LAKE TAHOE AUTUMN FOOD AND WINE FEST RETURNS OCTOBER 1-3
www.tahoe-rnr.com


A lively, competitive, grape stomp fittingly kicks off the 19th annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival Friday, October 1. A weekend of culinary festivities, seminars and demonstrations follow through Sunday, October 3 in Olympic Valley, California.

In addition to the jovial juicing of California’s finest, Friday’s events at the Village at Squaw Valley include a Suisin Valley Appellation Wine Tasting, outdoor grilling demonstrations by Lara Ritchie of Nothing to it Culinary Center in Reno, Nevada, and samplings from Village at Squaw Valley eateries.

The popular Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook-Off returns Saturday to the Resort at Squaw Creek, with Mark Estee of Moody’s Bistro and Lounge defending his title in a timed culinary cook-off. Additional events include a Charbay Rum seminar and tasting, Beringer seafood and wine pairing, culinary demonstrations with chef Joseph Keller of Bouchon at Yountville and Las Vegas and now Como’s at Las Vegas, and Lars Kronmark, chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of America, and a Duckhorn Vineyards 25th Anniversary Luncheon. Evening options abound with a Moveable Feast and Wine Dine Around, winemaker dinners and tastings at North Tahoe-area restaurants and a celebrity chef dinner and live wine auction at Glissandi at the Resort at Squaw Creek. Rounding out the Saturday festival program is a new Oktoberfest Celebration at the Village at Squaw Valley with European food, music and festivities.

The weekend culminates Sunday afternoon with the Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting, pairing the area’s top restaurants with world-class wineries and creating the must-attend event of the year in North Lake Tahoe. The upscale affair offers the opportunity to taste the exquisite culinary offerings of North Lake Tahoe’s top chefs. Topping off the day is a wine auction, raffle and marketplace trade show.