Duck and Pork Country Pate with Cherry Jam paired with Sanglier Cellars Pinot Noir in 2014
Call, text, and/or grab your friends because it’s time for you to plan a Sonoma County trip for the 2015 Wine and Food Affair taking place next month. Your entourage can savor fantastic wine and food for two days straight as you travel around the beautiful wine country in the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valley areas. If you and yours enjoy eating and drinking together you are bound to have a blast at this fun and unique event (it’s one of our favorites each year). Since there will be over 100 wineries participating, everyone in your group is sure to find wines and small bites to their individual tasting preference.
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate
Here are just some of the wineries participating in the 2015 Wine and Food Affair: Balletto Vineyards, Colagrossi Wines, Fog Crest Vineyard, Fritz Underground Winery, Gustafson Family Vineyards, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, Kokomo Winery, Longboard Vineyards, Portalupi Wine Co., Ridge Vineyards, Roth Estate Winery, Sanglier Cellars, Taft Street Winery and West Wines.
This year’s event will take place November 7-8, 2015, from 11 am to 4 pm each day. Tickets are $70 per person for both days or $50 per person for Sunday participation only. Designated Driver tickets are just $30 per person for the whole weekend which allows them to enjoy the food and non-alcoholic beverages offered. Please be warned that this event sells out so you should really go here soon to purchase tickets. Also, please realize that this event is for adults only so no one under 21 is allowed (including babies or children of any age).
Rigatoni Salsiccia
Do you know what makes this event so delightful? At the Wine and Food Affair, each winery has a favorite recipe which they will actually prepare on both Saturday and Sunday to sample, along with the perfect wine. Then, if you like what you’re tasting, you can find the recipe online at the Wine Road website! Some of the items from prior events we have successfully made at home are Apple Streusel Muffins, Rigatoni Salsiccia and Roasted Pork Stew with Dried Plums, Sage and Fennel.
Last year’s event offered attendees many outstanding wines and bites. Our favorite wines covered a broad range of varietals such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Charbono, Grenache, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Syrah.
Wild Mushroom Risotto with Duck Confit
Some of the most noteworthy dishes from last year were Chilled English Pea Soup with Mint, Warm Goat Cheese and Heirloom Beet Terrine, Rabbit Tartelette with Caramelized Onion & Gruyere, Chicken Mole Tostadas with Cabbage & Cojita, Wild Mushroom Risotto with Duck Confit, and Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Cherry BBQ Sauce.
For 2015? Here are just some of the small bites coming to this year’s 2015 Wine and Food Affair and which winery will be serving them (with a wine paired specifically to the dish):
Robert Young Estate Winery
- Mushroom Bisque – VML Winery
- Potato Leek Soup – Hook & Ladder
- Rosso’s Mushroom Arancini with Blue Cheese Aioli – Acorn Winery
- Smoky BBQ Pork Sliders – Martorana Family Winery
- Carmody & Manchego Grilled Cheese with Spicy Tomato Soup – Martin Ray Vineyards and Winery
- Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya – Robert Young Estate Winery
- Mati’s Tinga de Pollo Tostadas – Sunce Winery
- Tri-Tip Gorgonzola Sandwich – Graton Ridge Cellars
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffles – Simi Winery
- Pork Chops with Habanero-Peach Glaze & Jicama Slaw – Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
- Peppered Duck Breasts with Blackberry Jam – Stuhlmuller Vineyards
- Lamb Meatballs with Swiss Cheese Fondue – Pezzi King Vineyards
S’Mores
Once you’re ready for dessert dishes, you’ll have a range of choices such as S’Mores at Stonestreet Winery, Baklava from Deux Amis Winery, Chai Spice Plum Panna Cotta served at Russian River Vineyards, and Chocolate Raspberry Truffles at Ektimo Vineyards. For the complete list of participating wineries and which food item each will be serving, please go here. To order tickets for the 2015 Wine and Food Affair and/or for complete details on the event please go here.
Founded 39 years ago, Wine Road is an association of 197 wineries and 54 lodgings in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys of Northern Sonoma County. The association presents three events each year: Winter Wonderland in January; Barrel Tasting in March; and A Wine & Food Affair in November. You can read more about their events, view maps of the region and find information about lodging options and current specials here. And yes, they even have an app.