I had a sneak preview of some Alsace varietals that will be poured this Saturday and Sunday at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville. If you’re planning to go, here’s a quick hit list of some of the most striking:

     Navarro Vineyards, 2008 Anderson Valley Pinot Gris

     Sinskey, 2008 Carneros Pinot Blanc

     Husch, 2008 Anderson Valley Gewurztraminer

     Handley, 2008 Anderson Valley Gewurztraminer

     Breggo, 2008 Wiley Vineyard, Anderson Valley Pinot Gris

     Lazy Creek Vineyards, 2007 Anderson Valley Riesling

     Enotria, 2009 Mendocino Moscato.

The fifth annual International Alsace Varietals Festival will be an adventure for the globe-trotting palate, with dry and late-harvest wines from around the world. Winemakers from California, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Texas and Alsace will be pouring. The spotlight will be on gewürztraminer, riesling, pinot gris, pinot blanc and muscat. For more information about the festival, visit www.avwines.com or call 895-WINE.