Wine, Food, and Music: Outside Lands Music and Art Festival

(All photos by Shoshauna Leytus)

When Outside Lands was conceived the organizers wanted to bring great music to the park from around the world while highlighting the foods, wines, and arts that make the Bay Area such a special place. The ability to draw from so many amazing farms, restaurants, and wineries gives the region an "unfair" advantage over the rest of the country...maybe world but that is exactly what was found this weekend. The moment you walked through the gates you were not given options of traditional "fair" foods and nasty beer but fresh oysters from Tomales Bay shucked by Hog Island Oyster Co, gourmet sausage sandwiches by Fatted Calf,and of course wine...lots of really good wine.

The "Winehaven" was exactly that, a tent that provide a respite from the intense heat on Saturday and from the cold wind on Sunday. The wine tent had twenty-five wineries inside with two more out side the tent. All together there were close to eight wines being poured. The wines selected for the event were not your run of the mill "grocery store" wines but, for the most part, small family owned and operated wineries that produce small amounts of wine. At every booth you would have the chance to actually talk to the winemaker, owner or family member that could give you the low down on the wines. It was as if you were in Napa or Sonoma Valley but with better music and fewer tchotchkes.  The tent was always full during our visits but never too crowded that it became uncomfortable. A group of festival goers from Florida really enjoyed the tent, "...a civilized way to enjoy a festival with a really good selection of wines." When asked about the cost the only complaint I got was that the pours varied from table to table. The wine makers felt that this was one of the most unique wine tasting experiences that they could participate in and were excited to be invovled. Ed Kurtzman, of August West Wine, believed, "...this year appeared busier than last year and was much better organized." From a taster's perspective only one thing was a confusing but everyone seem content with the process.  Each table offered tastes and full glasses but you had to pre-buy a pack of tickets. Each pack cost $10.00 dollars (with each ticket representing $1) and you had to purchase a glass for $1.00. The majority of the tables charged between $2 and $3 for a 2 ounce taste and $8 to $12 for a 5 to 6 ounce pour. I purchased one packet and was able to tasate four wines: Roederer Estate Non-Vintage Brut Anderson Valley, Edmunds St. John "Heat of Gold" 2008 Vermentino/Grenache Blanc blend from El Dorado County, August West "Rosella's Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay 2007, and Unti Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Rosé 2008. I enjoyed all four wines very much. Roederer Estate Brut NV is continually one of my favorite domestic sparkling wines, for the money it is REALLY good. The Edmunds St. John white was beautiful. It is not often that you see a Vermentino/Grenache Blanc blend from anywhere and the wine showed beautifully, The aromatics were of stone fruits, mixed with a hint of yellow plum, white flowers and crushed gravel. I look forward to having a serious sit down with a bottle of the "Heart of Gold". Now I'm not know to go for a California Chardonnay when I have a limited budget but I was not feeling red at the time I made my decision and I made the right choice. The August West Chardonnay was a great example of what can be done out of Santa Lucia. It was not over ripe, over bearing or cloying. The oak was present but in a very pleasant way. The fruits were plump, round and rich but balanced with enough acidity to make the wine have a bright finish. More Chardonnay producers from California need to work towards this style: show the opulence of California weather but have some dignity by not "sluting" out your wine with sugar, oak and no acid. To be honest I was a bit bummed I could not get in a few more tastings but I was on a tight budget and still needed to eat.

 

The above piece of art was made by the team of Fatted Calf. At their booth there were two options that took me nearly five minuets to decided which to eat: The Italian or the Vietnamese. I chose the Vietnamese a grilled sausage with cilantro, shredded carrots, served on a soft French roll. I added spicy mustard to the left side and sriracha red chile sauce on the other. This combination was fantastic and kept my hunger at bay all day long!

Shauna's choice was a catfish Po Boy from Yats' New Orleans Orignial Po Boys and for good measure she got a side of "Eggplant Beniets". Now I know what you are thinking because we thought the exact same thing.But when someone yells, "They are crack!" how could you turn that down. Well, I have never had crack but these were really damn good. The entire dinining experience was fantastic! There was really good music too! I look forward to next year's Outside Lands!

(Below is Hillary of Yaks")

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