Carneros Goes to the Sheep
NAPA/SONOMA—Though it may be in questionable taste to eat your guest
of honor, the first annual Carneros Heritage Fest celebrates its namesake
(Carneros is the Spanish word for sheep) June 9 and 10 with a lamb
bbq, celebrity chef lamb recipes, live music, sheepherding, and plenty
of wine from the region.
Hosted by the Carneros Wine Alliance in partnership with the California
Sheep Commission, American Lamb Board and Napa and Sonoma County Farm
Bureaus, the festival highlights the best of this diverse AVA spanning
both Napa and Sonoma County. Known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and
sparkling wines, the Carneros is about 40 minutes north of San Francicsco,
between the towns of Sonoma and Napa.
On Saturday, the event runs from noon to 4pm, featuring culinary
demonstrations by Food Network host Joey Altman, as well as
other bay area chefs cooking up lamb-inspired recipes. The
lamb bbq ill include a special menu including butterflied lamb
marinated in Carneros Pinot Noir, grilled lamb burgers with
chile and mango sauce and locally-made empanadas.
Members of the Carneros Wine Alliance will pour some of the region's
famed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, in addition to Merlot, Syrah and
several other varietals now being introduced into the appellation.
A sheep herding competition will take place later in the afternoon,
with ranch owner Sandy Milberg and her border collies.
If you go: Tickets are available from the Carneros Wine Alliance
website,
www.carneros.com/heritagefest.
Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for children 12 and under. Dress
casually for a bbq and bring a blanket—and a jacket, should things
cool down later in the day.
