Those with a penchant for pork and wine go hog wild over Pigs & Pinot, an annual celebration that brings together some of the region’s top chefs and Pinot Noir producers.
Now in its 19th year, the popular event returns March 20-21 to the North Bay, with a new home at Appellation Healdsburg, chef Charlie Palmer’s culinary-focused, luxury hotel.
Since its inception, Pigs & Pinot has raised more than $2 million for scholarships and community programs for hospitality professionals. This year, the funds will benefit the Palmer Family Education Foundation, a nonprofit supporting local arts and education programs, including Sonoma State University’s Wine Business program and The Culinary Institute of America.
A tried-and-true pairing, heritage pork and Pinot Noir will be in the spotlight throughout the weekend, kicking off Friday with Taste of Pigs & Pinot: a walk-around tasting of 60 local Pinot Noirs and pork-centric dishes from Dry Creek Kitchen, Folia Bar & Kitchen and a host of visiting chefs.
A highlight of the evening is the announcement of the Pinot Cup winner, the event’s best Pinot Noir, blind-selected by a judging panel earlier that day.
On Saturday, Mario Cantone will lead a Table Talk Q&A Seminar (waitlist only) with Gala dinner chefs, preceding the Gala Dinner that evening. This year, five father-and-son chef teams will unite for the five-course dinner at Appellation Healdsburg:
• Charlie Palmer of the Charlie Palmer collective and Reed Palmer, chef de cuisine at Folia Bar & Kitchen
• Emeril Lagasse of the Emeril Group and E.J. Lagasse, vice president of The Emeril Group
• Wolfgang Puck of the Wolfgang Puck Group and Byron Lazaroff-Puck, president of fine dining at Spago, CUT and Chinois
• Tim Ryan, chancellor of the Culinary Institute of America, and Jackson Ryan, chef de partie at the French Laundry
• Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Jean-Georges Restaurants and Cédric Vongerichten, chef and owner of Wayan and Madé.
Headlining the Gala’s wine selection is a strong lineup of women winemakers, including Eva Dehlinger of Dehlinger Winery in Sebastopol, Perri Haughwout of Perri Jaye Vineyards in the Russian River Valley, Ashley Herzberg of Innumero Wines in Windsor, Anne Moller-Racke of Blue Farm Wines in Sonoma, and Heidi Von Der Mehden of Merry Edwards Winery in Sebastopol.
Following the Gala dinner, the Final Flight (9:30-1130 p.m.) is an after-hours celebration of cocktails and small bites, with wine poured by the Pinot Cup winner.
Those looking for something more low-key should check out Fireside Chats, a series of intimate wine tastings with some of the region’s top winemakers. Offered Thursday and Sunday, the lineup includes James MacPhail of Tongue Dancer Wines, Ashley Holland of Read Holland, Cleo Pahlmeyer of Wayfarer Vineyard and Dan Kosta of Grail.
Ticket prices vary greatly and sell out quickly. For more information and a complete schedule, visit pigsandpinot.com.
Sarah Doyle is the wine and beverage reporter at The Press Democrat. She can be reached at sarah.doyle@pressdemocrat.com
