Sample the Sierra Weekend of Festivities at South Lake Tahoe set for holiday weekend

Spend Labor Day Weekend in South Lake Tahoe sampling the best food, wine, and art in the Sierra Nevada Region. The 3rd annual Sample the Sierra farm-to-fork festival will take place on Sunday, Sept. 2 on Ski Run Boulevard.
This year, 15 local restaurants and farmers will be paired together to produce mouthwatering samples for festival-goers to enjoy. Each food sample will be paired with an accompanying wine, also local to the region.

There will be a marketplace open for attendees to shop locally made jewelry, art, woodworks and more. Live local music will entertain the crowds, along with scheduled cooking demonstrations by participating chefs using local seasonable products. Attendees will experience the bounty and heritage of the Tahoe region while sampling some of its best assets. Just $30 gets you full food and wine tasting, including a commemorative tasting glass.

While the highlight of the weekend is Sunday’s food and wine tasting event, Sample the Sierra kicks off on Friday night, August 31, with a Winemaker and Chef’s Table Dinner at Crystal Basin Bistro in Camino, Calif. For just $49, experience an up-close and personal five course dinner, each course paired with a different Crystal Basin Wine. During dinner, Chef Lisa Scott will walk you through the tasting notes to educate your palette.
On Saturday, September 1st, take a free tour of the Enchanted April Inn and their olive grove and lavender farm in Pilot Hill, Calif.

A lavender product will be given to each person who signs up for the tour. Retiredice Alpacas will also be holding free tours of their working Alpaca Ranch in Somerset, Calif. Meet the alpacas and see 100 percent hand-made alpaca apparel from local artists. Also on Saturday, Après Wine Company in South Lake Tahoe will be hosting a Sample the Sierra Sip & Shop. For $10, experience Synapse Wines from Placerville, Calif., while sampling finger foods and shopping local artisans featured in the Après Wine Company’s retail shop.

If you will be staying in South Lake Tahoe during the week leading up to Labor Day, be sure to check out the various lodging packages on the website. Look for participating restaurants offering special “Sample the Sierra” menu items or promotions featuring local wines or local products. Visit a participating restaurant and receive $5 off your ticket to Sunday’s tasting event.

The holiday weekend will culminate on Sunday night with a fireworks extravaganza over the lake. For more information, tickets to the various Sample the Sierra events, and lodging packages visit www.SampletheSierra.com or go to the Facebook page here.