Sonoma County Harvest Heads For Chicago
The bounty of the Sonoma County harvest is heading for Chicago this fall, giving consumers a unique opportunity to taste just-picked winegrapes and attend events showcasing the wines and artisanal products from one of the most beloved and picturesque wine regions of the world.
The first Sonoma Harvest Celebration event is “Taste of Sonoma,” an educational seminar on September 10. Noted Winegrower Jim Murphy of Murphy Vineyards and legendary Winemaker Joel Peterson of Ravenswood Winery will take consumers on a sensory trip through Sonoma County by sampling winegrapes, such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Then, veteran Sonoma Wine Country Chef Bruce Riezenman, owner of Park Avenue Catering, will conduct an innovative interactive food and wine pairing session.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy a stellar lineup of wines paired specifically with numerous dishes featuring Sonoma County products created by Chef Riezenman with support from Michael Fusano, the executive chef at the recently renovated historic Allerton Hotel and its signature restaurant, M Avenue.
On September 11, consumers will have the opportunity to attend the Sonoma Harvest Feast Dinner, a six-course extravaganza of fine wine and food prepared by Riezenman and assisted by Fusano and his culinary staff.
Sonoma in Chicago Restaurant Week
During the Sonoma in Chicago week, Sept. 8-14, 10 of Chicago’s top restaurants, such as Spring, Le Lan, Les Nomades, Lula Café, Table Fifty-two, and Avenue M will highlight wines from Sonoma County for their guests to enjoy. For every bottle of Sonoma wine that the restaurants sells, the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission and Sonoma County Vintners will donate $3 to Common Threads, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to helping children discover the world through food.
Proceeds from Taste of Sonoma and the Sonoma Harvest Feast Dinner will also benefit Common Threads. Chefs Riezenman and Fusano will teach a class on Sonoma County harvest cuisine for children in the Common Threads program on September 9.
Additionally on September 11, trade and media representatives will be invited to attend a harvest report wine seminar and harvest lunch. All the events will be held at The Allerton Hotel Chicago, 701 N. Michigan Ave. The Allerton recently underwent a $12 million renovation, making the updated and timeless beauty an ideal venue to present Chicago with the splendor of Sonoma wines and products.
“It is only fitting that we celebrate this year’s harvest in Chicago which has become a world class restaurant city that appreciates the dedication and hard work that goes into producing premium wines and indigenous products,” says Larry Levine, vice president of marketing and communications for the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission which represents 1,800 growers that supply winegrapes to more that 350 wineries.
“Our goal is to show the county’s amazing diversity from start to finish. We will have winegrapes from varieties and regions within the county — celebrated areas such as the Russian River and Dry Creek Valleys, and up-and-coming regions such as Rockpile and Knights Valley. We will also showcase a bounty of wonderful foods from Sonoma County—from seafood caught in the Pacific Ocean to cheeses and produce from specialty farms throughout the county.”
Details for Sonoma Harvest Celebration Chicago follow. Reservations for all the festivities open to the public can be made at SonomaInChicago.com
Taste of Sonoma: Food-and-Wine Pairing Seminar, $65
September 10, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Allerton Hotel
Winegrape grower Jim Murphy, and Ravenswood Winemaker Joel Peterson will take participants on a wine and food journey through Sonoma County, tasting a variety of freshly picked grapes from the region. Then noted Sonoma Chef Bruce Riezenman, who has created memorable celebrations for Wine Country’s best wineries with his Park Avenue Catering Company, will present a fun and insightful food and wine pairing segment. Finally, Chef Riezenman, with the support of Michael Fusano, the executive chef at the Allerton Hotel and its signature restaurant, M Avenue, will present a plethora of small dishes incorporating ingredients from Sonoma County with wines to match.
Sonoma Harvest Feast Dinner, $125
September 11, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Allerton Hotel
Chef Bruce Riezenman, assisted by Chef Michael Fusano and his culinary staff, will present a bountiful six-course harvest-themed dinner while Murphy and Peterson lead guests in a tasting of some of Sonoma County's best wines, from Green Valley sparkling wine and Russian River Valley Chardonnay, to Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Media and Trade Seminar and Luncheon (invitation only – to RSVP, please refer to media contacts below)
September 11, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Allerton Hotel
Jim Murphy and Joel Peterson will present a 2008 harvest report and lead trade and media through a tasting of just-picked winegrapes. A three-course harvest lunch prepared by Chefs Bruce Riezenman and Michael Fusano will follow.
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Presented by the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, the Sonoma Harvest Celebration in Chicago showcases the wine and food of Sonoma County. Sonoma was one of the first places in the United States to grow premium quality winegrapes and make European-style wines commercially beginning in 1857. Other wine pioneers soon followed, establishing vineyards and wineries elsewhere in Sonoma County and throughout California. Today, Sonoma County is comprised of one million acres of small towns, back roads, lush nature, beautiful vineyards, and a wide variety of climates, terrains, and soil types. The Sonoma County Tourism Bureau and Sonoma County Vintners are promotional partners for this celebration with the historic Allerton Hotel Chicago as host and sponsor for the festivities.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Click on the email address below or call
Laura Yee, LY Media
773 784.8490
OR
Larry Levine, Sonoma County Winegrape Commission
707 522.5863
Larry.Levine@sonomawinegrape.org