Plymouth, CA; January 19th, 2015 - Amador Four Fires Festival co-producers Deirdre Mueller and Craig Palmer are pleased to announce the four chefs to be featured at this new concept wine and food event coming to Amador County Fairgrounds on May 2, 2015.

“We are thrilled and honored to have these extraordinarily talented chefs in our community and at our inaugural festival,” said Mueller. “Mark Berkner from Taste Restaurant, Beth Sogaard from Beth Sogaard Catering and Amador Vintage Market, Darius Somary from Hotel Sutter, and Richard Lee from Wood, Smoke & Fire are star chefs in their own right and represent an emerging circle of nationally renowned culinary talent with roots and ties in Amador.”

Showcasing the “Four Fires” concept of the four regions that inspire Amador winegrowers and winemakers—Southern France, Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, and heritage California—these extraordinary chefs will demonstrate their exceptional skills preparing spectacular open flame dishes native to these regions.

“Think of Chef Beth preparing huge pans of simmering paella, Chefs Mark and Darius turning succulent birds on spits or grilling lambs on swords, and Richard’s outsized open pits spiting flames over whole pigs for good old-fashioned California barbecue,” Mueller continues. “These chefs are going for real drama and adventurous flavor. Festival guests will delight in a one-of-a-kind experience designed to ignite all the senses. Be sure to bring your appetite.”Amador Four Fires Festival NEWS - A new concept wine and food festival designed to ignite your senses.

Mark Berkner brings his twenty-five years of executive chef experience to his take on the open flame traditions of Southern France cuisine. The owner of 2012 ZAGAT-recognized and 2014 Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Restaurants in America--Taste Restaurant in Plymouth—and a 2013 James Beard House chef, Chef Mark will infuse his passion for fresh, seasonal, elegantly prepared foods that accentuate the wines from the Rhône region.

Beginning her culinary career after completing her degree from Lederwolff Culinary Academy, Beth Sogaard soon opened her own catering company in 1999 and grew the business into the diverse enterprise and local favorite on Plymouth’s Main Street: Beth Sogaard Catering and the Amador Vintage Market. Chef Beth will honor the culinary traditions of Spain and Portugal while adding her own exciting flavors and meticulous presentation.

Coming to the Hotel Sutter in 2013 after ten years with the prestigious SpingLoaf Catering and Event Planning, Darius Somary draws inspiration from the multitude of cuisines he experienced as a boy in Switzerland. Italian open flame traditions will be well served by Chef Darius who insists on using foremost seasonal and locally sourced ingredients and brings a wide-range of international cultural flavors to his outstanding culinary skills.

Showman Richard Lee will bring an element of fun as well as flair in his exciting and very flavorful California heritage-inspired preparations of whole animals on specially designed racks.

More than a wine tasting, Amador Four Fires Festival is a veritable rural County Fair teeming with all things wine and food beckoning around every corner of its ten-acre Amador County Fairgrounds site. Guests will experience the four celebrated wine regions that inspire the art of Amador’s winemakers and growers: Syrahs, Mouvedres and Grenaches from Southern France, Italian Barberas, Sangioveses, Super Tuscans, Tempranillos and Garnachas from the Iberian Peninsula, and from California’s legendary heritage, true old vine Zinfandels. Over 200 wines from more than fifty different wineries, vetted by a distinguished panel of noted judges and sommeliers, will be poured. The food will be extraordinary, inspired by the fiery traditions of cooking on an open flame from each of these wine regions and prepared with high drama and culinary expertise by Amador’s finest star chefs.

Beyond the wine and food, Amador Four Fires offers a cornucopia of tantalizing activities from olive oil, cheese, and chocolate tastings, cooking demonstrations and winemaking seminars to a Country Store brimming with the creations of Amador artisan bakers, bee keepers and food purveyors.

Amador Four Fires Festival, a new concept wine and food festival to ignite your senses, will be held May 2, 2015, at the Amador County Fairgrounds. General Admission tickets go on sale February 1, 2015 and can be purchased at amadorfourfires.com.

Amador Four Fires Festival NEWS - A new concept wine and food festival designed to ignite your senses.

Amador County resident ticket with ID proof. Tickets only available in person at:

Amador 360

18590 Highway 49 Plymouth, CA Open daily 11 am to 6 pm.

Limit: 6 per person while supplies last. Offer ends: January 30, 2015.

The next meeting of the Amador Bonsai Society will be held on Saturday, February 14th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Amador Senior Center in Jackson.

Michelle Grondin talks to Monique Graziadei about the 11th annual Holistic Health Fair on Sat, Jan 24 from 11am-4pm at the senior center.

Susan Wright talks to Richard Forster about how an Occupational Therapist might be about to help you out. For more information call 209-257-7515.

Carol Asmu, from the Lockwood Firehouse, talks to Richard Forster about the upcoming Souper Supper Fundraiser on January 24 at the Lockwood Firehouse. 

Laurie Story Vela talks to Richard Forster about her Creative Classes on Feb 11, 18, and 25 at the Sutter Creek Community Center. Call 209-267-8084 for more information.

Sarah Luck Pearson, Wendy Ward, and Amy Buck talk to Monique Graziadei about the upcoming 12 week Creative Non-Fiction Workshop at Hein and Co.

Jenny Fox, owner of Jackpot Jen on Etsy.com, brought in an assortment of antiques and collectables from her online store. 

Richard Forster and Monique Graziadei open AM Live with lining their guests up for the show. Ed Tracey introduces his new show LOL, starting this Friday, Jan 23, 2014.

Registration is now open for Spring Junior Team Tennis. Boys & Girls Ages 7-14 play on co-ed teams in three ability levels: beginning, intermediate and advanced. No experience is necessary, beginners are welcome! League matches will run six consecutive Saturdays from April 11 to May 16 and each team will have one practice per week starting in early to mid-late March. Cost is $70 first child, $45 second child, $10 third child (max of $125 per household). Early bird special: take $10 off your total if registration is postmarked by February 15. Fee includes junior USTA membership, t-shirt, season-end party, and awards. Print an application at www.amadortennisclub.org. Registrations must be received by March 6. Register early, space is limited. Preference may be given to those who register first. If you have questions, contact league director, Dan Klement, at 257-1950 or e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.