Harvest Wine Celebration This Labor Day Weekend

The 2013 Livermore Valley Harvest Wine Celebration marks the 32nd year that people have gathered over Labor Day Weekend to enjoy the fruit of the vines in one of California’s oldest wine regions. 

Sunday, Sept. 1 and Monday, Sept. 2 between noon and 5 p.m., more than 40 area wineries will offer Livermore Valley’s best wine, food, art and music to ticket holders. 

Bus transportation between wineries will be available on Sunday only. 

This year’s celebration will include Livermore Valley’s newest wineries: 

• Dante Robere Vineyards
• Ehrenberg Cellars
• Darcie Kent Vineyards
• as well as the new winery and tasting room of Cuda Ridge Wines.

Sunday, September 1: 

Thirty-one wineries will host festivities at their tasting rooms across Livermore Valley, and 10 more wineries will be pouring at either Concannon Vineyard or Wente Vineyards on Tesla Road. All locations will offer wine tasting, fresh food vendors, local artisans and festive music. 

Celebration guests are invited to ride complimentary shuttle buses between the wineries. The buses will travel on two different routes, each serving at least 14 winery locations. Free parking will be available at Robertson Park in Livermore, where guests can board buses and transfer between routes during the day. Bus stops may be as far as 300 feet from winery locations, so guests riding buses must be prepared to walk up driveways. 

Wineries are open only to ticket holders with event wristbands and no outside food is allowed.

Monday, September 2:

Thirty-five Livermore Valley wineries will continue the celebration with wine tasting, vendors and music at their tasting rooms. 

There will be no bus service. 

Five wineries will pour at Wente Vineyards on Tesla and one will pour at Concannon Vineyard. Please see winery listing below for details.

Food at all winery locations will be locally prepared and moderately priced. 

Admission price includes:

• a commemorative Livermore Valley wine glass
• tastings of at least two wine varietals from each participating winery
• Shuttle bus service between wineries (Sunday Only) 
  
• official event program
• exclusive discounts on wine purchases

Tickets for the 2013 Harvest Wine Celebration tickets are good for admission both days and priced at $55 each when purchased in advance, $65 at the event. Designated driver tickets are $10 and are also valid both days. The bulk ticket package includes 10 tickets for $495 (10 percent savings per ticket).

Tickets are available online at www.LVwine.org and at the participating Livermore Valley wineries:

• the Wine Steward in Pleasanton
• First Street Wine Company
• the Winemaker’s PourHouse in Livermore.
• and at Bay Area Safeway stores. 

Ticket “will call” arrangements vary by purchase method. 

“Bruno,” the colorful painting of a harvester hoisting a bin of freshly picked grapes that graces 2013 Harvest Wine Celebration posters and program, was created by local artist and winemaker Darcie Kent. 

More of Darcie’s art is on display at the newly opened Darcie Kent Vineyards at 7000 Tesla Road. According to Darcie, “the palette meets the palate,” in her new wine gallery that features both her paintings and single vineyard wines.

The Harvest Wine Celebration is a fundraiser for the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association. For more information, please visit www.LVwine.org or call 925-447-WINE.

Wineries hosting Harvest Wine Celebration festivities at their tasting room locations:

• AuburnJames (Livermore location at 5937 Graham Court, Suite B)
• Bent Creek Winery
• Big White House
• Charles R Vineyards
• Concannon Vineyard
• Crooked Vine Winery
• Cuda Ridge Wines (new location at 2400 Arroyo Road)
• Dante Robere Vineyards(available by car only—not on shuttle route)
• Darcie Kent Vineyards
• Eagle Ridge Vineyard (available by car only—not on shuttle route)
• Eckert Estate Winery
• Ehrenberg Cellars
• el Sol Winery (available by car only—not on shuttle route)
• Fenestra Winery
• Garré Vineyard & Winery
• John Evan Cellars
• La Rochelle Winery
• Las Positas Vineyards
• Longevity Wines
• McGrail Vineyards and Winery (available by car only—not on shuttle route, CLOSED MONDAY)
• Mitchell Katz Winery
• Nottingham Cellars
• Occasio Winery
• Retzlaff Estate Winery
• Rios-Lovell
• The Singing Winemaker
• The Steven Kent Winery
• Stony Ridge Winery
• Wente Vineyards Estate Winery
• White Crane Winery
• Wood Family Vineyards

Wineries pouring at Concannon Vineyard on SUNDAY 9/1: 

• Bodegas Aguirre (tasting room closed Monday)
• Page Mill Winery (open at tasting room on Monday)
• Rodrigue Molyneaux (pouring at Concannon on Monday)
• Thomas Coyne Winery (tasting room closed Monday)
• Westover Vineyards & Winery (open at tasting room on Monday)
• Wineries pouring at Wente Vineyards on Tesla Road:
• Elliston Vineyards (both days)
• Les Chênes Estate Vineyards(Sunday only, open at tasting room on Monday)
• Little Valley Winery (both days)
• Murrieta’s Well (both days)
• Támas Estates (both days)