The ~RHONE RANGERS~ ride into San Francisco on March 21st and 22nd for the largest American Rhone wine event in the country, the Rhone Rangers Grand Tasting at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion. Celebrate the twelfth consecutive year of this popular event with tastings of more than 500 of the best American Rhone wines from over 125 Rhone Rangers wineries from California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Attendees can also sample gourmet foods from more than 35 specialty food purveyors, including cheese, bread, olive oil, charcuterie, fruits, and chocolates. A silent auction will feature Rhone Rangers wines and wine-related items, with proceeds from the auction benefitting Meals on Wheels of San Francisco.
The program includes three tasting seminars:
- ‘Great American Syrah from Cool Climate Pinot Country’ (Saturday, 3/21, moderated by Jon Bonné Wine Editor, San Francisco Chronicle)
- ‘Rhone Blending Session: The Mavericks and the Traditionalists’, (Saturday, 3/21, moderated by Jon Bonne, Wine Editor, San Francisco Chronicle)
- ‘American Rhones in 2009—Eight Varieties, Eight Flavor Profiles,’ (Sunday, 3/22, moderated by Karen MacNeil, Culinary Institute of America)
On Saturday evening, fifteen wineries will participate in a winemaker dinner at the Log Cabin in the San Francisco Presidio. The dinner will be catered by the girl & the fig restaurant in Sonoma, known for their “Rhone Alone” wine list. The event offers an opportunity to taste library wines and enjoy a three-course meal with fifteen leading Rhone Rangers winemakers. Tickets are $125. Following the meal, a brief live auction will feature fifteen lots of wine, unique wine country experiences, and travel, donated by the host winemakers.
The Rhone Rangers are a group of nearly 200 winemakers dedicated to wines made from the 22 grape varieties that hail from France’s Rhone Valley. These varieties range from the better-known syrah and viognier to the up-and-coming mourvèdre, grenache, and roussanne, and the obscure (but delicious) counoise and picpoul. In order for a winery to join the Rhone Rangers, they must produce at least one wine that contains 75% of any single approved varietal (or combination of these varietals).
12th Annual Rhone Rangers
Sun. Mar. 22nd, 2009
Fort Mason
Festival Pavilion
San Francisco, CA
800-467-0163
website
Grand Tasting:
2pm–5pm
$65/ticket
Trade:
12pm–2pm
free
Seminars:
$50/each
Sunday seminar and Grand Tasting (combined ticket)
$100
Winemaker dinner
$125/each
