Heritage Fest - Description & Schedule

Mark your calendars for the 3rd ANNUAL CARNEROS HERITAGE FEST on May 31.  The Carneros Wine Alliance will host a celebration of the wines, heritage and distinctive qualities of the Carneros region’s products, culture and character.  The Fest will feature the Carneros Lamb BBQ, tastings of Carneros Wine Alliance Premium and Ultra Premium Wines, a young chef competition, musical entertainment, sheepherding and falconry demonstrations, vineyard tours, environmental and sustainable agriculture exhibits.  Pairings of Carneros wines with innovative lamb dishes and menus that reflect the unique flavor of this region will also be featured.

The event partners the Carneros Wine Alliance with the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, which will also co-sponsor a Winegrape Growers Pavilion, the American Lamb Board, the Napa and Farm Bureaus, and the California Department of Fish and Game. Proceeds will benefit the Carneros Land Stewardship Foundation, dedicated to the conservation and preservation of habitat in the San Pablo Bay wetlands adjacent to the Carneros region.

The Carneros Lamb BBQ, under the direction of Executive Chef Jeff Jake of the Carneros Inn, will be grilled by members of the Napa County Farm Bureau with the lamb supplied by renowned artisan lamb purveyor, Niman Ranch. 

Carneros Wine Alliance wineries expected to participate this year include: Acacia, Artesa, Bouchaine, Buena Vista Carneros, Ceja Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Domain Carneros, Folio Winemakers' Studio, Fotinos, Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards, Havens Wine Cellars, Madonna Estate, MacRostie Winery, Merryvale Vineyards, Nicholson Ranch, Ravenswood, Donum/Robert Stemmler, Saintsbury, Schug Carneros Estate Wines and Toad Hall Cellars. 

The Carneros Heritage Fest will also feature a Sheep Herding Exhibition, Artisan Wool Boutiques, music by the Back Burner Blues Band (comprised of Napa Valley Chefs led by BAY TV personality Joey Altman), vineyard walks, marsh talks, and other activities and exhibitions by the California Department of Fish and Game.

Friday evening, May 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m., a multi-course lamb dinner created and executed by Executive Chef Jeff Jake will the held at The Carneros Inn in Napa. The specially-designed menu will be paired with wines selected for the dinners by eight of the Carneros region's "Next Generation Winemakers."