Berkeley Wine Festival

California and fine wines are synonymous. The Third Annual Berkeley Wine Festival at The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa, celebrates the vineyards and wineries of California’s Sonoma, Napa and Central Coast regions. After the Grand Opening Reception on March 2 at 6:30 p.m., the Berkeley Wine Festival highlights a single vineyard every Wednesday from March 7 to April 25 at 6:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from each of the Festival’s events will benefit Wine to Water, which is focused on providing clean water to needy people around the world. Dishes for each dinner held at Meritage will be created by awarding-winning Rising Star Executive Chef Josh Thomsen to complement the vintner’s selections.

“The Berkeley Wine Festival brings the flavorful wines of Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast to our guests and local residents who may not have a chance or time to visit the areas,” said Executive Chef Josh Thomsen. “Our team is ecstatic for the terrific line up for this year’s festival and look forward to raising money for a great cause like Wine to Water.”

Below is a schedule of events and pricing:

• Friday, March 2 (for $65 per person): The festival will kick off with the Grand Opening Reception. More than 45 wines will be available for sampling and Chef Thomsen has invited other well known Berkeley chefs including Sean Baker (Gather), Rick DeBeaord (Café Rouge), Amy Murray (Venus & Revival Kitchen), Yang Pang (Wood Tavern), Paul Arenstam (Summer Kitchen), The Cheese Board Collective and more that will offer there signature creations.

• Wednesday, March 7 (for $125 per person): The Berkeley Wine Festival will feature Hirsch Vineyards, which overlooks the Pacific on the Sonoma Coast, the first vineyard in the area planted to produce premium pinot noir. Owner David Hirsch and his daughter Jasmine will lead an evening focused on their “farming-first” philosophy and minimal intervention winemaking approach.

• Wednesday, March 14 (for $155 per person): Vice President and Director of Wine Making Damian Parker will present his wines from Joseph Phelps Vineyards Freestone project. Guests will enjoy a four course dinner with a full range of wines, including the famous Bordeaux blend Insignia.

• Wednesday, March 21 (for $125 per person): Julie Johnson from Tres Sabores Winery returns for the second time to showcase her exceptional boutique wines. Chef Thomsen will utilize many of the ingredients found on Julie’s property to make this a truly “vineyard to table” evening.

• Wednesday, March 28 (for $130 per person): Legendary screenwriter (The Karate Kid, The Fifth Element and Taken) Robert Kamen will present his organically farmed wines from the Mayacamas Range in Sonoma including his viognier, sauvignon blanc and award winning cabernet.

• Wednesday, April 4 (for $165 per person): April gets kicked off with Silver Oak Winemaker Daniel Baron discussing the vineyard’s continuing commitment to cabernet sauvignon. Daniel will showcase several vintages of Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley and Napa Valley cabernets as well as their Twomey Cellars pinot noirs and merlots.

• Wednesday, April 11 (for $195 per person): Considered by many to be America’s first growth, Opus One is a legendary winery whose name is synonymous with perfection and harmony. Winemaker Michael Silacci will lead a dinner with these popular and highly desirable wines from California.

• Wednesday, April 18 (for $125 per person): The second-to-last event of the festival brings Cakebread Cellars Owner Dennis Cakebread to the Claremont for an evening featuring their sauvignon blanc, merlot and reserve wines from Napa Valley.

• Wednesday, April 25 for (for $125 per person): Justin Baldwin from Paso Robles’ Justin Vineyards & Winery will lead the last event of the Berkeley Wine Festival. Located on California’s Central Coast, Justin has focused on producing world class Bordeaux style blends since founding the winery in 1981 and his commitment has lifted the winery to the top of its class and made it a celeb favorite.