TAPAS Grand Wine Tasting - Fort Mason, San Francisco Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society

The Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) is hosting the most extensive annual tasting of domestically produced Spanish and Portuguese varietal wines in North America, for the third year, in San Francisco.  Grapes native to the Iberian Peninsula produce some of the hottest-selling wines on the market right now, but not many people know that there are excellent and unique domestic versions being grown, too.  Trade and general consumers will have the unique opportunity to sample wines from over 30 participating wineries and learn about varieties like Tempranillo, Albariño, Garnacha, Graciano, Mourvedre, Touriga, Verdelho, Bastardo and more.  Many of the TAPAS members are limited-production, family-owned boutique wineries and will be pouring small lot wines that are not widely available.  This year the event will be held at the Fort Mason Herbst Pavilion on Saturday, June 5, 2010.

From 2:00 to 5:00 pm consumers will have an opportunity to taste wines produced by TAPAS members from grape varieties indigenous to Spain and Portugal that are now cultivated in America, in a casual walk-around setting where they may chat with the growers and producers.  These delightful domestic wines originate in Arizona, California, and Oregon.  Chef Marco Rauch will tantalize your palate with “The World’s Most Delicious Paella” to accompany the wines.  Local restaurants and food purveyors from around the Bay Area will be on hand with samples designed to pair with the Iberian varieties.  

TAPAS President Jeff Stai, Twisted Oak Winery, Murphys CA, says “We're excited to be able to create an event where consumers can branch out beyond the common varietals and discover a new world of flavors. Come join us and have a Spanish Inspiration!”

Tickets for the consumer tasting are $35 in advance, available online at tapas2010.eventbrite.com , or $50 at the door.  For directions to the Fort Mason Center, visit www.fortmason.org .  This special event can be reached by Muni bus lines 28 or 22.  

Attendees must be 21 years of age or older and present ID at the door.  Please bring your confirmation email to the event.  Event tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) is a trade association comprised of approximately eighty members, whose mission is: “To promote Tempranillo and other varietal wine grapes native to the Iberian Peninsula and wines produced from them in North America.”   See www.tapasociety.org .