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Save the Date: |
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2008 Pinot On The River Festival Event Program (subject to change or additions) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 7 p.m. – PinotReport/Pinot On The River “Founders Club” Dinner This year’s special Founders Club Dinner will be a great meal prepared by a great wine country chef (to be determined) at either the host hotel or a special wine country venue. As in the past, the evening will feature the Pinot Noirs and owners or winemakers from four special producers and will be an intimate way to kick off the great weekend to come. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. -- PinotReport/Pinot On The River “Founders Club” Field Trip The Founders Club will head out by bus from our host hotel on a day-long field trip to visit some exclusive local Pinot Noir producers. 6 p.m. – Pinot On The River’s “Friday Night Out In The Valley” Dinner For Friday night, we head out to the newly renovated C. Donatiello Winery on Westside Road. C. Donatiello is a new Pinot Noir venture developed on the site of the former Belvedere Winery on Westside Road. Winemakers Troy McEnery and Webster Marquez are crafting terrific Pinot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and along with Managing Partner Christopher Donatiello will share their vision for Pinot Noir and the Russian River Valley during this evening of fabulous food, music and the estate's terrific Pinots. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 9 a.m. – Registration at the Host Hotel (if necessary) 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon - Seminar Program at Host Hotel or Winery TBD
9:30
a.m. to 10:45 a.m. - Seminar #1: Vintage Focus: 2007 in Western Pinot
Regions - North We are in the middle of a run of terrific vintages for Western Pinot Noir. The 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 vintages, though producing wine tremendously different in character, are all well-above average in terms of quality. The 2007 vintage, even at this early stage, is being lauded as the finest vintage ever for Western Pinot Noir and because of the limited quantity of wines produced from this small harvest, it will be a critical buying decision for most of you. From my point of view, it is a vintage you need to be in a position to buy. This special two-part seminar session will, I hope, give you a great base of knowledge to work from. We will look at some amazing Pinot from this vintage and give you the opportunity to hear from the winemakers and taste the wines. The early session, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. will look at Pinot from the northern wine regions of the West Coast: Oregon, Anderson Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. The second session, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon will look at Pinot from the southern wine regions of the West Coast: Chalone, Santa Lucia Highlands, San Luis Obispo County, Santa Maria Valley and Santa Rita Hills. Greg Walter to moderate both sessions. Wineries and panelists to be determined. 12 noon - Buffet Lunch at Host Hotel , or Winery TBD. Join us for a casual lunch of great food and wine. Get to know other Pinot lovers and winemakers and share your thoughts about Pinot and the morning seminars. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Pinot Noir Discovery Tasting at Host Hotel, or winery TBD We’ve assembled a special walkaround tasting of 30 of the top Pinot Noir producers participating at this year’s festival. This tasting is open only to Founder's Club, other full-weekend attendees and a an invitation-only group of wine trade members. This is a great opportunity to experience the diversity of styles and regional influences that makes up Pinot Noir on the West Coast. 6 p.m. -- Pinot On The River Vintners BBQ at Arista Winery The amazing Westside Road estate of Arista Winery is the setting for this casual BBQ dinner. Great western food plus the delicious wines from Arista Winery will make for a relaxing way to end the day. Guests are invited to bring a special bottle to share with your fellow Pinot lovers. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 11 a.m. to 12 noon - Artisanal Pinot Noir Grand Tasting -- Founders Club only access. 12 noon to 4 p.m. - Artisanal Pinot Noir Grand Tasting Taste current releases, special bottlings and library wines from nearly 100 top Pinot producers from up and down the West Coast at this "full immersion" walkaround tasting. |