One of the things that makes Folsom such an attractive place to live is its proximity to the many wineries in the Sierra Foothills. Within a half-hour’s drive, you can enjoy award-winning wines in Amador, El Dorado, and Placer counties. To say we’re spoiled for choice is an understatement!
But, despite the density of wineries and genuinely excellent wines adjacent to Folsom, up until recently, there had never been a locally judged wine event.
We set out to change that when we created the Foothill Wine Fest a few years ago. Our goal? To showcase the best wines in the region, as judged by the experts, with awards for the best white, red, and sparkling wines.
Open to wines from the Sierra Foothills AVA, including Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, and Tuolumne, it’s become an annual event that attracts wineries and wine lovers from Greater Sacramento and beyond.
This year’s judges included media, sommeliers, and wine buyers from California and Nevada, including Rick Kushman, a wine commentator for Capital Public Radio; Mike Dunne, a longtime Northern California-based wine journalist; and Carrie Boyle, a wine writer for Sacramento Magazine online.
Our panel of experienced all-star judges assessed just under 400 entries this year. They awarded five Best of Show awards, 32 Best of Region wines (the top competitors in each category of wines entered with a Gold and above), 26 Double Golds, 156 Gold, 146 Silver, and 54 Bronze medals!
But we wanted to take it further and celebrate our region’s exceptional wines. On November 9, I hope you join us at the Foothill Wine Fest, where we’ll celebrate all the wines that participated in the competition.
The event, to be held at Palladio Folsom, will feature tastes from award-winning Sierra Foothill wineries wines from over 30 wineries, including Best of Show winners Findleton Estate, Cooper Winery, Bella Grace, Gwinllan Estate Winery, and Windwalker Winery.
Whether you consider yourself an oenophile, are curious about what a Best of Show wine tastes like, or simply want to enjoy catching up with friends, you won’t want to miss it.
The evening will be an ideal balance of wine tasting and an opportunity to connect and reconnect with community members. I hope you’ll join me.
If you’re coming from outside Folsom, I invite you to book a wine weekend package. It includes a two-night stay, a $25 Lyft gift card, and two Foothill Wine Fest tickets. It’s a terrific value and an opportunity to explore the region’s wineries.
An event like this doesn’t come together on its own. The Choose Folsom team has worked hard to ensure it’s a success. Thanks to all who have supported the event, including presenting sponsors Prime Real Estate and the Law Office of Tiffany L. Andrews, P.C.
See the complete list of participating wineries and buy tickets at FoothillWineFest.com.
Joe Gagliardi is the CEO of Choose Folsom and the Folsom Chamber of Commerce. Folsom Times is a Chairman’s Circle Partner with the Chamber of Commerce and Choose Folsom.
