14th Annual Pinot Noir Festival to Be Held at Goldeneye in Anderson Valley, California

PHILO, Calif. - The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) announces that it will host the 14th annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival on May 20-22, 2011. The grand tasting, again held at Goldeneye Winery, will showcase 40 producers, pouring just one single variety from one appellation (Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir ros�s).

The Pinot Noir Festival weekend kicks off on Friday, May 20 with a day-long technical conference and educational seminars. For the second consecutive year, morning sessions will focus on technical topics relevant for industry members, such as yeast, whole clusters and vine nutrition.

An afternoon-only ticket will be offered for serious consumers, with in-depth tastings and presentations from local and guest vintners. Wine author and expert Karen MacNeil will be a featured afternoon speaker and will guide attendees through an in-depth study of the inherent grace and beauty of Pinot Noir through the lens of other varietals.

The technical conference will be followed by a casual barbecue at Navarro Vineyards, which will feature delicious, local foods and fantastic wines from around the state.

After a press tasting on Saturday morning, the grand tasting at Goldeneye winery will focus on local food, Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, live music, and a silent auction for charity. This year's silent auction will benefit the Anderson Valley Health Center, which recently lost a substantial portion of its government funding.

The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association operates with the goal of supporting the region's grape growers and wineries, as well as promoting the region's wines. In addition to acting as a resource for its members, the association aims to better its community by donating funds every year to local nonprofit organizations. To-date, more than $180,000 - raised at the association's events - has been given to local charities. For more information about the association, or for a list of association members, please visit www.avwines.com

Participating wineries at the grand tasting will include: Balo Vineyards, Baxter Winery, Berridge Wine, Black Kite Cellars, Breggo Cellars, Brutocao Cellars, Claudia Springs Winery, Copain Wines, Couloir Wines, Drew Family Wines, Elke Vineyards, Esterlina Vineyards, Expression Wine, Foursight Wines, Fulcrum Wine, Goldeneye Winery, Greenwood Ridge Vineyards, Handley Cellars, Harmonique Wines, Harrington Wine, Husch Vineyards, Jim Ball Vineyards, Lazy Creek Vineyards, Londer Vineyards, LuLa Cellars, MacPhail Family Wines, Maple Creek Vineyards, Navarro Vineyards, Phillips Hill Estates, Philo Ridge Vineyards, Roederer Estate, Roessler Cellars, Saintsbury, Scharffenberger Cellars, Standish Wine Co., Toulouse Vineyards, Twomey Cellars, Waits-Mast and Zina Hyde Cunningham.

On Saturday evening, May 21, local wineries will host winemaker dinners in Anderson Valley and on the Mendocino Coast. This year's dinners include: Roederer, Foursight and Phillips Hill at Roederer Estate; Baxter, Claudia Springs and Goldeneye at Caf� Beaujolais; Greenwood Ridge Vineyards and Drew Family Cellars at the Philo Apple Farm; and Esterlina, Lazy Creek and Scharffenberger at the Albion River Inn.

The weekend will conclude on Sunday, May 22 with open houses at Anderson Valley wineries, featuring special tastings, educational talks, music and food (a list of winery open houses can be found at www.avwines.com , closer to the event).

Tickets for the 14th annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival are now on sale at www.avwines.com .

For additional information about the event, please visit the AVWA Web site at www.avwines.com or contact us at (707) 895-WINE or [email protected].