Off the Vine
It’s prime time for sniffing and swirling delicious Gold-medal wines at the 2016 Los Angeles County Fair (LACF) at Fairplex Pomona. The Los Angeles International Wine Competition (LAIWC) showcases the finest domestic and international vintages through tastings widely considered to be one of the most prestigious in the United States.
The wine competition is the platform for an extensive wine education program available to the nearly 1.3 million visitors annually. The wine education center features consumer-driven classes, tastings and displays of the award-winners. The Fair’s wine education program features industry experts with extensive knowledge about wine growing and selection, wine evaluation as well as wine and food pairings.
Through Sept. 27, adults can taste over 200 Gold-medal Winners selected from 3,000 wines. View more than 2,000 international wine, spirits and extra-virgin olive oil winners. Each class features six wines and four cheeses. Participants receive a Gold Medal Taste Ticket to be redeemed at the Gold Medal Tasting Bar. The cost is $20. per class.
“The Wine Education Program at the LACF is a fun and educational way to learn about wine. The speakers are LAIWC Judges that enjoy sharing their passion, enthusiasm and knowledge of wine,” said Mary Ellen Cole, Certified Sommelier at Fairplex and LACF Wine, Beer and Spirits Marketplace Manager.
“We offer a wide array of classes from Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Pairing, Health and Olive Oil, and Wines from famous wine growing regions including, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Lodi, Spain, France, Italy, Chile,Argentina and many more, there is also a class where you can test your own knowledge in “Guess Which Wine,” said Cole.
“History of Winemaking &Award Winning Wine in Southern California” is the subject Sept. 16 featuring vintners Vince Ferragamo and Don Galleano, and restauranteur Chuck Keagle.
“Don will focus on the history of the Cucamonga Wine District, and Vince on his limited production super Tuscan wine from his vineyard in Orange Cal,” said Keagle, who has been judging wines at LACF for 30 years.
Classes are popular, so purchase tickets early. For more information, visit www. lacountyfair.com/corksandpints.
Tastings and classes take place in the Wine & Spirits Marketplace, located next to the Flower & Garden Pavilion.
See you at the 2016 LACF!
Gino L. Filippi is wine writer for Foothills Reader. He can be reached at Ginoffvine@aol.com.
