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Wine Tasting and Cornhole Tournament: Carneros Wine Alliance’s inaugural wine tasting and cornhole tournament begins with a sampling of Carneros all-stars including Bouchaine, Cuvaison, Liana Estates and more, followed by a lively cornhole tournament. Additional wine by the glass and Carneros inspired concessions will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit  the Carneros and Schell-Vista Fire Department. 4-6 p.m. Aug. 12. Liana Estates, 2750 Las Amigas, Napa. $40. Carneros.com/events.

Carneros, Napa and Sonoma, CA, July 12, 2017 – The Carneros Wine Alliance today announced that their first Carneros Wine Tasting and Cornhole Tournament will take place Saturday, August 12, 2017, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at Liana Estates in Napa. The event will start with a wine tasting of Carneros all-stars including Bouchaine, Cuvaison, Etude, Hyde, Liana Estates, Schug, and Truchard Vineyards. The tasting will be followed by community cornhole tournament. All proceeds will be donated to the Carneros and Schell-Vista Fire Departments.

“Carneros is a tight-knit, lively family and what better way to showcase that than to invite the community to join us for a Cornhole Tournament this summer,” said Carla Bosco, Carneros Wine Alliance Board Chair. “It will be the perfect summer evening of coming together and enjoying the fantastic wines from the Carneros region.”

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online at Carneros.com/events. Liana Estates is located at 2750 Las Amigas in Napa, California.

Carneros, Napa and Sonoma, CA, July 12, 2017 – The Carneros Wine Alliance today announced that their first Carneros Wine Tasting and Cornhole Tournament will take place Saturday, August 12, 2017, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at Liana Estates in Napa. The event will start with a wine tasting of Carneros all-stars including Bouchaine, Cuvaison, Etude, Hyde, Liana Estates, Schug, and Truchard Vineyards. The tasting will be followed by community cornhole tournament. All proceeds will be donated to the Carneros and Schell-Vista Fire Departments.

“Carneros is a tight-knit, lively family and what better way to showcase that than to invite the community to join us for a Cornhole Tournament this summer,” said Carla Bosco, Carneros Wine Alliance Board Chair. “It will be the perfect summer evening of coming together and enjoying the fantastic wines from the Carneros region.”

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online at Carneros.com/events. Liana Estates is located at 2750 Las Amigas in Napa, California.

When you look at the expanse of rolling Carneros countryside covered with grapevines, it’s hard to believe that the area was once thought to be suitable only as pastureland for sheep. Hence the name — “carneros” is Spanish for sheep.

There was good reason: It’s not easy to grow grapes in Carneros, which stretches across the southern ends of Napa and Sonoma counties. The soils are shallow and weak; what little water there is drains off quickly to the sloughs and marshes of San Pablo Bay; and the climate is cold and windy. Nevertheless, the first vineyards were planted there in the 1830s...

We’re exploring California wine country region-by-region, every day, all summer long, this week we explore the Napa Valley. Stay tuned for a new view of these still-undiscovered areas each day this week.

The rolling hills of Carneros once grew grapes almost exclusively for sparkling wines. Now, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay growers are starting to build wineries of their own on the Napa side of Carneros. While much of the area is still not developed head down to the riverfront city of Napa to find excellent wines and a diverse and booming restaurant scene.We’re exploring California wine country region-by-region, every day, all summer long, this week we explore the Napa Valley. Stay tuned for a new view of these still-undiscovered areas each day this week.

Background: The Carneros region was the first California American Viticultural Area (AVA) to span two counties, and the first California wine region to be defined by the characteristics of its climate rather than political boundaries. Vineyards were first planted in the 1830‘s, with the first winery established in the early 1870’s. Carneros achieved official AVA status in 1983 and a technical amendment from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (ATTTB) in 2006 made it clear that both “Carneros” and “Los Carneros” may be used as the name for the area.  “Carneros” is Spanish for “Sheep.”

Wines/Varietals known for: Due to its cool climate, Carneros is best known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and sparkling wines made from those grapes. Other varietals that do well here include Albariño, Roussanne, Pinot Blanc, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon...

Much is made of the rivalry between Sonoma County and Napa Valley, but for the most part both wine regions readily share talent, services and grapes. They also share Carneros, an entire viticultural region that’s uniquely split between the two counties.

So is there a distinction in the wines from the Sonoma and the Napa sides when wine tasting in the Carneros Region?

Every year the Sonoma and Napa members of the Carneros Wine Alliance, a nonprofit association of wineries and grapegrowers, get together to reconnect and share vintage notes at their annual Spring Barrel Tasting event. This year’s event, open only to the trade and media, was held in the barrel room at Starmont Vineyards on March 21, 2017...