The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce is ready to kick off its sixth year celebrating local wine, food and more through its Lubbock Uncorked event.
A celebration of West Texas wine and grapes, Lubbock Uncorked will showcase more than 20 Texas wineries offering a large variety of wine for attendees to taste and enjoy from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the American Windmill Museum.
Wine is also available to purchase by the bottle to take home. Winemakers from throughout the state will be on hand to answer questions and provide information to the public. Along with wine, the event also features a beer garden, local food trucks and restaurants, and a lineup of local entertainment performed on three stages.
Previously: Tickets on sale for 6th annual Lubbock Uncorked
“The whole reason that the event was created was to highlight and to celebrate grape growing and winemaking in the Texas High Plains,” said Amy Marquez, vice president of Programs, Services and Events at the chamber.
Advanced tickets for Lubbock Uncorked are $35 and can be purchased online or at the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce on Broadway downtown. Tickets can also be purchased for $45 at the door. Marquez said that the VIP tickets for the events were completely sold out.
Admission includes 10, one-ounce wine tasting tickets. More tickets for wine tasting will be available for purchase at the event.
Two wine education classes will also be available at this year’s event. Tickets for both classes must be purchased in conjunction with a Lubbock Uncorked ticket.
Wine Basics is a class offered for people to learn more about wine from the best in the industry before visiting a winery. The class will be offered from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tickets for this class are $35.
“That’s going to teach you everything you need to know to be able to go into a grocery store or step into another winery here in town and know what you’re looking or what you want to taste,” Marquez said.
Also available is “Amuse Bouche Texas Style,” an experience created to enjoy the pairing of expertly crafted food and wine. Each wine comparison will be paired with the perfect food to highlight the wine’s unique flavors.
Chef Angie Ragan from Lubbock, a contestant on the inaugural season of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef and owner of Salt by Angie, will host the wine and food pairing class. This class is from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $65.
Ragan will craft four bites highlighting a different Texas staple, served with wine paired by Llano Estacado Winery Sommelier Matt Bostick.
“It’s a really neat event,” she said. “I love pairing high-end food with great local wines; It’s just one of my passions in life.”
Using various Texas ingredients in her bites, Regan said she aims to create dishes that hit various taste pallets – including bitter, sweet, salty and spicy – to provide unique a experience to the tasters.
Talking about her experience as part of this event, Ragan said, “I’m just born and raised here, and I like the way our dirt tastes, so, I like the way our wine tastes and I love creating flavors and spices that kind of hit you at the front of your palate and then travel all the way back.”
Ragan also described it as a “chef’s dream” to be able to create a menu or meal where it’s more than just eating – it’s an experience to remember.
“I’m so excited because, anything I can do for the Lubbock community just excites me so much,” she said. “I’m so pro community.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock Uncorked to showcase best of West Texas wine, food
