The 26th Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival, considered one of Lake Tahoe’s premier gourmet events, is scheduled for September 9-11 at the Village at Northstar.

The three-day event kicks off Friday, September 9 with the always hilarious, annual rite of passage, the 8th Annual Village Grape Stomp and Vineyard Luncheon, with costumed teams furiously stomping fresh-from-the-vineyard grapes trying to extract the most juice. The team entry fee ($200 for 4 and $50 for those solo) includes grape stomping, wine and beer tasting and alfresco luncheon. For those not wanting to get their feet dirty, lunch/tasting only tickets are just $40/person.

Day two of the festival (Saturday, September 10) showcases some of the best culinary programs in the region, including three free outdoor seminars held in the heart of the Village at Northstar. Mark Estee, chef and owner of the wildly popular Truckee-based Moody’s Bistro & Lounge and Burger Me, which was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, hosts “Outdoor Grilling” at 11 a.m.. Chef Jason Gronlund, senior director of culinary and the executive chef for Hard Rock Café International, hosts “Cookin’ Hard Rock Style” at 12:15 p.m. and will showcase great techniques and delightful recipes. Local legend Douglas Dale of Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique in Tahoe City wraps up the free programs with “Cuisine Unique Cooking Demo” at 2:45 p.m. as he guides attendees in finding new elements, ingredients, techniques and unconventional food combinations. Also free to the public is the Gourmet Marketplace Trade Fair, where festival goers can sample and purchase olive oils, tapenades, olives, vinegars and gourmet products. There will also be artisan jewelry makers, photography exhibits and the North Tahoe Plein Air Art Show and Sale throughout the Village.

Saturday’s ticketed events are many and include both wine and food events, as well as a distillery party. A festival favorite is the Gourmet Marketplace Wine and Brew Walk with an entry fee of $25/person. In “Some Like it Hot” Chef Instructor Lars Kronmark of the Culinary Institute of America, Napa matches big, bold California wines with American BBQ food for $45/person. A great opportunity for budding chefs to cook side-by-side with their parents, Lara Ritchie of the Northing To It Culinary Center in Reno provides “Thai Spring Rolls” for $10/person. Enjoy wines from one of California’s newest wine destinations, Lake County, in “Wines with Altitude” for $40/person. Usually only available to the restaurant and wine trade, “Taste the Pride – Pride Mountain Vineyards Horizontal Tasting” runs $65/person. A not-to-be-missed is the Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook-Off when local culinary gurus David Lutz of Tahoe City’s Evergreen Restaurant and Sean Conry of Longboards Bar & Grill at Plumas Pines Golf Course in Graeagle go head-to-head Iron-Chef style with a secret ingredient unveiled at the start of the competition. Cost is $15/person. Saturday’s festivities wrap up with the “Charbay Artisan Winery & Distillery Annual Release Party” with master distiller Marko Karakasevic offering whiskey in all of its distilling stages along with appetizers prepared by Chef Jason Gronlund. Cost is $65/person. That evening attendees can enjoy winemaker dinners and special tastings at many North Lake Tahoe restaurants.

Day Three (Sunday, September 11) is the pinnacle of the festival with the Culinary Competition and Grand Tasting. It’s a gastronomic dream as 30 of the area’s finest restaurants, caterers and chefs from the Lake Tahoe region are paired with premium world-class wineries charged with creating the best marriage of food and wine. Tickets are $75/person online through September 9 and $90/person at the door.

For a complete list of festival programs, event descriptions, cost and to purchase tickets, as well as book deals on lodging, head to www.TahoeFoodandWine.com.

In addition to the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival, the Tahoe region plays hosts to the 2nd Annual Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week Sunday, October 2 through Sunday, October 9. This weeklong event gives food aficionados an opportunity to enjoy 3-course, prix-fixe menus at 60+ participating restaurants, both new and established favorites, throughout the Lake Tahoe region for $20, $30 or $40 per person. No tickets or coupons are required to enjoy these delicious offerings at exceptional values. For more details, menus offered during the week, other culinary events, and how to participate, click to www.TahoeRestaurantWeek.com.

The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival is a fundraiser for the Community Fund of North Lake Tahoe through the 501c(3) Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation.

For more information about North Lake Tahoe, including activities, spa, gaming and a list of restaurants, head to www.GoTahoeNorth.com.