Upcoming Public Events

Appellation St. Helena (ASH) will host bASH, our annual wine and food pairing competition on Saturday, April 4th from 6:00 to 8:30pm.

The event will be held again in the historic barrel room at  the Culinary Institute of America. You will visit tasting stations where  the wines from over 30 ASH wineries will be paired with savory bites  prepared by ‘Rising Star’ students, as well as by esteemed winery chefs and St. Helena restaurants. Attendees serve as judges, tasting each combination and voting on their favorites throughout the evening.  

We are assembling a team of judges who are industry professionals to taste through all of the pairings, and rate them on three criteria –  Pairing, Taste, and Creativity – and they will be selecting recipients  for the CRITIC'S CHOICE - BEST PAIRING awards. This year's professional will be announce soon!

Best of all, You, as an attendee, will also vote with your tokens, and we will  be awarding the top three student teams, plus a professional team the  PEOPLE'S CHOICE BEST PAIRING. Sip, Savor and VOTE!

Attendance is limited to 300 people and all guests must be 21 or  older. Buy your tickets now before they sell out and we look forward to  seeing you there!

Below are the professional and student team winners for 2018.

Professional Team Winners

First Place: Beringer Vineyards, 2012 St. Helena Home Cabernet Sauvignon, with Acacia House by Chris Cosentino (Oxtail Toast, Pickled Mustard Seeds, Wild Fennel)

Second Place: Ehlers Estate 2015 “1886” Cabernet Sauvignon, with Goose & Gander (Braised Lamb Neck and Candy Cap Mole, Steamed bun, Benne salad, Lemon Crema)

Third Place – Charles Krug Winery 2016 Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc, with Estate Chef Daryl Muromoto (Braised Pork Ciccioli Crostini, Estate Citrus Marmellata)

Student Team Winners

First Place: Del Dotto Vineyards, St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon, students David Ju and Chase Evans (Steamed Bao Buns with Braised Beef Cheeks, Shallot Aioli and Spring Vegetables)  

Second Place: Parry Cellars, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, students Sean Smith and Reilly Brown (Ancho Beef Taco with Charred Salsa and Escabeche)  

Third Place: Rombauer Vineyards, 2014 Stice Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, students Allison Komara and Nina Widjaja (Korean Beef Short Ribs "Galbi Jjim")

Fourth Place: Pellet Estate, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Pellet Vineyard, students Brandon Matthews and Carlos Ramires (Cornet of Red Wine Braised Kobe Beef, Creamy Polenta, with Morel and Black Truffle)

Fifth Place: Ballentine Vineyards, 2016 Maple Station White Blend, students Cameron Hassell and Nicolas Stogsdill ("Wanna Wonton")

CIA Director’s award for Excellence in Creativity and Innovation:  Chase Cellars (2017 Zinfandel Rose, Hayne Vineyard), students Charles Fulbright and Conner Black ("Saturday Special")