34th Annual Autumn Food And Wine Festival Returns To Northstar California Resort On September 20-22

• The festival will be presented at a later date, September 20-22, to capture the beauty of fall in the Sierra
• The themes of sustainability and local food and wine will run throughout the multi-day event
• One-of-a-kind culinary experiences will be paired with curated on-mountain events

“We are excited to once again host the premier culinary event of the season,” said Roger Cardoza, director of food and beverage at Northstar California Resort. “We’ve worked hard to highlight seasonal flavors, and to present the very best food and wine the region has to offer with an emphasis on local and sustainable sourcing, an area that Northstar is focused on growing.”
 
The Autumn Food and Wine Festival will kick off on Friday night with a mountaintop sunset dinner at Northstar California’s LEED-certified Zephyr Lodge. The meal will feature local cuisine from the Bently Ranch, including grass-fed beef along with spirits from Bently Heritage Distillery, which cultivates low-water-use grains and botanicals in the nearby Carson Valley, Nevada.
 
The weekend reflects Northstar’s larger sustainability plan with waste management being implemented through the weekend by Clean Vibes, a company dedicated to responsible on-site waste management at events. This winter, Zephyr Lodge and The Lodge at Big Springs will join Summit Smokehouse in sustainable dining efforts with front-of-house sorting, where staff will sort waste properly for guests. These initiatives are a part of Vail Resorts’ Epic Promise and Commitment to Zero, delivering on zero net emissions, zero waste to landfill and zero net operating impact to forests and habitat by 2030, and a short-term goal of 50% waste diversion by 2020.
 
The three-day event will continue on Saturday with Pop-Up Seminars, a Gourmet Marketplace, and the Wine & Brew Walk at The Village at Northstar California. Guests will be able to graze through an open-air marketplace of culinary delights, stop in for chef seminars and then sample more than 15 standout restaurants and over 40 regional wineries, breweries and distilleries. The majority of wineries at this event are from Northern California, allowing for visitors to experience a true taste of the local area during the event.
 
The festival will conclude on Sunday with the highly-anticipated Grand Tasting & Culinary Competition at The Village at Northstar and The Overlook. Over 20 top chefs will compete for Best Marriage of Food and Beverage and Best Food Categories, including Chef Jon Blackley of Michael Mina’s Bourbon Pub, which will open its doors at Northstar this winter, as well as Chef Brian Sumner and Chef Chad Shrewsbury of Northstar California Resort. Respected food and wine industry experts like award-winning chefs Douglas Dale and Jean-Pierre Doignon, caterer Laura Richie and syndicated writer Jean Sexton will judge the gastronomic competition. Ticket holders can join the fun by trying delicious pairings and voting for the People’s Choice Award winner.
 
Guests may purchase individual day passes, multi-day passes and unlimited add-on experiences. New this year is an enhanced day pass, which now includes the Saturday Wine & Brew Walk tastings and Pop-Up Seminars. Tickets are now available for purchase at Northstar California. See a sampling of events below or visit the Autumn Food and Wine Festival web page.
 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 - ($45 Day Pass)
 
Pop-Up Seminars & Gourmet Marketplace: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. | The Village at Northstar California
An open-air marketplace featuring culinary vendors and expert.
 
Wine & Brew Walk (21+): 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
The Village at Northstar California
Sample craft beer and wine tastings on festival grounds. Souvenir wine glass for ticket holders.
 
TASTING EXPEDITIONS
 
The 10 Barrel Brewing Progressive Picnic
Saturday, September 21 at 11:00am
An adventurous lunchtime hike at Northstar where you’ll stop along the way for a three-course lunch with craft beer pairings, led by the 10 Barrel Brewing team and a local professional trail guide. You’ll ride the Big Springs gondola to mid-mountain then head out on the trail bound for Sawmill Lake, for an approximately two-mile, round trip hike with several stops to pause, take a break, and enjoy a food & beer pairing. Cost is $75 and includes food, drinks, gondola ticket, tax and gratuity. *This event sells out each year so please purchase in advance for best availability. 
 
The Hartwell Estate Vineyards Vertical Tasting
Session 1: Saturday, September 21 at 11:30am
Session 2: Saturday, September 21 at 1:00pm
A twist on the traditional vertical tasting where you’ll taste a range of vintages of a single small-lot wine from award-winning Hartwell Estate Vineyards of Napa. After each pour, you’ll head a bit further up the mountain on the gondola and chairlifts, finishing the afternoon at nearly 8000’ elevation with another glass of your favorite wine from the tastings and paired hors d'oeuvres. Cost is $75 and includes food, drinks, gondola ticket, tax and gratuity. *This event sells out each year so please purchase in advance for best availability. 
 
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 - ($85 Day Pass)
 
Grand Tasting & Culinary Competition: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. | The Village at Northstar and The Overlook
Top chefs will compete for Best Marriage of Food and Beverage and Best Food Categories. Respected food and wine industry experts will judge the competition. Ticket holders can taste pairings and vote for the People’s Choice Award winner