Sierra Oro Farm Trail 14th Annual Passport Weekend

CHICO, Calif. – Aug. 6, 2018 -- A passport and a tank of gas are all you need to enjoy a food and wine weekend getaway to beautiful Butte County. Guests wishing to purchase passports in person at local retail outlets will have to wait until after Labor Day; however, tickets for the 14th annual Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend are now available online only at www.sierraoro.org.
Tour, taste and toast your way through Butte County on Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. A passport opens the doors to amazing specialty farms and wineries where visitors will sample tasty artisan olive oils, specialty nuts and award-winning wines, all while getting to know the local farmers and winemakers behind them. Participants can set their own pace as they explore a variety of the 34 farms and wineries along this year’s Farm Trail.
“Butte County is uniquely positioned with a diverse array of farms and wineries, making our annual passport event stand out for both wine andfood enthusiasts,” said Jamie Johansson, owner and farmer at Lodestar Olive Oil and co-founder of the Sierra Oro Farm Trail. “In addition to a gourmet tasting experience, guests get to meet generations of family farmers and winemakers. That personal relationship with the growers is what makes our tour so special.”
This year’s Farm Trail features four new stops including Earthworm Soil Factory, Milk & Honey 1860, Odyssey Winery & Vineyard and Tri-L Mandarin Ranch. A total of 13 wineries and 21 specialty farms where guests can enjoy self-guided tours of the scenic agricultural landscape, meet local farmers and winemakers, and sample the amazing bounty Butte County has to offer.
Due to the popularity of Passport Weekend, an early sell-out is expected. Passports cost $30 per person and include a 2018 map and free commemorative wine glass for each ticket purchased. Wine glasses will be picked up at the first winery you visit on the farm trail, where your passport will be punched and ID will be checked.
Proceeds from the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend benefit the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Association, dedicated to further developing agri-tourism in Butte County. Online tickets will go on sale July 20, 2017. For more information, visit www.sierraoro.org or call the Butte County Farm Bureau at (530) 533-1473.
Join the conversation on our social media channels: Facebook: www.facebook.com/SierraOroFarmTrail and Twitter: @FarmTrail
Passport Weekend is sponsored by Butte County Farm Bureau, Chico Chamber of Commerce, Explore Butte County and Tri Counties Bank. Participating farms and wineries include the following: Almendra Winery & Distillery, Book Family Farm, Butte College Environmental Horticulture Nursery, Butte View Olive Company, Calolea Olive Oil, Dog Creek Cellars, Earthworm Soil Factory, Gale Vineyards, Harrison’s California Chestnuts, Harvest Hill Farm, Hickman Family Vineyards, Hodges Nursery & Gifts, LaRocca Vineyards, Live Vine Wines, Llano Seco Rancho, Lodestar Farms, Long Creek Winery & Ranch, Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products, Matson Rice, Milk & Honey 1860, Mt. Ida Mandarin Ranch, Nesseré Vineyards, New Clairvaux Vineyard, Noble Orchards, Odyssey Winery, Patrick Ranch Museum, Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese Company, Purple Line Urban Winery, Quilici Vineyards, Sohnrey Family Foods, Spencer Shirey Wines, TJ Farms, Tri-L Mandarin Ranch and Wagon Wheel Market.