WILLITS, CA – On Saturday, November 5, 12-5 pm, Mendocino County Museum’s Mushroom, Wine and Beer Camp will welcome its first campers! An outdoor tasting adventure awaits for those 21 and up – with the majestic backdrop of Wente Scout Reservation just 7 miles east of Willits, tucked away amidst Douglas firs and golden meadows surrounding an 80-acre lake. With a mushroom-themed culinary competition among top local chefs, mushroom walks, wine, beer and cider tastings, classic day camp activities, music, and more, the Mushroom, Wine and Beer Camp is the flagship event for the annual Mushroom, Wine and Beer Festival. The event attracts locals and visitors alike eager to enjoy Mendocino County’s unparalled beauty and learn about its rich mushroom traditions, and raises important funds for the Museum.
The adventure begins upon arrival, via bus or car, at Wente Scout Reservation. Join a professional judging panel in tasting the best wine, beer and mushroom fare in Mendocino County with the option to vote for the “People’s Choice” award in each category – though deciding will be difficult when the competitor list includes such notable chefs as David LaMonica of Mendocino’s Café Beaujolais, Julia Conway of Assaggiare Mendocino, Nicholas Petti and Mendocino College’s Culinary Institute, Good Earth Kitchen, Nikos Gyro Shop, Rolands Bakery & Bistro and many other enticing entrants. Tres Bien Creamery and Shamrock Artisan Goat Cheese will offer their handmade local cheeses to complement the pours of Bite Hard Cider and wines from vineyards such as Bonterra, Navarro, Barra of Mendocino & Girasole, Handley Cellars, Bink Wines, Greenwood Ridge, Knez Winery and Signal Ridge.
In the afternoon, after a barbecue of smoked organic meats and mushrooms, follow local expert Eric Schramm of Mendocino Mushrooms as he leads his renowned mushroom discovery walks; take a class in food and wine pairing or nature painting, or get a henna tattoo! Compete for prizes with games such as bingo, trivia, Grid Beam building contests (a Maker Faire favorite!), minute-to-win- it games, a classic pie-eating contest, and more! Campfires and s’mores will close the day before campers board the bus back to the Museum at 5:00 pm.
For tickets and a continuously updated list of participants please visit
www.MendocinoMuseum.org. For more information, email [email protected] or
call 707-459- 2736.
All proceeds from the Mushroom, Wine and Beer Camp benefit the Mendocino County Museum and help the Museum continue its work of collecting, conserving, presenting, and celebrating the stories and lives of the places and people of Mendocino County. Learn more about local history and the Mendocino County Museum’s temporary, permanent, and upcoming exhibits at
www.MendocinoMuseum.org or visit the Museum in Willits.
