Russian River Valley Winegrowers Announce In Concert With The Artisans Wineries, Chefs & Visual Artist

Russian River Valley Winegrowers (RRVW) announced today the line-up of wineries, chefs and visual artist for In Concert with the Artisans happening Friday, August 20th from 6:00pm to 10:00pm during its 15th Annual Grape to Glass weekend. RRVW's Grape to Glass events showcase the region's wine country lifestyle like no other celebration by blending music, art, education and recreation into its weekend of 17 artisan wine and food offerings. In Concert with the Artisans takes place at Hyatt Vineyard Creek in Santa Rosa's Historic Railroad Square and features music headliner Nick Palance, who is recording his upcoming album Saving Grace with Andrea Bocelli's Grammy Award winning producers.

WINERIES FEATURED IN VARIETAL GARDENS
Acorn Winery, Benovia Winery, C. Donatiello Winery, D & L Carinalli Vineyards, Davis Family Vineyards, Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Graton Ridge Cellars, Harvest Moon Winery, Hop Kiln Winery, John Tyler Wines, Joseph Swan Winery, Ketcham Estate, Landy Family Vineyards, Lauterbach Cellars, Lynmar Estate, MacMurray Ranch, Martin Ray Winery, Matrix Winery, Migration, Mueller Winery, Old World Winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Russian Hill Estate Winery, Siduri Wines, Thumbprint Cellars, TR Elliott, Tremani, Twomey Cellars and Zmor.

FEATURED CHEFS
The Brasserie at Hyatt Vineyard Creek with Executive Chef Richard Whipple; Bay Laurel Culinary with Chef & Owner Christopher Greenwald; El Coqui with Chef & Co-Owner Jacqueline Roman; Jack & Tony's with Chef & Proprietor Jack Mitchell; Nellie's Oysters with Chef & Owner Nellie Gamez; Syrah Bistro and Jackson's Bar & Oven with Chefs Josh Silvers and Jason Denton. The evening's desserts are hosted by Kozlowski Farms and Chocolates la carte.

VISUAL ARTIST ~ LIVE PERFORMANCE
Karina Nishi Marcus is a process-driven abstract painter and poet in Sonoma County, California. Marcus will paint live throughout the evening on a large canvas and says, "I work spontaneously to grow paintings as nature creates, looking through the visible world to the undercurrents of inner forces." A participant in the ARTrails Open Studio Tour for fifteen-years in Sonoma County, Marcus is represented by Art Pic gallery and has also displayed her work at the California Museum of Art, Quicksilver Gallery, ArtSpace404 to name a few. Her paintings can be seen on the sets of major motion pictures and television shows, including House, Monk, CIS NY, NCIS, Big Bang Theory and Did you hear about the Morgans? The painting will be auctioned off the following evening at RRVW's Hog in the Fog ~ A Festival of Plenty with net proceeds benefitting local educational AG programs.

Sponsored by Hyatt Vineyard Creek, Food & Wine magazine, WineCountry.com and Horizon Air, the evening is set amongst the Hyatt's verdant gardens, grapevines, fountains and sculptures, and begins with a varietal tasting from 6:00pm to 8:00pm with more than 40 Russian River Valley wineries showcasing the diversity of winegrapes grown in the region. Artisan food purveyors and local chefs will share bites of farm-to-table tastes, as well as offer $10.00 small plate dishes for purchase prior to the concert, while Hyatt Vineyard Creek's Brasserie Restaurant presents a cafe-style menu and seating on the fireside patio.

At the close of the varietal garden tasting at 8:00pm, RRVW will offer wines by the glass and bottles for purchase during the concert. Palance will perform songs from his upcoming album with his band and guest vocalist Lindsey Scott. At the close of the concert at 9:45pm, Hyatt Vineyard Creek will host a reception and signing with Palance in the grand ballroom, with an advance cut of his album available for special purchase.

Early bird general seating is $85.00, VIP $115.00 before August 10th. After August 10th, gen