For three days, starting Friday, September 4, an elite group of 12 rising–star sommeliers will arrive in Sonoma County to serve as special guest, all-star wine guides at key events throughout this year’s Sonoma Wine Country Weekend. The 2015 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, presented by Visa Signature®, takes place over Labor Day weekend, Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 6.

• This year’s Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Sommelier Stars are:
• Hal Dearing with Harry's Continental Kitchens, Longboat Key, FL
• Matt Dulle with St. Louis Club, St. Louis, MO
• Bill Elsey with Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Houston, TX
• Sean Ganthner with Rothmann’s Steakhouse, East Norwich, NY
• Brandon Kerne, with Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Houston, TX
• Sebastien Le Goff with Cactus Restaurants, Vancouver, BC
• Marissa Payne with InterContinental Hotels Group, San Francisco, CA
• Peter Vargas of Lost Tree Club, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
• Mariel Wega with a.kitchen + bar, Philadelphia, PA
• Stephen Weir, The Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour in North Miami, FL
• Tyler Wesslund of edison: food + drink lab, Tampa, FL
• Rania Zayyat of laV Restaurant & Wine Bar, Austin, TX

The weekend events kick-off for the sommelier participants on Friday September 4 at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel and Spa where they will vie for the title of Top Sommelier for the Weekend. The Sommelier Star Competition challenges participants to a blind tasting of Sonoma County wines, a food and Sonoma County wine pairing, presentation skills and service techniques. The winner of the competition will be showcased two days later in an early lot at the Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction at Chateau St. Jean in Kenwood, California.

In addition to the Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction, the Sommelier Star participants will also bring their discriminating palates to lead seminars, tours and blind tasting challenges at Sonoma Wine Country Weekend’s Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Estate Vineyards held on Saturday, September 5.

“Rodney Strong Vineyards connection and commitment to sommeliers and to the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Sommelier Stars program is stronger than ever. Sommeliers are our guides to wine enjoyment, offering wine selection advice and encouraging exploration,” says Carmen Castaldi, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Rodney Strong Vineyards. “We are proud to share Sonoma County with them as they share their talents with us and our guests during this wonderful weekend of events.”

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend brings together the wine industry and guests with the shared goal of raising funds to support youth and children for future success, safeguard the local environment and improve health and welfare of communities throughout Sonoma County. In 2014, over $3 million was raised for local charities and to-date over $16 million has been invested in Sonoma County’s future through more than 125 local organizations.

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend is co-produced by Sonoma County Vintners and Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers. To buy tickets and plan your Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, please visit www.SonomaWineCountryWeekend.com