11th Annual LAWineFest this weekend!
If you don’t have the time to plan a days-long wine-tasting trip through your wine region of choice, wine festivals are always a great way to explore a variety of wines, all in one location–and this weekend, the location happens to be my very own neighborhood. I even have a promo code that’ll save you 50% off the $90 ticket price when you buy in advance! Read on . . .
The 11th Annual LAWineFest is this weekend at Sunset Bronson Studios at 5901 Sunset Boulevard. The festival features an impressive list of winemakers exhibiting (and pouring) their wares. You can even check out specifically which wines will be available on the LAWineFest website here. The festival runs from 3 pm to 7 pm on Saturday, June 25, and from 2 pm to 6 pm on Sunday, June 27. The $90 admission will get you wine, beer, and cider tastings, a commemorative glass and event program, and complimentary Icelandic Glacial water, Peerless iced coffee, and La Brea Bakery bread. The popular Boutique Winery Courtyard is back again this year for an additional tasting fee of $45 for 12 hand-picked wineries who produce 1500 or fewer cases of wine a year–limited to 400 tickets each day.
Getting to and from is pretty easy, too–the location is a short walk from the Hollywood/Vine Metro stop, and they’ve got a special promotion going with Lyft. Check out this link for a $40 free ride credit for first-time Lyft users. They also offer discounted tickets for designated drivers at just $15 (be responsible and take advantage of one of these great deals!).
And here’s a great incentive for purchasing your tickets in advance: get general admission tickets for just $45 (it will be $90 at the door!) with the code FEST2016. Just go to this page, click on the button to buy tickets and enter the code at checkout.
As with most festivals like this, there’s plenty to see (and taste) in addition to wine. Beer and cider will be well-represented, and there’s also a nice lineup of “lifestyle” vendors for all things wine- and food-related. And of course, there must be food. As has become almost expected at festivals like this, you can look forward to some of your favorite local food trucks there (food for purchase at additional cost, not included in your festival admission). I’m already thinking about Cousin’s Maine Lobster’s delicious lobster roll with a little chardonnay!
Having taken a quick look at the list of wines being poured, I’ll offer a couple of don’t-you-dare-miss-these recommendations. Epiphany Wines from Santa Barbara County will be pouring four wines–try them all, but especially don’t miss their outstanding Grenache. And my very favorite off-the-beaten-path winery, Navarro Vineyards from the tiny town of Philo in Mendocino County, will be there. If you’ve never had their dry Estate Gewurztraminer, you’re in for a treat (that one’s in their lineup for the festival, along with a few other of their wines). Done in the Alsatian style, it’s a beauty of a wine, bone-dry with gorgeous aromatics. I’m looking forward to that one most of all, I think.
The feel-good part (besides the wine, of course): LAWineFest donates a portion of the event proceeds to a charity, and this year’s official LAWineFest charity is Sunshine Kids, who help children who have cancer.
I’ll be there Saturday, Instagramming away and doing plenty of tasting–you should go, too!