WINE & BEER TASTING
(Adults 21 & older only; all tasters must show proof of age)
OCTOBER 2
FRIDAY VARIETAL TASTINGS
$35 per flight includes gate admission, glass and unlimited wine tasting.
Both Flights $60
(Adults 21 & older only; all tasters must show proof of age)
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SOMMELIERS
Flight 1 with Sommeliers: Noon-2:30 p.m.
Educate yourself on the wines you love and some you just getting to know. With a little help from roaming sommeliers who will offer educational comments and answer questions about the varietals and wine tasting, Flight 1 offers an informal educational experience for those eager to learn more.
Flight 2 with Friends: 4:30-7 p.m.
Invite your coworkers, business colleagues or your next door neighbor because this tasting is all about social networking and tasting award winning wines. In Flight 2 you and your friends can be the judge of what is the favorite wine of the evening.
OCTOBER 2
ART RECEPTION
Friday 8p.m.-10 p.m. Finley Hall
Sonoma County artists show and sell paintings, sculpture and photography at this evening art reception. Guest will be served Sonoma County Harvest Fair medal winning wines, specialty appetizers while listening to live jazz. $20
OCTOBER 3-4
SATURDAY & SUNDAY TASTINGS BY WINERY
$7 (glass & 2 taste tickets); additional tickets 4/$6
(Adults 21 & older only; all tasters must show proof of age)
Tasting by Winery, 12:30-5 p.m.
Join us at the Harvest Fair Wine Pavilion and taste wines from 150+ wineries. You’ll enjoy wines from Dry Creek, Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley, Petaluma Winegap and many more – all without an appointment or driving all around the county.
OCTOBER 3-4
SATURDAY & SUNDAY CHOCOLATE & PORT PAIRINGS
$4 per paired taste.
Enjoy this special pairing in the Fair’s Garden Courtyard Noon to 5 p.m. Indulge!
(Adults 21 & older only; all tasters must show proof of age)
OCTOBER 3
SATURDAY ONLY - MICROBREW TASTING
$15 for tasting pilsner and five tastes. Additional tastes $3 each.
Taste Sonoma County’s best brews in the Fair’s Village Area 1-5 p.m.
(Adults 21 & older only; all tasters must show proof of age)
Meet the wine educators for Flight 1 Tasting
Christopher Sawyer
"Sommelier to the Stars"
An internationally-renowned sommelier, wine journalist, consultant, professional wine judge and public speaker, Christopher Sawyer travels the world following trends in wine and participating as a judge in international wine competitions, and has been featured in a wide array of national media, including USAToday, MSN, NBC, ABC, CNN, Redbook, Maxim, National Geographic Traveler and Esquire.
Christopher is currently sommelier-in-residence at the Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar at The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort and Spa. Sawyer was recently named the 2009 Best Sommelier in Sonoma County by The Wine Tasting Panel Magazine, and is the recipient of many prestigious awards and industry honors. In 2008 and 2009, Sawyer was selected as "Sommelier Star" Host for the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, the largest Wine Country event in Northern California.
Ziggy Eschliman
"The Wine Gal"
As an award-winning wine radio show host, she has an amazing spirit that brings life into the world of wine. Her bubbly personality captures audiences across the globe, creating wine lovers to gravitate to her awesome ideas and open their minds to new and wonderful experiences. Ziggy is a magnetic speaker who thrills audiences with her knowledge about wine. She is a seasoned journalist and an “advocate for the good life.” As an educator and wine judge, she brings passion and enthusiasm into the wine industry.
Gillian Balance
Wine Director and Sommelier
Gillians mantra of being a sommelier is to "keep the list interesting, with new, fun wines for guests to try and for the staff to learn about." This quote defines Gillian as a world renound sommelier, winning Wine Spectator's prestigious "Best of Award of Excellence", in 2002 and she received a bronze medal in the National Young Sommelier Competition from the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs. She received her Higher Certificate of Distinction as well as her Diploma in Wines & Spirits from the British Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and has continued on to the Masters of Wine Education program for 2004
Now the sommelier for the PlumpJack group, her earlier career took her around the world working from Santa Barbara to New York. She specializes in the Fine dining hospitality industry.
Ray Johnson
Wine Professional and Author
Ray Johnson judges wine professionally for the California State Fair and Sonoma
County Harvest Fair while serving as Assistant Director of the San Franciscco
Chronicle Wine Competition. He is the author of The Good Life Guide to Enjoying
Wine.
Ray makes his home in Sonoma County’s wine country, where he teaches, writes and
makes wine. You can meet him in the Wine program at Santa Rosa Junior College.
Sonoma Wineries Guide