LAKE TAHOE AUTUMN FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

LAKE TAHOE AUTUMN FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL RETURNS SEPT. 14-16

(NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nevada) The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival returns to the Sierra Nevada in all its culinary glory September 14-16. Originally held indoors at Squaw Valley, the festival has moved to the new Village at Northstar and takes advantage of the venue?s outdoor setting and ambience.

The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival is designed for all ages and features popular, long-standing events, such as cooking and outdoor grilling classes with celebrity chefs, Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook-Off (Iron chef style), reserve wine and spirits tastings, boutique winery tastings, Gar Woods Grape Stomp (lakeside), winery dinners and special restaurant presentations and tasting events, as well as new soon-to-be favorites Farmer's Market and Gourmet Marketplace and the Village Taste, Shop and Rock Wine Walk and Art Show.

New events designed specifically for families include a kids, activity center, hands-on Kids, Cooking Camp, jewelry making, flower pot painting and new-age knitting classes. Live music, dancing and evening gatherings around the outdoor fireplaces will be featured throughout the weekend along with alfresco wine and gourmet product tastings and special events with the Village at Northstar merchants.

The weekend culminates with Sunday's Grand Tasting and Culinary Competition. The event pairs the delicacies of more than 30 area restaurants with world-class wineries for one of the most-highly anticipated, signature food events of the year.

Friday, September 14th
1-4pm: Village at Northstar Wine, Walk, Shop & Rock - $30/ticket
Taste fine wines, delicious appetizers and discover the amazing variety of shopping and activities at the new Village at Northstar. See the latest in apparel, art galleries, and goodies for your furry friends, kids wear, sports gear, body & bath, kitchen essentials, and restaurants from Asian to S'mores. All wrapped up with live music and dancing in the Village Center complete with outdoor fireplaces. Ticket includes souvenir wine glass.

6-9pm Lake Tahoe Music Festival Autumn Food & Wine Jazz Concert - $30/ticket
The Lake Tahoe Music Festival celebrates with a special contemporary jazz concert on the upper Pavilion at the Village at Northstar. Kick back under the stars and enjoy the finest jazz anywhere. Savor a glass of wine, bring or buy a picnic, gather your friends and enjoy a very special evening of great music.

8:30-10pm Ritz-Carlton Club Moonlight Martini Reception - $30/ticket
Presented by the Ritz Carlton Club, Lake Tahoe & Charbay Vodka at the Village at Northstar. Meet your hosts from the new Ritz-Carlton CClub, Lake Tahoe and mingle under the stars. Gather around the outdoor fireplace with 13th generation distiller, Marko Karakasevic in the Charbay Vodka martini and appetizer reception. Our master mixologist will impress you with his fresh fruit infused vodka martinis ranging from Green Tea to Pomegranate. Sweet Dreams!

Thursday, September 13th
11am - 2pm Gar Woods Grape Stomp and Lakeside Luncheon, Carnelian Bay.
An authentic grape stomp showcases teams furiously stomping giant barrels of grapes to see who can make the most juice. Catch all the action with lunch and wine tasting on the deck. Costumes encouraged! To register your grape stomp team of 4 people, call Gar Woods at 530.546.3366. Luncheon tickets are $55 per person and include lunch, wine tasting and watching those crazy stompers.

5:30pm Plumpjack Café Winery Series - PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, Squaw Valley
"Wines under $20.00." Learn how to create a perfectly paired menu with delicious wines on a budget. Includes wines and sample food pairings. Please call PlumpJack Café at 530.583.1576 to reserve your spot and please mention the code: Autumn Food & Wine
6pm Going Whole Hog at Moody's Bistro, Truckee

Leave it to renowned chef, Mark Estee, to fire up your appetite with an evening devoted to the whole hog. (Niman Ranch, of course.) Start with a kicked-back and informative cooking demo and move into a succulent dinner including wine, beverages and music. $135 per person includes tax and tip.