Annual food and wine event

Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast launches new charity run and expanded adventure tours

Leveraging our region’s active outdoor lifestyle, the organizers of Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast recently announced they will launch a new SAVOR Run and expanded adventure tours in San Luis Obispo County during the four-day event Sept. 26-29.

“One of the ways Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast continues to stand apart from typical wine and food events is we’ve incorporated the active, healthy lifestyle into the festivities,” said Stacie Jacob, executive director of Visit San Luis Obispo County. “Unlike most wine and food festivals these days which can take place anywhere, SAVOR was inspired by the place it calls home – one of the happiest and healthiest communities in America. We wanted to give visitors a taste of that lifestyle, which is driven by our breathtaking natural beauty as well as abundant hiking and biking trails and healthy farm-to-fork opportunities.”

Fitness lovers can race over to the new SAVOR Run this year, which takes place Sept. 29 at Mission Plaza, downtown San Luis Obispo. The event, produced by the Central Coast Cancer Challenge, features a 5K or 10K walk/run and a fastest mile challenge through the streets of charming San Luis Obispo, including a gourmet pancake breakfast to follow.

Back by popular demand, the Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast adventure tours are back this year, and expanded into two days and reflecting the event’s “time to play” theme. Taking place Sept. 26-27, the tours give visitors and locals the opportunity to savor the region’s unique culinary and cultural offerings. Tours range from a behind-the-scenes tour of Hearst Castle, wine blending classes and touring an abalone farm to planting vines at a vineyard, a cowboy adventure and golfing on the beach.

Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast also takes full advantage of the star power in California – from its new celebrity chef headliner Michael Voltaggio, chef/owner of Los Angeles’ ink and ink.sack, to leading chefs and winemakers from all over the state who will appear Sept. 28-29 at the Main Event at Santa Margarita Ranch. Returning visitors can enjoy a new Friday evening event, Sunset on the Sand in Pismo Beach, where Sunset experts will demonstrate how to make a delicious Sunset on the Sand cocktail with herbs from your garden, followed by exceptional farm-to-table cuisine celebrating the bounty of the region and served at friendly communal tables, all paired with outstanding vintages selected by Sunset Wine Editor Sara Schneider.

Participants will savor the new Saturday evening event, Sunset in the Vineyard at Vina Robles, featuring specially prepared foods and award-winning wines and outstanding live music in a brand-new amphitheatre—all while surrounded by the beauty of Paso Robles wine country. Always a sell-out, the magical opening evening, Sunset at Hearst Castle, returns. Savor the Pacific sunset, paired with medal-winning wines from the 2013 Sunset International Wine Competition, and farm-to-table delights from Chef Meagan Loring of the acclaimed Lido Restaurant at Dolphin Bay. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit Friends of Hearst Castle’s efforts to restore the magnificent 16th-century Spanish Madéjar coffered ceiling in Hearst Castle’s Morning Room.

To learn more or buy tickets go to SavorCentralCoast.com.