The fourth annual Barrel Tasting Weekend in Livermore Valley wine country will be held March 31st and April 1st. Thirty-five wineries, located less than an hour from San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, will offer samples direct from their barrels from noon to 4:30 each day. Guests will have the opportunity to pre-purchase many of the wines in barrel at a discount, a practice known as buying “futures.” Most winemakers will be present to personally pour and discuss their young wines and offer delicious pairings with gourmet appetizers.
Barrel Tasting Weekend provides wine enthusiasts of all experience levels with a fun “snapshot” of how wine evolves from grape to glass. Guests with special event wristbands and official glasses will receive at least one barrel sample at each participating winery. Many will give discounts on wine purchases to ticket holders only.
Special Events
Rios-Lovell Estate Winery: Taste barrel samples of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and several ports. 20% off wine purchases. Meet the winemaker both days 12-4:30pm.
Darcie Kent Vineyards: Taste barrel samples of 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Madden Ranch). 25% off bottles for club members, 15% off bottles for non-members. Live music 1-4pm and food demonstrations at 12:30pm and 2pm both days. Food available for sale at Underdog Wine Bar.
Charles R Vineyards: Compare 2010 Petite Sirah from the barrel with 2008 Petite Sirah in the bottle. 20% discount on two or more bottles of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. Rustic wood oven pizzas by Tutte Al Forno for sale.
Las Positas Vineyards: Barrel taste 2010 and 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Charlie Kidd will discuss the varietals that made Livermore Valley famous while walking in the vineyards. In the winery, learn about the growing and production of Petite Sirah. Casbah Mediterranean Kitchen of Livermore will sell exotic foods made from certified organic ingredients with no preservatives.
Advance tickets are $30, available online at www.LVwine.org. Tickets purchased at the event will be $35 per person. Each ticket includes a souvenir tasting glass featuring the Livermore Valley Wine Country logo, two days of barrel tasting at participating wineries, specialactivities, discounts and an event map.
Participating Wineries
Bent Creek Winery
Big White House
Bodegas Aguirre Winery
Cedar Mountain Winery
Charles R Vineyards
Concannon Vineyard
Crooked Vine Winery
Cuda Ridge
Darcie Kent Vineyards
Eagle Ridge Vineyard
Eckert Estate Winery
El Sol Winery
Fenestra Winery
Garre’ Vineyard & Winery
John Evan Cellars
Las Positas Vineyards
Les Chênes Estate Vineyards
Longevity Wines
McGrail Vineyards & Winery
Mitchell Katz Winery
Murrieta’s Well
Nottingham Cellars
Occasio Winery
Page Mill Winery
Retzlaff Estate Winery
Rios-Lovell Estate Winery
Rodrigue Molyneaux Estate Winery
Ruby Hill Winery
Stony Ridge Winery
Tamás Estates
The Steven Kent Winery
Wente Vineyards
Westover Winery
White Crane Winery
Wood Family Vineyard
