31st Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Winners Announced

Press Contact:
Connie Anderson
The Abbi Agency for North Lake Tahoe
(775) 323-2977
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31^st Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Winners Announced

North Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev. (XX) – After a weekend filled with various festivities, ranging from a hands-on mixology class to numerous farm-to-table dinners and more, the 31^st Anniversary of the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival ended Sunday, Sept. 11, with the much-anticipated Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting in The Village at Northstar California Resort.

Leading up to Sunday’s grand finale, Saturday hosted one of the festival’s most talked about events, the Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook Offã. This year executive chef William Burns of Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats and executive chef Brett Moseley of Martis Camp competed in the hour-long competition producing three-course meals. Chef Burns was awarded the title of Blazing Pansã Mountain Chef Champion.
Sunday’s Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting featured nearly two dozen restaurants paired with premium wines, craft beers or spirits. More than 40 wines were poured over the weekend along with a selection of handcrafted beverages from prestigious breweries and award-winning distilleries. The Judges Choice Award is granted to the winner of a blind tasting by a panel of industry experts including professional wine judges, professional chefs, culinary experts and food and wine pairing experts. The 2016 Judges Choice Award Winner is Jake’s on the Lake paired with Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs. The second competition, People’s Choice Award, is chosen by festival attendee’s ballot votes. The 2016 People’s Choice Award Winner is Sunnyside Restaurant paired with Pride Mountain Vineyards.

A complete list of the Judges Choice and People’s Choice winners is included below:

Culinary Competition Winners:

Best Pairing

1^st Place:  Jake’s on the Lake paired with Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs

2^nd Place:  Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows featuring Rocker @ Squaw paired with Illanta Wines

3^rd Place:  Farm to Belly Catering paired with Big Tar Wine Company

Best Red Wine

1^st Place:  Chateau Gassier

2^nd Place:  Big Tar Wine Company

3^rd Place:  Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs

Best White Wine

1^st Place:  Ransom Wine Company

2^nd Place:  MacLeod Family Vineyard

3^rd Place:  Handley Cellars

Best Food

1^st Place:  Longboards Bar & Grill

2^nd Place:  Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique

3^rd Place:  Martis Camp

Best Beverage Other Than Wine

1^st Place:  Tozai “Typhoon” Premium Japanese Sake

2^nd Place:  Watermelon Bellini by Manzanita at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

3^rd Place:  Charbay Artisan Distillery

Judges Mention

Marich Premium Chocolates

People’s Choice Winners:

Best Pairing: Sunnyside Restaurant paired with Pride Mountain Vineyards

Best Food: Sunnyside Restaurant

Best Red Wine: Pride Mountain Vineyards

Best White Wine: ZD Wines

Best Other Than Wine: Charbay Artisan Distillery

Best Beer: DNA Brewing Company

Best Table Presentation: Plumpjack Café paired with Orin Swift Cellars

For more information about the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival, visit www.TahoeFoodandWine.com. For more information about North Lake Tahoe visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

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About North Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a crown jewel of the Sierra. Formed approximately two million years ago, it is the largest alpine lake in North America and the second deepest in the United States. North Lake Tahoe spans two states and boasts two dozen beaches, twelve ski resorts, hundreds of miles of biking trails, half a dozen communities, and a growing number of nationally recognized human-powered events, races and festivals. North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport. Visitor information centers are located at 100 North Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City and 969 Tahoe Boulevard in Incline Village. For the latest deals, check out the Cool Deals tab on www.gotahoenorth.com

About Northstar California Resort
Northstar California™ is home to a base area village featuring unique shops and restaurants, a conference center, 9,000 square foot outdoor skating rink, movie theaters, on-site lodging, special events and more. A winter sport enthusiast’s paradise, Northstar offers 100 ski trails spread across 3,170 acres, award-winning terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and Telemark skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. Summer activities include mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking, fly-fishing and more.

Northstar is located on Highway 267, just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.