Celebrate the Hella Chenin Festival: A Tasting Experience on May 3 in Berkeley, CA

In California’s wine country, wine tasting events abound for various grape varieties and regions. However, until recently, there hasn’t been a festival dedicated solely to the Chenin Blanc grape. This changes on May 3rd with the inaugural Hella Chenin Festival, celebrating both California and South African Chenin Blancs.

Chenin Blanc is currently enjoying a revival, particularly in California. A recent extensive tasting revealed a remarkable selection of this grape in the state. Meanwhile, South African producers are also making a mark with old vines and innovative winemakers, crafting some of the world’s most exciting white wines from Chenin.

Hella Chenin will take place at Hammerling Winery in North Berkeley. The event kicks off with a panel discussion featuring winemakers Tegan Passalaqua from California’s Sandlands and Bernhard Bredell from South Africa’s Scions of Sinai. This session will delve into what makes Chenin Blanc unique. Following this, attendees can look forward to an afternoon filled with tastings, food, live music, and more.

The festival will showcase 26 California producers of Chenin Blanc along with 10 from South Africa. While the panel tickets are sold out, $50 tickets for the public tasting are still available, with all proceeds benefiting LA fire relief efforts.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, May 3
• Time: 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
• Location: Hammerling Wines, 1350 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710 (map)

This festival offers a rare chance for wine enthusiasts to explore the versatility of Chenin Blanc and discover the exceptional wines it can produce. It promises to be a delightful and educational experience for all attendees.

You can purchase tickets for the tasting here.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!