Courtesy of Barbara Barielle, Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association

There are many festivals and wine events targeted at pinot noir lovers, but none are quite like Anderson Valley’s Pinot Noir Festival, which is held annually the third weekend of May. People from all over the U.S. come to the valley for this world-class event with a distinct hometown flair, including those who make the pilgrimage every year, and others for whom it serves as a kick-off to a summer of fun. The three-day celebration includes a technical conference for winemakers only, plus tasting events that are open to ticketed members of the public.

This year’s festival kicked off on Friday, May 19 with a sold-out technical conference. Topics included the history of the valley, changemakers in the industry, the future of winemaking, fish-friendly farming, and challenges such as climate change. On Friday evening Lula Cellars hosted a sunset barbecue with all the fixings: a country band, a gorgeous sunset, and more wine than you could possibly taste in one night. (Everyone knows that pinot is the perfect accompaniment to barbecue – or is it the other way around?) A fun highlight of the evening was when the vintners, growers and attendees brought out their aged and rare pinot noirs and shared them with the group.

Saturday featured two special events: a Bubble Brunch showcasing Champagne from Louis Roederer, sparkling wines made with pinot noir from Roederer Estate and Scharffenberger Cellars, caviar, and other perfectly paired brunch items; and a Grand Tasting at Scharffenberger Cellars, where 50 wineries from inside and outside of the Valley (all of whom make pinot noir from Anderson Valley grapes) poured their finest, talked about clone specifics, dished on dirt, and answered questions. Saturday was also winery open house day, where dozens of participating wineries along highway 128 opened their doors for tasting wines as well as local gourmet specialties such as The Bewildered Pig’s famous deviled eggs, Left Coast Seafood’s ceviche, and slices of pizza from Piaci’s of Fort Bragg. Gorgeous sunny weather, a fantastic dance band and an auction that benefited the construction of a local skate park rounded out a weekend that attracted pinot lovers from across the country: Hawaii, Ohio, North and South Carolina, Texas, New York, Florida and many other states.

For information on how to buy tickets for the 2024 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival, click here.