Okay, so I still think summer will get here eventually...I hope. Regardless, the summer events in the Calaveras wine region are firmly set and the line-up is enticing!
First - and always the most popular - is the Ironstone concert series. The 2011 schedule is heavy on the Country & Western theme with some cross-over/popular performers scheduled as well. At the present, the concerts include:
June 24-26 will mark the 15th anniversary of the Calaveras Passport weekend - annually one of the three most popular weekends of the Calaveras event calendar. Friday night at 6:00 p.m. the weekend kicks off with the popular "Taste the World of Calaveras" picnic in Murphys downtown park. The park is divided into five "countries/regions" where Calaveras wines with their origins in those regions will be paired with endemic food. Visitors can also pick up their credentials for the weekend Passport tastings - although many are now opting to attend the Friday festivities as a stand-alone event.
Then on Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, the CWA member wineries open their doors to Passport holders with special food, entertainment, special tastings (think library and/or barrel tastings), and - of course - special pricing on many wines. This event often sells out, so it is best to reserve your tickets early. This may be done simply by visiting www.calaveraswines.org.
This year, for the first time, the area concert series will not be limited to Ironstone. The Wineries of the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg is launching their first summer concert series - particularly convenient for the Sacramento wine and music lovers! While concerts are still being added, the series kicks off on June 19 with Randy Travis (there's that Country flavor again!). Cheap Trick is the second scheduled concert, to be held on September 16. A great deal of construction is underway in the open venue behind the wine galleria to turn this into a great concert venue. Secure your tickets - and check for new scheduled concerts - by visiting www.oldsugarmill.com.
So plan a musical summer with great concerts and great wine! I hope to see you there.
If you have any comments about this - or any - of my blog entries, please contact me at paladin.mod@gmail.com. I promise to answer all emails and will even post those which seem appropriate.
Cheer! And here's to a great summer season!
First - and always the most popular - is the Ironstone concert series. The 2011 schedule is heavy on the Country & Western theme with some cross-over/popular performers scheduled as well. At the present, the concerts include:
- Willie Nelson, a perennial favorite, kicking off the series on June 26
- The Steve Miller Band will perform on July 31
- Alan Jackson follows on August 26
- Sammy Hagar brings his rock show to the Ironstone Amphitheater on September 9
- The series closes on October 1 with Don Henley of the Eagles and his solo show.
June 24-26 will mark the 15th anniversary of the Calaveras Passport weekend - annually one of the three most popular weekends of the Calaveras event calendar. Friday night at 6:00 p.m. the weekend kicks off with the popular "Taste the World of Calaveras" picnic in Murphys downtown park. The park is divided into five "countries/regions" where Calaveras wines with their origins in those regions will be paired with endemic food. Visitors can also pick up their credentials for the weekend Passport tastings - although many are now opting to attend the Friday festivities as a stand-alone event.
Then on Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, the CWA member wineries open their doors to Passport holders with special food, entertainment, special tastings (think library and/or barrel tastings), and - of course - special pricing on many wines. This event often sells out, so it is best to reserve your tickets early. This may be done simply by visiting www.calaveraswines.org.
This year, for the first time, the area concert series will not be limited to Ironstone. The Wineries of the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg is launching their first summer concert series - particularly convenient for the Sacramento wine and music lovers! While concerts are still being added, the series kicks off on June 19 with Randy Travis (there's that Country flavor again!). Cheap Trick is the second scheduled concert, to be held on September 16. A great deal of construction is underway in the open venue behind the wine galleria to turn this into a great concert venue. Secure your tickets - and check for new scheduled concerts - by visiting www.oldsugarmill.com.
So plan a musical summer with great concerts and great wine! I hope to see you there.
If you have any comments about this - or any - of my blog entries, please contact me at paladin.mod@gmail.com. I promise to answer all emails and will even post those which seem appropriate.
Cheer! And here's to a great summer season!