TASTE Kicked-Off with Taste Our Terroir, the Annual Livermore Valley Wine and Food Competition, Where Six Winery and Restaurant Pairs Came Away with Top Honors
October 20, 2026 (Livermore, CA) — Livermore Valley Wine Community held TASTE: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience from October 15-18, 2026, in which hundreds of wine and food lovers from across the region and world attended 13 events featuring Livermore Valley’s award-winning wineries. The weekend kicked off with the Taste Our Terroir wine and food competition that paired 20 Livermore Valley wineries and restaurants to compete for the perfect pairing. The event was followed with a weekend of experiences including winemaker dinners, vertical tastings with multiple wineries, gourmet food and wine pairings and outdoor activities among the vines.
Photo Credit: Ron Essex Photography
This year’s Taste Our Terroir judges were Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier for the San Francisco Giants, Betsy Andrews, a James Beard Foundation award-winning wine writer, and Danielle Fiala, Executive Chef at Gloria Ferrer Winery in Sonoma. These highly esteemed judges selected the following winners:
- Most Innovative Pairing: The Steven Kent Winery and Lanna Thai for their 2024 ‘Rock’ Cabernet Franc and Slow-Braised Short Rib over Southern Thai Turmeric Curry with Whole-Grain Noodles with mozzarella cheese.
- Best Classic Pairing: Page Mill Winery and L Campo for their 2022 GPS and L Campo Conito; Cantimpalo Chorizo, Sofrito, Manchego Cheese & Aioli.
- Judges’ Best Pairing: Occasio Winery and Sabio on Main for their 2025 Sunol Highlands Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and Thai Green Curry with Louisiana Shrimp, Delicata Squash, fresno chillis and apples vacuum-impregnated with aged Livermore Sauvignon Blanc brandy.
Guests at the event also voted for their favorites in the “People’s Choice Awards” for both red and white wine pairings. The winners were:
- People’s Choice Best Red Wine Pairing: Rosa Fierro Cellars and El Charro for their 2017 ‘Call me a Cab’ Cabernet Sauvignon and Beef birria tamale wrapped in banana leaf with mole sauce, Mexican sour cream, roasted pepitas, cilantro microgreens and pickled red onion.
- People’s Choice Best White Wine Pairing: Pruett Farms Estate Winery and The Cheese Parlor for their 2025 Poulet Sautant Stainless Steel Chardonnay and The Marinated Rooster, Meredith Dairy Marinated Goat and Sheep Milk Cheese topped with Bourbon Cashews, Hot Honey, Speck, and Green Apple.
This year, there was an additional award that the participating winery and restaurant teams voted on called Industry’s Best. Sakura Winery and Cured Fish Bar took home the award for their 2025 Petit Verdot Rosé and Yuzu-Miso Hamachi Tartare with Soy Sauce Dashi, Mirin Sake on Milk Bread Toast with Wagyu fat, topped with cured egg yolk and chervil.
“What an incredible weekend! We are so thankful for our wine community and everyone who came out to celebrate with us. TASTE: The Livermore Valley Wine Experience showcases what makes our region special, from its wines and food to the people who bring it all together,” said Heather McGrail, Chair of TASTE and President of McGrail Vineyards and Winery. “Seeing our winemakers and chefs dream up these pairings together, then watching guests discover a new favorite wine or connect with the people behind it, is what makes this weekend so special. There’s tremendous talent here, and just as much heart. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and helped bring TASTE to life, and we’re already excited to welcome them back next year!”
Livermore Valley was just named Wine Enthusiast’s 2026 Wine Star Award American Wine Region of the Year. For more information about Livermore Valley Wine Community and their wineries, visit https://www.lvwine.org/.
ABOUT LIVERMORE VALLEY WINE COMMUNITY
The Livermore Valley Wine Community is a 501(c)6 organization that supports the wineries, growers and members in the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area through educational and marketing programs. Livermore Valley is Wine Enthusiast’s 2026 Wine Star Award American Wine Region of the Year. For more information, please visit http://www.LVwine.org.
