Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Festival of wines returns to Sanctuary

Beer Snob | September 27th, 2017

Daou Vineyards: First appearance in North Dakota

As our days get shorter and the evenings longer, thoughts of fall and the upcoming holiday season are not far behind; and of course, for many, that means wine season and entertaining indoors.

It also means that one of the best wine events of the year is right around the corner. The 2017 Festival of Wines at the Sanctuary Event Center is the perfect event for many different types of wine drinkers, and with it coming almost a month earlier this year, it means an even better opportunity to find just the right wines for your party needs.

From $10 to over $50 a bottle and with options that include reds, whites, rosés, ports and sparkling wines, there is bound to be something there for every wine drinker’s tastes.

With 100 different wines at 20 tables throughout two levels at the beautiful Sanctuary Event Center, this night is not only an opportunity to party a bit, but also to educate your palate.

I suggest you make a plan of attack when the full wine list is released and focus on wines you are interested in so as not to get overwhelmed.

In this, the second year of this wine tasting extravaganza, there are some minor changes that will mean major tasting opportunities for all.

Unlike last year, where VIP tickets were sold that allowed access to sample the finest of wines, ALL of the wines available for sampling will be available for everyone who purchases a $25 ticket.

That means you don’t need to pay twice the price to get a taste of the wines that consistently get rave reviews and 90+ point ratings from all the reputable sources. Wines like Rutherford’s Round Pond ($60), Emmolo Merlot ($60), The Prisoner Red Blend ($45), and one of my personal favorites, the Belle Glos Clark & Telephone ($59) will all be ready to drink and opened early so that they have some time to breathe.

If you have never experienced a high quality wine like these, an opportunity to taste several in one night is an experience that is without a doubt worth the price of a $25 ticket.

One special treat this year is that this event will also serve as a launch into the North Dakota market for DAOU Vineyards, a highly acclaimed winery near Paso Robles, California.

Being that the wines have never been to our market yet, all I know of DAOU are the stories of how Daniel and Georges Daou wandered a large swath of California in search of just the right land to build a showcase or destination winery.

After checking out all the “hotspots” like Napa Valley, and Knights Valley as well as entertaining the idea of starting out in France, they settled on a ranch in Paso Robles near a mountain that has since taken on the name Daou mountain.

What really made their decision was not only a belief that this particular area of California was prime real estate to grow incredible Bordeaux-style wines but a sense of something special in the terroir and soil.

The Daou family must really be onto something because wines from both their Estate and Reserve collections have received 90+ ratings with their 2013 “Soul of a Lion” blend boasting a huge 96 point rating from both Robert Parker and Wine Enthusiast. Seek out these new-to-our-market wines and be one of the first in town to experience the best Paso Robles has to offer.

Every ticket purchased includes a Riedel wine glass with a commemorative Festival of Wines charm as well as some light food like meats and cheeses from Chef’s Table Catering.

Tickets are available at the tickets300 box office, 306 University Dr N, 866-300-8300, or online at tickets300.com.

And with over 100 wines to sample, I really urge you to plan ahead with a designated driver or be prepared to call a ride service to get home safely.

IF YOU GO

2017 Festival of Wines

Thursday, October 19, 6-8pm

Sanctuary Events Center, 670 4th Ave N

$25, 21+, 701-404-9006

Recently in:

By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.com The business of Indian Hating is a lucrative one. It’s historically been designed to dehumanize Native people so that it’s easier to take their land. ‘Kill the Indian, save the man,”…

SHSND delves into their ornament collectionBy Jenny Yearoushistory@nd.govIn 2017 we received Christmas ornaments from the North Dakota Former Governors’ Residence. The ornaments were gifts from local chapters of the Germans from…

Saturday, December 21, 7 p.m.Drekker Brewing, 1666 1st Avenue N, FargoEmbrace the naughty and celebrate the dark side of the solstice. From 7-close, Drekker’s mavens of mischief transform their taproom. There’s a photo booth,…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com I’m really sick of the “Nobody wants to work anymore” narrative. Like, really sick. I can’t hide the eye rolls and I don’t even try to hide them anymore. In fact, I feel like they’ll…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comA new type of Civil War: “smash-and grab” capitalism and healthcare The Divided States of America has the greatest economic inequality among wealthy nations on Planet Earth and has birthed a…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com In this land of hotdish and ham, the knoephla soup of German-Russian heritage seems to reign supreme. In my opinion though, the French have the superior soup. With a cheesy top layer, toasted baguette…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.com Local band Zero Place has been making quite a name for itself locally and regionally in the last few years. Despite getting its start during a time it seemed the whole world was coming to…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Writer-director Nicole Riegel’s sophomore feature “Dandelion” is now playing in theaters following a world premiere at South by Southwest in March. The movie stars KiKi Layne as the…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comIn 1974, the Jamestown Arts Center started as a small space above a downtown drugstore. It has grown to host multiple classrooms, a gallery, performance studio, ceramic studio and outdoor art park.…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…

By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com On Dec 5, the Turning Point USA chapter at North Dakota State University hosted an event called BisonFest. This event featured Chloe Cole, a former trans kid, known for detransitioning and…

By Curtis W. Stofferahn, Ph.D.Curtis.stofferahn@email.und.edu In June, two events markedly contrasted the difference between two different visions of agriculture: precision agriculture and regenerative agriculture. The dedication…