Forgo the yellow brick road and take a stroll down the trail of painted wine barrels this weekend instead.
March 10-11 marks the Livermore Winegrowers Association’s 10th Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend. To add artistic flair, the group is fusing art with wine by raffling off decorated wine barrels to participants during the event.
Community members, including artists, scout troops and schools, painted every barrel and the money raised will benefit the Winegrower’s Association.
Bonnie Bartlett, who co-owns Charles R. Winery with her husband, painted the Winery’s barrel with friends from an art class. She invited everyone out to the winery, and she admits the painting took a lot longer than expected.
Five different artists including Bartlett adorned the barrel with wine grapes. The variations represent each artist’s point of view.
“We all did our own thing,” Bartlett said.
Other barrels feature local landscapes or wine-centric takes on famous paintings. Each has been on display since February 1.
Participating is simple. First grab your ticket to barrel tasting weekend. Next, purchase raffle tickets ($20 each or six for $100) at the fifteen participating wineries: Charles R Winery, Concannon Vineyard, Dante Robere Vineyards, Fenestra Winery, Las Positas Vineyards, Leisure Street Winery, Longevity Wines, McGrail Vineyards and Winery, Mitchell Katz Winery, Nottingham Cellars, Page Mill Winery, Retzlaff Vineyards, Omega Road Winery and el Sol Winery.
Drop a ticket off for your favorite barrels and then cross your fingers. All 15 barrels come with a case of wine from its host winery. Winners will be announced Monday.
Painted barrels aren’t the only addition to mark the event’s tenth anniversary.
For an additional fee, wine tasters can start early with gourmet brunches both days of the event. On Saturday, Garré Winery will host a Garré Café buffet brunch and Las Positas Vineyards and Zephyr Grill & Bar will team up for a multi-course, plated meal.
On Sunday, Retzlaff Vineyards and Salt Craft will be responsible for the morning’s buffet brunch and Ehrenberg Cellars, The Singing Winemaker and Liberation Foods will team up for the plated meal.
The rest will be business as usual with more than 35 wineries joining area breweries and distilleries to offer samples of locally produced libations noon-4:30p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The event is unlike any other wine event in Livermore. Tastes are poured directly from barrel to glass.
In many places, tasters can try the same concoction out of two different barrels, challenging their taste buds to notice the differences.
Winemakers are often on-site to educate while you taste.
If you fall in love with a wine during the event, purchase a case in advance for a discount—a process known as buying futures.
Celebrate Women: The fourth annual Celebrate Women photo exhibit is on display at the Livermore Public Library through March 31. Previously held at Las Positas College, the competition includes photographs from local residents that celebrate a woman or women. From cancer patients to mothers and kids, there are two tracks to the competition: one for those who wish to have their art displayed and a second for photographers participating in the competition. Several high schools submitted works as well this year, giving local students an opportunity to have pieces judged in an adult competition. Barbara Reynolds plays host.
Contact Nora Heston Tarte at nora.tarte@gmail.com.
If You Go
What: Livermore Winegrower’s Associations’ 10th Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend
When: March 10-11, noon-4:30 p.m.
Where: Participating wineries, breweries and distilleries in the Livermore Valley.
More info: www.lvwine.org