32nd Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival returns Sept. 8-10
For Immediate Release
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Jessica Pauletto
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32nd Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival returns Sept. 8-10
North Lake Tahoe, Calif. / Nev. —(Aug 2, 2017)—The 32nd annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival combines premier local cuisine, renowned chefs and live cooking demonstrations in a full-sensory dining experience, September 8-10 at Northstar California Resort. Presented by the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and Northstar California, more than twenty culinary events showcase immersive ways to experience fine food, wine, art and the natural landscape of North Lake Tahoe.
“This is a destination culinary experience, and food is only one element. We want the flavors of premier food, wine and spirits to be enhanced by the mountain air,” Amber Burke, Events and Communications Manager at North Lake Tahoe. “The Autumn Food and Wine Festival is about the integration of flavors within the natural majesty of this high-altitude venue.”
Festival highlights include a vertical mountainside wine tasting at 7,870 feet; a progressive picnic through the Lake Tahoe National Forest; and a gondola ride to a mountain-top farm-to-table dinner.
Other notable events include the Mountain Kid’s Cook-Off Finals where teams of culinary artists, ages 8-12, compete for a champion title; the Charbay Distillery & Winery annual party and food pairing; and the Grand Tasting & Culinary Competition where top chefs battle for best marriage of food and beverage.
Notable chefs, winemakers and distillers include Chef Douglas Dale of Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique; Northstar Executive Chef Steve Anderson; Chef Jason Gronlund, president of the non-profit Chef Relief and champion of the famed Garlic Showdown at the Gilroy Garlic Festival; Marko and Jenni Karakasevic, owners of Charbay Artisan Distillery; and Executive Chef Mark Jeffers of The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe.
“The mountain itself is a multi-course pairing experience,” said Burke. “By juxtaposing fine cuisine with diverse scenery, our guests will receive an integrated approach to high-altitude gastronomy.”
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe hosts Art of Mixology, a Backyard Brick-Oven pizza-making class, Mountainside Stargazing Tour, family-style Harvest Dinner by Chef Jeffers and a Champagne Brunch. The Village at Northstar offers yoga and wine tastings, a Gourmet Marketplace Vendor Fair with plein air artists, a Wine and Brew Walk, Kid’s Zone activities, culinary classes and the fan-favorite Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook-Off.
Event proceeds benefit Project MANA, a hunger-relief non-profit that supports 3,000 individuals across three counties in Nevada and California within the North Lake Tahoe/Truckee region.
See a sampling of events below; or for more information about the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival, visit: TahoeFoodandWine.com
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8
Farm-to-Tahoe Dinner: 6 – 9 p.m.
The Zephyr Lodge, Northstar California Mountain
A multi-course dining experience at Zephyr Lodge, featuring fresh, sustainable and locally-sourced products. Guests enjoy live music and floor-to-ceiling views of the Sierra Pacific Crest. Advance ticket purchase required. All guests must be 21 or older to participate. Cost: $115 advance/$130 day-of
Art of Mixology: 3:45 – 5 p.m.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
A premier spirits and cocktail workshop using freshly-cut herbs and classic ingredients, and paired with appetizers. Advance purchase of tickets is required. Walk-ins will be accepted on a space-available basis. All guests must be 21 or older to participate. Cost: $60 per person
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9
Take a Hike! Progressive Picnic: 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Northstar Mountain
Savor gourmet bites and craft brews in a guided tour through the Tahoe National Forest. Hikers of all ability levels are encouraged to participate and secure tickets in advance. Cost: $65 advance/$75 day-of
Sips & Salutations: 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Tahoe Yoga & Wellness, The Village at Northstar
A flow-based yoga class and guided wine tasting. Cost: $25 advance/$30 day-of
Mountain Kid’s Cook-Off Finals: 12 – 1:15 p.m.
Village Stage, The Village at Northstar
Two teams of culinary artists, ages 8 to 12, compete for the final phase of a three-part challenge. Cost: complimentary
Vertical Mountainside Tasting: 1:30 – 4 p.m.
The Village at Northstar and Northstar Mountain
A multi-elevation wine tasting and gondola ride to Zephyr Lodge with stopping points at 6,330, 6,850 and 7,870-feet. Cost: $45 advance/$50 day-of
Tahoe Long Table Harvest Dinner: 6 – 9 p.m.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Prepared by Executive Chef Mark Jeffers of The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Long
Table Harvest Dinner features a seasonal, family-style dinner presentation, al fresco, with wine pairings by Grigch Hills Estate. Cost: $155 per person
Charbay Distillery & Winery Annual Party: 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Zephyr Lodge, Northstar California Mountain
Featuring 13th-generation Master Distiller and notorious hype-man, Marko Karakasevic, guests will enjoy the cocktail creations alongside masterfully-prepared multi-course dinner by Chef Jason Gronlund. Guests arrive by gondola, and must be 21 and over to secure a ticket. Cost: $95 advance/$105 day-of
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Grand Tasting & Culinary Competition: 1 – 4 p.m.
The Village at Northstar and The Overlook
The most anticipated and popular event, the Grand Tasting features top chefs and premium wines, spirits and brews in a battle of best food and beverage pairing. Judged by a panel of food and wine industry experts, pairings are available for ticket holders to enjoy. Cost: $75 advance/$95 day-of
About North Lake Tahoe Resort Association
Lake Tahoe is a crown jewel of the Sierra. Formed approximately two million years ago, it is the
largest alpine lake in North America and the second deepest in the United States. North Lake Tahoe spans two states and boasts two dozen beaches, twelve ski resorts, hundreds of miles of biking trails, half a dozen communities, and a growing number of nationally recognized human-powered events, races and festivals. North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport. Visitor information centers are located at 100 North Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City and 969 Tahoe Boulevard in Incline Village. For the latest deals, check out the Deals tab on stage.gotahoenorth.com.
About Northstar California Resort:
Northstar California Resort™ is a four-season destination offering effortless family adventure. The Village at Northstar features boutique shopping, elevated dining experiences, a year-round outdoor skating rink, conference centers, movie theatre, alpine-chic lodging and more. During the winter months Northstar California is home to meticulously groomed runs, award-winning terrain parks, and alpine activities including as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. Summer transforms the mountain into the largest, lift-served bike park on the West Coast alongside a network of hiking trails, the Kid Zone, and a family-friendly golf course. Northstar California is located on Highway 267, six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.
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