For the 33rd consecutive year, the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival returns to the Northstar Village. This event is a celebration of North Tahoe’s most prestigious food, wine, spirit, and brew. Events include food, wine, seminars, celebrity chefs, culinary demonstrations, wine tastings, and tons of outdoor activities.
Festivities begin today September 7, 2018 and run throughout the weekend. Both free and paid events are offered, so make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. Here are some personal highlights, although check Northstar Resort for the entire Event Calendar.
Friday, September 7, 2018
Art of Mixology
3:45 – 5 pm
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
$60 per person
This entertaining, educational experience will feature freshly cut herbs, classic ingredients such as bitters and infused liquors to create three unique cocktails paired with appetizers. Guest will enjoy this workshop al fresco at The Backyard Bar & BBQ. Advance purchase of tickets is required. Walk-ins will be accepted on a space-available basis. Price inclusive of tax and gratuity, minimum age applies for participation.
The Backyard Brick Oven Experience
5 – 6 pm
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
$15 per child pizza (ages 12 and under)
Our culinarians will teach your children the art of building their own pizzas this summer in our backyard! The young chefs will work with our culinary team to stretch dough, choose toppings and fire their creations in our backyard brick oven.
Tahoe Star Tour & Wine Tasting
8:15 – 10:30 pm
Northstar Cosmoarium, Castle Peak Parking Lot
$40/Adult, $20/Child
Experience the wonder and awe of the dark skies above Northstar California during the final Tahoe Star Tour event of the season. For this special night only, guests will enjoy a guided wine tasting, vineyard announce soon. Our Star Guide will educate the crowd with an informative astronomy presentation including a laser-tour of the sky and telescopic viewing of the cosmos through state-of-the-art computerized Celestron telescopes. Kids are welcome to this event featuring fireside seating, s’mores treats and hot chocolate while adults enjoy delicious wine.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Champagne Brunch presented by The Grille at Sawtooth Ridge and Copper Lane Cafe
10 – 11:30 am
The Grille at Sawtooth Ridge
$85 per person
The newest restaurant in the Village at Northstar, The Grille at Sawtooth Ridge, and it’s sister location, Copper Lane Café bring a 3 course brunch delectably paired with champagne. With Must be 21 or older to enjoy this brunch.
Gourmet Marketplace Vendor Fair
11 am – 5 pm
The Village at Northstar
COMPLIMENTARY
Meander through the cobblestone walkways of The Village at Northstar while sampling the finest local and regional gourmet and artisan treasures in the Gourmet Marketplace Vendor Fair. The open-air marketplace displays kitchen gadgets, fine linens and clothing, exquisite handmade jewelry, fine art, photography, spa products and much more.
Village Wine and Brew Walk
12 – 4 pm
The Village at Northstar
$35 Advance/$40 Day Of
The Village at Northstar will transform into a mecca of delectable varietals during The Village Wine and Brew Walk. Guests are invited to prep their taste buds for the Grand Tasting event as they leisurely taste and learn about different wines and brews setup at stations throughout the boutique shops. Guests age 21 and over are invited to participate in the casual afternoon event which includes a souvenir tasting glass.
Mountain Kid’s Cook-Off
12 – 1:15 pm
The Beach, The Village at Northstar
COMPLIMENTARY
The Mountain Kid’s Cook-Off challenge brings teams of 8 to 12 year old culinary artists to Northstar California where they’ll compete in a head-to-head cuisine challenge for the Champion title. The region’s youngest culinary artists not only are perfecting their culinary technique as they create experiences of a lifetime, but also contributing to the Tahoe-based non-profit Project MANA.
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Gourmet Marketplace Vendor Fair
11 am – 5 pm
The Village at Northstar
COMPLIMENTARY
Meander through the cobblestone walkways of The Village at Northstar while sampling the finest local and regional gourmet and artisan treasures in the Gourmet Marketplace Vendor Fair. The open-air marketplace displays kitchen gadgets, fine linens and clothing, exquisite handmade jewelry, fine art, photography, spa products and much more.
Grand Tasting & Culinary Competition
1 – 4:30 pm
The Village at Northstar and The Overlook
$75 Advance/$95 Day Of
The most anticipated food, wine, spirits and brew event of the year is back for the 33rd consecutive year. An al fresco afternoon tasting features top chefs in the region paired with premium wines, spirits and brews in a formally judged food and wine pairing competition. Each chef’s dish is paired with a varietal and vintage from the winery or brewery of their choice. It’s a culinary throw-down and the chefs compete for the Best Marriage of Food and Wine/Beverage and Best Food categories in addition to the coveted People’s Choice Awards. The offerings are judged by a panel of food and wine industry experts, and then the pairings are opened for ticket holders to enjoy.