Authentic Cajun food, music and parade planned

Meadowcroft Wines will jumpstart the Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras celebrations when they host their 2nd Annual Mardi gras Party in authentic Louisiana style at the tasting room on Saturday, February 18 from 12 to 4 p.m. Located at Cornerstone Sonoma (23574 Arnold Drive/Hwy 121) the party will be rocking with music by San Francisco-based St. Gabriel’s Celestial Brass Band, a ten-piece band back for a second  year, who are billed as the only authentic jazz/funeral/ Mardi Gras/strolling/marching band west of New Orleans. Members of the band will lead a Second Line parade around the Cornerstone shops and gardens, returning to the Pavilion directly behind the tasting room where the Krewe of Meadowcroft party will continue.  Also returning will be the Dancing Cajuns from Eunice, Louisiana.

The food this year will feature authentic red beans and rice, French bread, salad and King cake.  Additionally, the pièce de résistance will be a whole smoked pig prepared by Margie Brooke of Community Café and Catering. Other than the pig, all ingredients for the food originate from Louisiana.

“We set the bar pretty high for ourselves with our inaugural Mardi gras last year,” said Tom Meadowcroft, owner and winemaker of Meadowcroft Wines. “It was a complete success and it is now becoming a tradition of its own with excellent Louisiana-style music, food and fun.”

Last year’s Queen and King of Mardi gras, radio host and Press Democrat food writer Michelle Ana Jordan and former Sonoma Mayor and current Mayor Pro Tem Ken Brown, will return to crown the new Krewe of Meadowcroft Queen and King, who will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Krewe of Meadowcroft Mardi gras party is $45 per person in advance and beginning on February 11 $55 per person.  Reservations are recommended as tickets to the event will be limited. The ticket price covers wine, food, music, parade participation and fun! Tickets may be purchased by calling the tasting room at (707) 934-4090 or online at www.meadowcroftwines.com.

Meadowcroft Wines includes the Meadowcroft, Thomas Henry and Foyt Family labels. The tasting room is located within the Cornerstone Sonoma and features 24 world-class gardens, a gourmet café, art galleries and cutting-edge design shops all set among acres of vineyards.

Meadowcroft Wines is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The venue is available for private parties, private tastings, wine dinners and other events.  With plenty of free parking at Cornerstone Sonoma, the area is a perfect setting for any type of event, both indoors or outdoors. For information or to make reservations, call (707) 934-4090.