Pinot Noir Festivals

Here is a list of the major Pinot Noir festivals throughout the world all for the love of Pinot. If you plan to attend, purchase your tickets early as many of these events are sold out quickly. The festivals have a website where you can sign up for the mailing list to be notified when tickets become available.

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival
This festival is held annually in Philo, California, in the heart of the Anderson Valley. Dating back to 1998, it is focused solely on Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley and attracts approximately 450 people. Lodging is limited in the Anderson Valley so many attendees stay on the Mendocino Coast and use a shuttle to the Festival. Next festival: May 16-18, 2008. For information: www.avwines.com.

Central Otago Pinot Noir Festival
Held in Queenstown, New Zealand three out of every four years, alternating with the Pinot Noir festival held in Wellington. Begun in 1999, 200 people attend this festival. Next festival: Jan 25-26, 2008. For information: www.pinotcelebration.co.nz.

Hospices de Beaune (Les Trois Giorieuses Burgundy Wine Festival)
Begun as a charity wine auction in 1859, it is now a three day festival celebrating Burgundy's food and wines. Thousands attend the winery dinners and tasting. Next festival: Nov 18, 2007. For information: www.hospices-de-beaune.com/fr/hospices/index.php.

Hospices of Sonoma Barrel Auction
This event is modeled after the Hospices de Beaune auction in Burgundy. May 2-4, 2008. For tickets and further information: 707-823-9463, www.hospicesofsonoma.org.

International Pinot Noir Celebration
This year marks this festival's 21th year. Held on the beautiful campus of Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, the event is limited to 600 people. The lunches and dinners are extraordinary including the traditional northwest-style salmon bake. Besides numerous seminars, there are two large walk-around tastings of Pinot Noirs from all over the world. There are plenty of B&B type accommodations and small hotels in the area, but many attendees choose to stay on campus in the inexpensive students living quarters for convenience (walking distance to all events). Next festival: July 25-27, 2008. For information: www.ipnc.org.

Marin County Pinot Noir Celebration
Marin County growers and wineries present their Pinot Noirs at the historic Escalle Winery in Larkspur, Marin County, California. The next celebration: June , 2008. Price is $40 for everyone. For information and tickets: www.marinwines.com. Information also at www.malt.org.

Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir Festival
This local festival in Melbourne, Australia attracts 150 people to celebrate Pinot Noirs from around the world. Next celebration: February 28, 2009. For information: www.mpva.com.

Pinot and Paella
The 4th Annual Pinot and Paella Cookoff will be held at the Templeton Community Park in Templeton, California on June 8, 2008. 12 Paso Robles area Pinot Noir producers will be pouring and 16 chefs will be cooking. Proceeds go to the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation. Tickets: 805-238-5825. www.pinotandpaella.com.

Pinot Days
A very large event featuring Pinot Noir producers from California. Over 1500 people attended last year's inaugural celebration held at Ft. Mason, San Francisco, California. Next festival in San Francisco June 27 to June 29, 2008. In Seattle, 2008. For information: www.pinotdays.com

PinotFest
This is a classy tasting and dinner featuring top California Pinot Noir producers. Started in 1999, it is held at the Farallon Restaurant in San Francisco, California. Limited to 300 people, the event sells out every year. Next festival: Nov 17, 2007. For information: www.farallon restaurant.com.

Pinot on the River
A three-day symposium begun in 2004 featuring technical seminars and tastings of California Pinot Noirs Last year 85 people attended the festival held in Sebastopol, California. Next festival: Oct 26-28, 2007. For information: www.pinotfestival.com.

Pinot Noir Summit
Sponsored by Affairs of the Vine, this event began in 2002. Over 250 Pinot Noirs from North America are evaluated by a diverse professional tasting panel. The top 30 wines are then presented at a blind tasting at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, California. Awards are given to the Pinot Noirs voted the favorite by the tasting panel as well as the consumers who attend the event. Seminars on Pinot Noir and dinner with the winemakers are offered. 100 people attended last year. Next summit: March 2, 2008. For information: www.affairsofthevine.com.

Pinot Paradise
This festival features the Pinot Noirs of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is held at The Mountain Winery (formerly the Paul Masson Winery) in Saratoga, California. Over 30 wineries pour their Pinot Noirs along with an auction and seminars. Over 900 people attended this year's festival. Next festival: March 29 - 30, 2008. For information: www.scmwa.com.

Pinot Noir New Zealand
First begun in 2001, this festival draws winemakers and enthusiasts from all over the world to Wellington, New Zealand. Tastings are held with 100 top New Zealand Pinot Noir producers. Many world-wide wine luminaries attend. It is expect to attract 500 attendees at the next event. Next event: 2009. For information: www.pinotnoir2007.co.nz.

Wine & Fire
Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers celebrate the wines of this unique region on the weekend of June 20 - 22, 2008. For information and tickets: www.staritahills.com.

World of Pinot Noir
This annual 3 day Pinot Noir Festival is held in California's Central Coast at The Cliffs Resort in Shell Beach. Seminars, tastings of over 120 different Pinot Noir producers, and a Burgundy seminar featuring Alan Meadows, aka Burghound. Next event is March 8-10, 2008. Register at: www.wopn.com.