Weekend festivities include harvest-inspired winery events and Cinema in the Vineyard
Boonville, CA, September 1, 2022 – For many years, Anderson Valley wineries have celebrated their bounty of wonderful wines with a pair of extremely popular weekend events, February’s White Wine Weekend and May’s Pinot Noir Festival. This year, Anderson Valley Winegrower’s Association is proud to add a new event, the Harvest Tidrick Festival on the weekend of October 21-23. Kicking off the weekend will be a Boucherie Pig Roast dinner on Friday night, in the Redwood Grove at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville.
Chef Scott Baird, one of the founders of Pig & Punch, will prepare a Pig Roast feast at the Boucherie celebrating the deep agricultural roots and abundance of this picturesque valley. There will be a selection of tasty side dishes and a vegetarian option. (See menu below.) Dozens of wineries and other community members will join the festivities including Anderson Valley Brewing, Mendocino Spirits and Gowan’s Cider. Live music by DGIIN, voted one of North Bay’s best bands, will also be part of the fun. In addition, wineries will donate items to a raffle with proceeds going to the Anderson Valley History Museum.
Tidrick, Frattey and Bahl Gorms: a Salute to Anderson Valley History
Anderson Valley is a unique wine destination where the tasting rooms are intimate and friendly, and the wine itself is second to none. Even the history of this charming locale is fascinating and unusual. Which brings us to the obvious question: What does “tidrick” mean? Over a hundred years ago, when Anderson Valley was even more isolated than it is now, the local farmers and ranchers came up with their own lingo, called Boontling. They used Boontling to amuse each other and befuddle “bright lighters” (Boontling for city folk). “Tidrick” is the Boontling word for celebration or party, so at the Harvest Tidrick Pig Roast, and throughout the weekend, there will be plenty of “bahl gorms” (good eating) and delicious “frattey” (wine). For those who really want to get into the spirit, there will be a Boontling game to play and guests who can speak a Boontling sentence will be given a free raffle ticket.
Saturday and Sunday: the Celebration Continues
With over 27 local wineries participating, a weekend event pass will offer visitors a Valley’s worth of wine tasting, great food and even some education. In addition to harvest-inspired tastings and pairings, many wineries will create exclusive and intriguing VIP experiences. On Saturday night the Mendocino Film Festival will host Cinema in the Vineyard at Pennyroyal Farm, with a Boontling-inspired short opening the evening. Wine and harvest fare will be available for purchase from the winery. Also on Saturday night Bee Hunter is hosting the ‘Ali in Wonderland Tidrick Tea Party’. Follow the bees, rabbits, puppies & winemakers down the rabbit hole to SoBo (South Boonville) where plenty of fun treats await! A wide assortment of tea & wine will bee flowin’ and the finger foods paired perfectly by the winemaker.
“A traditional Boucherie festival in France celebrates completion of the heavy agricultural work of Summer and Fall, and by late October everyone is ready to wind down with a harvest party and enjoy the bounty!” says Courtney DeGraff, executive director of the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association.
Here’s the menu for the Friday night Boucherie Pig Roast:
Appetizers
- Hock and Head Pâté and Pickles
- DuVigneaud Sausage
- Pennyroyal Laychee Cheese
Main Course
- Whole Roasted Hog
- Vegetarian Option: Gourmet Vegetarian Ratatouille with
-
- Braised leeks in brown butter & Dijon vinaigrette, Navarro verjus
- Local apples and cabbage slaw
- Rancho Gordo Tarbais beans, toasted bread crumbs, chives
Desert
- Meyer Family Port Brownies
Tickets are now available on the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association website www.avwines.com.
About the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association
The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) was founded in 1983, the same year as the appellation. Made up of 24 vineyard, 54 winery and 63 associate members, the nonprofit 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.
