This weekend event, now heading into its 17th year, will feature an unrivaled list of prominent chefs and winemakers benefiting the Palmer Family Education Foundation in partnership with the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation

Chef Charlie Palmer’s highly acclaimed Pigs & Pinot returns for its 17th year, welcoming Pinot Noir and pork lovers to celebrate the spirit of wine country while supporting essential funding for a variety of community-focused educational programs including culinary, music and art.

Held at Chef Palmer’s newly redesigned Dry Creek Kitchen and the award-winning Hotel Healdsburg, event tickets and a limited number of weekend hotel packages for March 15-17  go on sale on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 benefitting the Palmer Family Education Foundation (PFEF) in partnership with the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation.

“After sixteen years of support for the Sonoma County community, we’re thrilled to announce that the 17th annual Pigs & Pinot will be bigger and better than ever,” says Chef Charlie Palmer. “With the addition of new events, our new Pigs & Pinot partnership with Dustin Valette at The Matheson, and the development of The Palmer Family Education Foundation, we’ll be able to amplify our support for the next generation of chefs, winemakers and hospitality industry enthusiasts by supplying them with the necessary scholarships and funding to continue their advancement across a multitude of industries.”

A weekend-long series of intimate dining and educational seminars and events hosted by Chef Palmer, Pigs & Pinot is rooted in fostering the growth of the Sonoma County community, raising more than $1.5 million collectively since its inception. The evolution of this event has also served as a platform to further spotlight acclaimed local wineries, such as Healdsburg’s Papapietro Perry, who has specialized in single-vineyard wines for more than four decades and whose growth has accelerated in many parts due to its participation in Pigs & Pinot since 2006.

While the Palmer Family Education Foundation is currently undergoing 501(c) accreditation, the Sonoma County Vintners Association will be serving as non-profit partner to ensure funding is received for programs such as Healdsburg Center for the Arts, The Culinary Institute of America, Odyssey Wine Academy and Play it Forward Music Foundation, among others. Learn more about PFEF by visiting pigsandpinot.com/beneficiaries.

“We’re thrilled about the upcoming 17th Annual event, where we’ll celebrate with Charlie Palmer and esteemed celebrity chefs,” says Ben Papapietro, Co-Owner and Winemaker of Papapietro Perry. “Participating in Charlie Palmer’s Pigs & Pinot has been a joy and winning the Pinot Cup twice has been a true honor! This extraordinary weekend promises unique experiences with imaginative food, wine education, elegant dinners, and vibrant pairings, all within a lively party atmosphere. Beyond the excitement, it's a wonderful chance to give back to Sonoma County.”

For more information about Pigs & Pinot, including sponsors, talent, hotel packages, and more, visit pigsandpinot.com.

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THE 2024 PIGS & PINOT LINEUP

Featured Chefs
• Bryan Voltaggio, Thatcher & Rye
• Nancy Oakes, Boulevard Restaurant
• Dean Fearing, Fearing’s Restaurant
• Neal Fraser, Redbird and Vibiana
• Ryan Urig, Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Humuhumunukunukuāpua´a
• Dustin Valette, The Matheson
• David Nayfeld, Che Fico
• Mark Stark, Stark Reality Restaurants
• Duskie Estes & John Stewart, Black Pig Meat Co.

Pigs & Pinot Wine Director
Bob Cabral, Bob Cabral Wines

Participating Winemakers
• Matt Duffy, Vaughn Duffy Wines
• Jeff Mangahas, Williams Seylem
• Ben Papapietro, Papapietro Perry
• Gary Pisoni, Pisoni Family Vineyards
• Luisa Ponzi, Ponzi Vineyards
• Matt Michael, Baldassari Wines
• Mike Sullivan, Benovia Winery
• Chris Richard, Bricoleur Vineyards
• Jeff Stewart, Hartford Family Winery
• Tony Lombardi, Lombardi Wines

Pinot Cup Judges
• Virginie Boone, Wine Writer and Reviewer
• Meridith May, Publisher, The Tasting Panel & The Somm Journal
• Keith Goldston, Master Sommelier

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Friday, March 15
• Taste of Pigs & Pinot, 6:30-9pm
The festival kicks off with the lively Taste of Pigs & Pinot event, featuring a sample of 60 highly rated local Sonoma and global Pinot Noir wines, competing in the annual blind-tasting Pinot Cup competition judged by a panel of renowned experts. Tastings are served alongside a variety of pork dishes, including homemade sausages, charcuterie, grilled pork, patés and other special creations from Chef Palmer, Dry Creek Kitchen, guest celebrity chefs, and local Healdsburg restaurants including Molti Amici, Spoonbar, and Valette. All natural, sustainably raised pork will be provided by Carlton Farms and graciously donated by Corfini Gourmet Meat Co. À la carte tickets will be available for this event for $275 per person.

Saturday, March 16
• Tournament of the Pig, 10:30am-12:30pm
Exclusive to guests purchasing a weekend package, this Iron Chef-style competition invites two teams to create two distinct dishes using a whole pig and ingredients found at Dry Creek Kitchen, hosted by food loving actor and comedian Mario Cantone, taking place for the first time at Dustin Valette’s The Matheson. Chefs Charlie Palmer and Dustin Valette will jump in to help for this all-hands-on deck cook-off, with Chef Scott Romano joining as the resident butcher, and a pork-loving judging panel will determine the winning team.

• Ultimate Pinot Smackdown Seminar, 1:00-3:00pm
Join Master Sommeliers and smackdown veterans Keith Goldston and Michael Jordan competing against Andrea Robinson and David Yoshida for an exciting March Madness-inspired wine seminar. Each Master Sommelier enters the tent with four of their favorite Pinot Noirs covering four different categories, preparing for the “Battle Royale” to sell attendees on their wine choices and go head-to-head in a pitch contest. Guests will have the opportunity to taste each of these 16 wines and crown the winner. This event is available only to those purchasing weekend packages.

• Gala Dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen, 6:30pm
Featuring an elegant five-course dinner at Chef Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen, this collaborative offering highlights a signature creation from Palmer, Dry Creek Kitchen Executive Chef Shane McAnelly, and guest chefs including Dean Fearing, Neal Fraser, Nancy Oakes, Ryan Urig and Bryan Voltaggio. Each course will be paired with two limited-production Pinot Noirs from highly acclaimed wineries including Papapietro Perry, Pisoni Vineyards, Ponzi Vineyards, Vaughn Duffy Wines, and Williams Selyem. Dinner will be hosted by Bob Cabral.

• Gala Dinner at The Matheson, 6:30pm
New to Pigs & Pinot 2024, Saturday evening’s Pigs & Pinot Gala features a multi-course dinner at Dustin Valette’s The Matheson, emceed by certified sommelier, Spreti Valente. As a collaborative offering, each course features a signature creation from Valette and his guest chefs, including David Nayfeld, Mark Stark, Duskie Estes and John Stewart. Each course will be paired with two limited-production Pinot Noirs from highly acclaimed wineries, including Benovia Winery, Bricoleur Vineyards, Hartford Family Winery, and Lombardi Wines.
Limited seating options at both galas are reserved for Hotel Healdsburg package guests.