Delicious Earth Day at Iron Horse Vineyards in Green Valley, April 27, 2014

Delicious Earth Day at Iron Horse Vineyards in Green Valley, April 27, 2014, is definitely on the list of “things to do.”

Everything out here in California seems delicious right now: the roses are gorgeous and not quite peaking, the days are hitting in low 80s, breezes are carrying the scent of flowers in bloom, and grape vines are just about ready to flower… It’s Mother Earth revisited, and we’re so lucky to be in this Russian River Valley land of wine…

One of my favorite earth people is Joy Sterling. Each year, when Earth Day comes around, Joy gathers wineries that have Green Valley wines, and they all celebrate Earth Day together at her family’s lovely winery. Joy is so accomplished in so many ways; and, each Earth Day is a reminder to us all that her family treasures their responsibility of stewardship for the land that’s been entrusted to them.

Besides the very special wines coming from Green Valley, the deliciousness is going to be delivered by the following food people:

• Menu by Chef Douglas Keene
  • Korean BBQ Tri Tip with Kimchee Fried Rice, Grilled Shrimp “Yakkitori” with Chilled Asparagus, Ham and Ponzu, and Vientamese Style Chicken Wings with Spicy Bean Sprout Slaw.
• Trio Ensaladas from the Iron Horse garden
  • Little Gem Lettuce with Caesar Dressing; Egg, Spring Onion and Shaved Fennel Salad with Flat Breads; Redwood Hill Goat Feta Cheese with Baby Greens.
• Pies from Patisserie Angelica
  • Meyer Lemon Pie with Torched Meringue, Organic Local Strawberry Pie with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream and a Light Glaze; Dark Chocolate Cream Pie with Fresh Local Whipped Cream; Banana Cream Pie with House Made Caramel, Tahitian Vanilla Bean Pastry Cream, Bananas and Fresh Local Whipped Cream.

I’m bringing my appetite… How about you?

This outdoor, festival style, walk around food and wine tasting is featuring Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from nine Green Valley wineries:

• DeLoach Winery
• Dutton Goldfield
• Freeman Winery
• Hartford Family Winery
• Iron Horse Vineyards
• Lynmar Estate
• Marimar Estate
• The Rubin Family of Wines
• Sequana Vineyards

The guest speaker on Sunday is going to be retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. I can hardly wait to meet her. It was her words that saved my sanity, during my early days of entry into the California wine industry. Wanting to get into the wine industry was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. In the midst of that first year, I had to keep telling myself the following quotation of hers, which I had read:

Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom.

Like all other years in the past, this Earth Day celebration has live music. This year it will by Trio Ellas – “three beautiful, talented young women whose unique sound combines traditional mariachi, romantic boleros, bluegrass and rock.” — Joy Sterling

Large scale sculptures by local artist John Pashilk will be on display… Yes, Joy surrounds herself by artists of every genre, being one herself (former journalist).

Demonstration of water saving aerial drones for agriculture, will be presented by Silicon Valley Robotics.

Tickets available on Cellar Pass.

• $65 for the main event
• $300 for the VIP
  • This includes a one-hour meet and greet with Justice O’Connor, at the home of Iron Horse founders Audrey and Barry Sterling.
  • It is limited to 100 guests, and is well worth it, having attended with Jose in the past.