and falconry demonstrations, vineyard tours, environmental and sustainable agriculture exhibits. Pairings of Carneros wines with innovative lamb dishes and menus that reflect the unique flavor of this region will also be featured.

What: 3rd Annual Carneros Heritage Fest

When: Saturday May 31, noon to 4 p.m.

Where: The Donum Estate (24520 Ramal Road in Sonoma) in the Los Carneros American Viticultural Area 40 minutes north of San Francisco, 30 minutes from Marin County, the East Bay and 60 minutes from both the South Bay and Sacramento.

How: All inclusive tickets are $75 per person, Children under 12 (accompanied by parent) are free.

The event partners the Carneros Wine Alliance with the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, which will also co-sponsor a Winegrape Growers Pavilion, the American Lamb Board, the Napa and Farm Bureaus, and the California Department of Fish and Game. Proceeds will benefit the Carneros Land Stewardship Foundation, dedicated to the conservation and preservation of habitat in the San Pablo Bay wetlands adjacent to the Carneros region.

The Carneros Lamb BBQ will be grilled by members of the Napa County Farm Bureau with the lamb supplied by renowned artisan lamb purveyor, Niman Ranch.

Carneros Wine Alliance wineries expected to participate this year include: Acacia, Artesa, Bouchaine, Buena Vista Carneros, Ceja Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Domaine Carneros, Folio Winemakers' Studio, Fotinos, Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards, Havens Wine Cellars, Madonna Estate, MacRostie Winery, Merryvale Vineyards, Nicholson Ranch, Ravenswood, Donum/Robert Stemmler, Saintsbury, Schug Carneros Estate Wines, and Toad Hall Cellars.

The Carneros Heritage Fest will also feature a Sheep Herding Exhibition, Artisan Wool Boutiques, music by the Back Burner Blues Band (comprised of Napa Valley Chefs led by BAY TV personality Joey Altman), vineyard walks, marsh talks, and other activities and exhibitions by the California Department of Fish and Game.