Ceago Vinegarden will host its lavender harvest event on Saturday, June 25, 2011. Courtesy photo.

NICE, Calif. – Ceago Vinegarden invites the community to experience its seventh annual Lavender Harvest and Distillation and Wine Club Members’ Appreciation Day on Saturday, June 25.

The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the vineyard, 5115 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

Meet in the courtyard and be greeted with a glass of Ceago wine in a commemorative glass. A hand-drawn artist map will guide you through the day’s activities.

Stroll the courtyard and enjoy your wine while observing the demonstration of soap making with Ceago's partner, Moon Essence.

Follow the path as it winds past the lavender fields where harvesting will be under way so that you can enjoy the experience of distillation. Learn how essential oil is produced and what ingredients make up hydrosol for our lavender spritzer.

The aromas and colors will fill your senses with delight as you pass by this part of the tour. One could easily imagine oneself being among the fields of Provence.

Look down the garden to the bounty of fresh produce, flowers and fruits and you will find our 100 year old olive trees surrounded with this bounty at our first food and wine pairing station. They will offer the fresh cheeses of local goat cheese maker Yerba Buena, petite vegetables with our balsamic vinaigrette and fresh made ricotta dip.

House baked breads and rosemary lavash will be paired with Kathleen’s Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. Next to this bounty will be walnut pesto pasta and a Ceago Rosé potato salad which will pair with Ceago Rosé. These are our first vintage wines of Barney Fetzer as the winemaker.

Continue your journey through the garden and down the walkway of the giant cypress trees. This will lead you beyond a beautiful wooden door where, on the other side, you’ll find the second food station accompanied by two famous local musicians, Austin & Owens.

Sit in the comfortable setting of the lavender, lake and our decorated pump house while listening to Flamenco guitar music and eating off of the grill. The grill will offer our very own homemade sausages and Ceago lamb paired with Rancho Gordo beans. House baked breads pair the Ceago Syrah and Rosé to perfection.

Mosey lakeside, passing the brilliant lavender and proceed under the canopy of enchanting olive trees where you will find the charcuterie. Sliced prosciutto and dried meats will top the butcher block along with rounds of aged cheeses.

Taste Ceago estate olive oil, the first harvest of olives, amidst a medley of organic olives. These will pair with delightful balsamic vinegar, bread sticks, artisan breads and of course Ceago Field Blend.

Travel the backside of the lavender field into the Mountain View Courtyard where you will find the seafood paella station. This is home to the newly-covered deck and bar. Sit in the courtyard, dining with our wine paring of Ceago Chardonnay and Merlot and dance to the music of another local band, Hansen & Raitt.

When finished with dining, the elegant Pomo Room offers a variety of homemade desserts; these are being made with our lavender and paired with Muscat and Late Harvest Semillon. Finish the night under the stars for a last dance before departing this wonderful event.

There also will be an array of artisan estate lavender products, soaps, lotions, fresh cut lavender, essential oil, olive oil, wine and much more for purchase.

Tickets are $45 for members of the public and $40 for Wine Club Members ($45 at the door). Advance purchase is requested. Call 707-274-1462, Extensionx 103 for more information or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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