13th Annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir FestivalLove Pinot? Then mark your calendars. The 13th Annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival is coming. According to their web site, it is the only festival in the world that celebrates a single varietal from a single appellation.

This festival is a three day event including the Technical Conference & social BBQ in the vineyards on Friday, Grand Tasting on Saturday with 30+ wineries participating, six elegant winemaker dinners on Saturday evening, and open houses at all area wineries on Sunday.

Pinot noir is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines produced predominantly from Pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French words for “pine” and “black” alluding to the varietals’ tightly clustered dark purple pine cone-shaped bunches of fruit.

Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine.

The event which runs May 14-16 includes seminars, tastings, winemaker dinners and grand tastings. What’s not to love? Bring your toothbrushes! Enjoy world-class wines, local culinary delights and engaging local artists and entertainers.

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