Both online and in-person events scheduled in May to celebrate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
March 30th – Boonville, CA – Pivot, pivot, Pinot! May marks the second year the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) will take the whole month to celebrate the region’s signature grape variety. In light of the continued precautions against Covid-19, the 23rd annual Pinot Noir Festival will once again be postponed. Instead, the AVWA will host both online and small, socially distanced in-person events throughout the entire month of May.
For those able to travel, we invite you to spend some time tasting as you traverse the Valley with our first ever Passport to Pinot. From the undulating hills of Boonville to the redwood-dense Deep End, wineries are putting their Pinots in perspective with VIP tasting experiences. From May 14-16, passport participants can munch on pairings of duck and Pinot at Domaine Anderson or learn the art of blending at Phillips Hill before sipping library wines at Handley Cellars. With a view of towering trees, tasters get the chance to put their palate to the test with a side-by-side comparison of Hungarian oak-aged Pinot versus French oak-aged Pinot at Toulouse. Taste in the vineyards at Husch while discussing the winery’s lasting legacy of planting Anderson Valley’s first Pinot Noir vines. Tickets for the weekend will be available on CellarPass starting April 2 to the general public.
In addition to the passport, we’re bringing Pinot to the people with a series of webinars throughout the month. Every Wednesday in May, tune in as industry experts such as the San Francisco Chronicle’s Esther Mobley and star sommelier Tonya Pitts guide you through the hippie-inspired history of Pinot Noir in the region and take a deep dive into the Deep End. Hone your tasting skills with Master Sommelier Nick Hetzel as he breaks down the elements of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Finally, find out what makes Anderson Valley Pinot so food friendly with A16’s Shelley Lindgren. By month’s end, you’ll be an Anderson Valley expert and Pinot Noir prodigy. A limited number of case packs are available through the AVWA and will go on sale April 2 at avwines.com. Individual webinar packs will be available through retail partner Zachys starting April 5. Webinars will take place every Wednesday, starting May 5 at 4 p.m. (Pacific time).
Although we look forward to once again inviting you to the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival, we relish the opportunity of celebrating all month long. May is a time for flowers, mothers and Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Toast with us by sending your #pinotpics and follow along with #avpinotmonth. Find more details about the passport experience and weekly webinars at avwines.com/pinot-month.
About Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association
The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) was founded in 1983 – the same year as the appellation. Made up of 26 vineyard, 52 winery and 70 associate members, the non-profit organization operates with the goal of supporting the region’s premier grape growers and wineries, as well as promoting the region’s distinguished wines. In addition to acting as a resource for its members, the association aims to better its community by donating funds every year to local nonprofit organizations.
