SLO County News BlogGolf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel NewsMonth's worth of SLO Wine FestivalsThursday, April 21, 2005Time to roll out the barrels for a month's worth of festivalsWhen you're lucky enough to live in a laid-back coastal region like SLO County, it's easy to put off making a commitment, isn't it? After all, local wine events seem as common as surfboards and Birkenstocks and most offer ticket sales at the gate, so why bother ordering advance tickets? Well, you'll have to reconsider if you plan on attending either of these two upcoming wine festivals. Because anyone who enjoys wine will have to buy tickets ahead or risk missing out on an experience of a lifetime. And I'm not bloviating - even the French have lauded our local winemakers John Alban and Mat Garretson for their achievements in promoting Rhône wines worldwide. San Luis Obispo's newest four-day food and wine spectacular was created by the SLO Vintners' Association Executive Director Grant Raeside, who describes it as "adult trick-or-treat." Wednesday through Sunday, May 4 through May 8 San Luis Obispo Vintners' Wine & Food Festival and Roll Out the Barrels Passport to Wine Country, prices listed per person; $195 for the package of four events (save $25), or you can buy events separately. For tickets and information, visit www.slowine.com or call 541-5868. May 4, Downtown's Cooking features 35 restaurants and food purveyors serving food and wine, $40. May 5, Barrels in the Mission Plaza offers barrel samples with foods from local specialists and the Louie Ortega Band, $10. May 6, Vintners' Awards is Oscar's night at Embassy Suites, honoring leaders in wine and food, sponsored by Central Coast Magazine, $125. May 7–8, Roll Out the Barrels provides VIP entrance at participating wineries for special wine tastings, food and/or live entertainment; $45 per two-day passport. Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 Hospice du Rhone, two-day package price, including four Rhône wine seminars and all tastings: $695. Tickets a la carte: Friday's Rhône Fete lunch, which always features Chef Laurent Grangien of Bistro Laurent, $75; barrel samples and library tasting, $75. On Saturday, luncheon by Chef Maegen Loring of The Park and live auction, $100; the grand tasting, $75; farewell barbecue by Chef Tom Fundaro of Villa Creek, $100. Friday: winemakers' dinners take place at Bistro Laurent, Paris, Villa Creek, and Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles, or Orchid at the Inn at Morro Bay. Saturday: an Australian winemakers' dinner is at Paso's 1215 restaurant. All are priced separately and reservations must be made through the restaurant. For seminar details and ticket reservations, visit www.hospicedurhone.org, or call 784-9543. Read entire article at: There's no place like Rhone New Times, Kathy Marcks Hardesty Read More
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