Wayfarer Wins Pigs & Pinot Ultimate Smackdown

Pigs & Pinot 2015 Recap
On March 20-21, pork and pinot lovers from around the country gathered in Sonoma wine country for Chef Charlie Palmer’s Tenth Annual Pigs & Pinot weekend, held at the award-winning Hotel Healdsburg and Dry Creek Kitchen. Our honored guest chefs, Michael Kornick, Ludo Lefebvre, Nancy Oakes and Bryan Voltaggio, along with local Sonoma County restaurants and over 60 Pinot Noir-producing winemakers, lent their talents to raise serious funds for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® Campaign and local Sonoma county charities and scholarships. 

“This was truly the culmination of ten amazing years celebrating the marriage of pork and Pinot Noir,” says Chef Charlie Palmer of the successes of the weekend’s events, “We have been incredibly fortunate to have such immense support from our Pigs & Pinot team, celebrity chefs, Pinot producers, and Sonoma County’s food and wine community. This support has allowed us to raise over $600,000 for Share our Strength and local Sonoma County scholarships and charities over the course of ten years.”

At the "March Madness" style Ultimate Sommelier Smackdown Seminar competition led by master sommeliers—Keith Goldston, Jay James, Drew Hendricks, and Michael Jordan—each host entered his personal selection of four Pinot Noirs from around the world and then “pitched” the audience on why their wine picks were the best. Four rousing rounds later, the audience ultimately named Michael Jordan the 2015 Smackdown King for selecting the winning wine, Wayfarer 2012, The Traveler, Fort Ross Seaview, Sonoma Coast, California. Tendril 2012, “White Label” Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon selected by Keith Goldston was awarded runner-up.