Free events during annual food and wine fest

The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival (Sept. 11-13) at the Village at Northstar in Truckee is offering a number of culinary events for free to celebrate September being California Wine Month.

Attendees can peruse the festival’s outdoor Gourmet Marketplace and Trade Fair, which will feature epicurean goods and gifts, and the North Lake Tahoe Plein Air Painting event.

Also at no charge, food lovers can learn the secret to Japanese grilling with Chef Lars Kronmark; simple seasonal fall menus with Chef Jason Gronlund, former executive chef for McIlhenny Tabasco Sauce; and hands-on pizza grilling with Chef Lara Ritchie. Tickets for Sunday’s Grand Tasting and Culinary Competition are $75 through Sept. 9 and $90 thereafter. The event attracts more than a 1,000 revelers to mingle and socialize over California wines paired with creations of Tahoe’s finest chefs at Northstar’s Village.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 888.229.2193 or visit www.tahoefoodandwine.com.