June 17-19, 2010
With over a thousand wines offered for tasting, wine lovers will find an embarassment of riches awaiting them at the Monterey Wine Festival June 17-19 , 2010. California's longest-running wine festival celebrates its 33rd anniversary beginning with the Grand Tasting at the Monterey Bay Aquarium at 7:30 pm on June 17th. The festivities continue at 5 pm on July 18th at the Monterey Conference Center with more newly released wines and past cellar favorites from 125 of Monterey's finest vineyards as well as samplings from wineries from Oregon, Washington, and Australia. The palate pleasers aren't limited to wines, however; gourmet food will also be offered to tickle the tastebuds.
Monterey County is one of California's largest wine growing and producing regions, with 30 grape varieties planted, 40,000 acres of wine grapes in the ground, and nine American Vinicultural Areas (AVAs). The Monterey Wine Festival offers the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to the Monterey wineries, many of which have not yet hit the “big time” in the major wine magazines.
The event kicks off on Thursday, June 17th from 7:30 to 10:30 pm with a Grand Tasting at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Guests at this intimate gathering can wander from exhibit to exhibit at the Aquarium, sampling over 400 outstanding wines from Monterey County, greater California, and regions throughout the world. Delicious food from local chefs and international gourmet food producers will be available as well, allowing guests to learn exactly how their new favorite wines pair with the finest foods. Master sommeliers will be present throughout the event, answering questions and providing guidance for interested attendees. Ticket fees include all wine and food, as well as a commemorative tasting glass.
Haven't had enough? Then head on over to the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey on Friday, June18th from 5 to 8 pm for an even wider array of wines! The Wine Festival will have over 600 wines offered for sampling, some from vineyards just a few miles away and others from wineries halfway around the globe. Gourmet food will also be offered as a delicious counterpoint, with live music performances providing a perfect background for the event. Friday's guests can learn more about their favorite beverage at wine seminars held by industry leaders. A live wine auction gives attendees the chance to obtain a very special memento from the Monterey Wine Festival, a drinkable reminder of the wonderful experience they had at this event. There will also be opportunities to meet, talk with and learn from wine experts.
New to the Wine Festival this year is the Chowder Cook-off on Saturday, June 19th, from noon to 3pm. This event will include samples of the chowder being judged as well as wine tastings.
Whether you are in the industry, a wine enthusiast or on your way to becoming one, this event is not to be missed! Tickets for the Monterey Bay Aquarium Grand Tasting, available for $99, are limited to 1,500 guests and include wine, food and a commemorative tasting glass. Tickets for Friday's Wine Festival, also $99, are limited to 2,500 guests and include all food and wine samples. Tickets for Saturday's The Best of the Best Chowder Cook-off are $50 and are limited to 300 guests. For more information, call 800-422-0251 or visit the official Monterey Wine Festival ticketing site.
Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau P.O. Box 1770, Monterey, CA 93942 1-877-MONTEREY info@mccvb.org
In partnership with Monterey County and the cities of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Salinas,
Sand City, Seaside, Soledad, Pebble Beach, Moss Landing, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, and Salinas Valley.
© Copyright 2009 Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
