Larkspur Winery Hosts MALT Benefit Saturday

Marin County's wine industry is a well-kept secret, but those in the know will celebrate some of the area's finest vintages this weekend.

It's easy enough to overlook Larkspur's historic Escalle Winery without any billboards or fancy signs to lure people past its brick facade. The winery opens its gates Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. for an annual wine tasting to benefit Marin Agricultural Land Trust.

"The wine industry in Marin is tiny compared to Napa and Sonama, but the quality of our wines is getting lots of press recently," said Mia Pelletier, spokesperson for MALT.

Tickets are $55, including valet parking and a souvenir wine glass. Locally-produced cheeses and snacks will also be available. Tickets are available at the door or through MALT.

Some of the wine, including Bailiwick Wines, Couloir Wines, Deloach Vineyards, Easkoot Cellars, Pey-Marin Vineyards, Skywalker Vineyards and Willowbrook Cellars, comes from vineyards on MALT-protected farmland. Other wineries at the tasting will include: Burning Bench Cellars, Corda Winery, Kendric Vineyards, Pacheco Ranch Winery, Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Point Reyes Vineyards, Sean Thackrey and Stubbs Vineyard.

The tasting, as usual, will be dominated by Pinot Noir, which Pelletier explains, thrives in Marin's climate. She said chardonnays are coming into their own and Point Reyes Vineyards produces an excellent sparkling wine.

"A big part of this event is raising awareness for a value-added product that is often overlooked," Pelletier said.