The Mendocino Wine and Mushroom festival brings together four of my favorite things - nature, food, wine, and art, from November 6th through the 15th. This’ll be my first time looking for wild mushrooms, like my ancestors must have done in the Russian forests.

We are staying here, which should be a treat in itself.

Here are samples of the upcoming events that I look forward to attending this weekend with Aaron and friends, straight from the event site.

The Mushroom Trail - Nov 6
Ukiah’s First Fridays Art Walk Celebrates Wine & Mushroom Festival. Tour through ten different art galleries. Festivities include, Mendocino wines poured by local wineries, live music and special culinary experiences. Plus art, photographs and informative displays of mushroom dyes by local artist, mushrooms role in environmental clean up, and Eric Schramm of Mendocino Mushroom, Man’s Relationship with Mushrooms a historical perspective. 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Art Center Ukiah or 707 462-9045

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Meyer Family Cellars welcomes Mushroom Festival visitors to pair our Mendocino County Syrahs and Zinfandel Port with mushroom themed appetizers, chocolates, and port desserts. We will be offering barrel samples as well as tastings of our current vintages. In addition to our open house here at Meyer Family Cellars, the mushroom dinners, wine and beer pairing workshops, musical performances, exhibits, and guided mushroom walks are among the activities scheduled across Mendocino County.

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Foraging

Ryane Snow, Ph.D., amateur botanist, teacher, surfer, diver, practitioner of Chinese medicine, pharmacy technician, enjoys teaching interested people of all ages about the often-hidden and fascinating world of mushrooms, their importance to the ecology of the forest, their medicinal properties, and the wonderful culinary opportunities they provide.

Typical group tours includes a brief, hands-on introduction to local fungi, followed by a 2 to 3 hour walk in the woods: $20 per person; children under 16 free.

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Medicinal Mushrooms Workshop - Nov 8
This class will answer, “How can this mushroom help my health?” - Also taught by Ryane Snow.  $10 per person.