Gourmet food trucks, a charitable giving component and the latest releases from 45 area wineries are just some highlights awaiting guests at “Best of the Blue,” an exclusive new food and wine event presented this November by the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association (MCVGA).

The gathering, which takes place at Del Monte Aviation’s private executive hangar from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, 2011, will feature top Monterey County blends and take a creative look at influences distinguishing this region’s wines. The Best of the Blue title references the Blue Grand Canyon, a Grand Canyon-sized underwater gorge in the Monterey Bay that shapes fog patterns and temperatures throughout Monterey County’s 90-mile grape growing area. Artwork and exhibits will explore the Blue Grand Canyon, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, local agriculture and the 42 varietals grown in Monterey Wine Country.

Representatives from Bernardus Winery, Talbott Vineyards, Figge Cellars, Wrath Wines and other area producers will pour throughout the afternoon, and bottles will be available for purchase at the event’s “Try & Buy” wine marketplace. Guests will receive an eco-friendly wine bag with their first wine purchase.

A limited number of tickets to a special VIP tasting with West Coast Wine Enthusiast Editor Steve Heimoff and select local winemakers will also include early entrance to the main event, appetizers, a complimentary Riedel glass and VIP parking. That tasting takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Del Monte Aviation’s Fireside Lobby.

Several gourmet food trucks will serve local fare during Best of the Blue, including Aqua Terra Culinary, which specializes in seasonal, farm-to-table dishes, Babaloo Cuban Cuisine, A Piece of Cake Bakery and Pig Wizard, a popular favorite producing homemade sausages. Local growers will provide take-home packages that include fresh salad grown in area fields, and guests can purchase chocolates and other sweets on site. Williams-Sonoma will be on hand, as well, providing holiday food and wine pairing suggestions.

The event also includes an important charitable piece, explains MCVGA Executive Director Rhonda Motil.

“We are purchasing all of the furniture that people can relax in in the lounge area. The lounge will feature a social networking wine question-and-answer session, as well as sustainable wines,” she says. “After the event, we will donate that furniture to a local shelter that secures housing for displaced families.”

The $60 Best of the Blue ticket price includes all food and drink. For tickets, VIP entrance and additional information, visit www.montereywines.org or call 831-375-9400.

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