Winery tour buses to make 43 stops
Local wineries will come uncorked this weekend in honor of the 125th grape harvest in the Livermore Valley.
The Harvest Wine Celebration, a thriving tradition that draws more than 25,000 vino lovers to the area each year, will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
For about $50, patrons can wet their whistles via a shuttle bus tour of the wineries. More than 30 buses will travel along seven different routes, with multiple winery stops on each route.
The bulk of the wineries are in Livermore, but the routes stretch from there to Sunol and Castro Valley.
Each of the 43 wineries will host complimentary wine tasting of at least two different varietals. Many also will offer live music, vendors and food.
The event, now in its 27th year, is a chance for the area's burgeoning bevy of wineries — from the oldest and largest establishments to the limited distribution start-ups — to attract new devotees, said Tami Kelly of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association.
This year's Harvest Wine Celebration covers the gamut of creative marketing gimmicks.
At Chouinard Vineyards, tastings will be accompanied by a display of Ohlone Indian and early rancher artifacts. Elliston Vineyards will have a henna tattoo artist on hand, while Red Skye Winery will host tarot card readings. At Wente Vineyards, the Amador Valley Quilt Guild will display quilts, Strizzi's Restaurant will serve rigatoni and the Darryl
Wente and Concannon wineries are celebrating their 125th harvests.
In the past year, five new wineries have opened their doors in the Livermore Valley, Kelly said. The region is home to some 3,600 acres of grapes.
Two-day festival passes can be purchased for $50 in advance or $55 the day of the event. Monday-only tickets can be purchased for $45. There are no Sunday-only tickets. Non-drinking adult passes and children's passes can be purchased for $10.
Free parking is available at the Robertson Park Rodeo Grounds. From noon to 5 p.m., free shuttle busing will be provided to and from the park and the wineries. Guests will receive a map outlining the seven different shuttle routes so they can choose which one to take. In addition, most routes will cross with at least one other route, so guests can hop from one group of wineries to another.