You are here: Home / Archives for Livermore Valley wines

Enjoy Holiday Events in Livermore, CA!

December 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Is your inner Scrooge working overtime? Don’t worry, there’s still time to banish the bah-humbug! Take a look at these festive events happening in the Livermore area!

The Valley Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker, December 8 through 16. Enjoy the grace and beauty of this timeless holiday story, memorable for both the elegant choreography and rich musical score. Seats are still available for several performances,  but you’ll want to get your tickets soon! Tickets are available at the Livermore Performing Arts Center.

The Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton presents acoustic musicians Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel in a special holiday concert on December 15.  This Grammy-winning duo is known for their eclectic blend of instruments and song. Their home-grown American sound is complimented by a broad range of musical styles from around the world. Tickets are available through the online box office. 

Experience the Journey to Living Bethlehem in Livermore, December 13 through 17. This inter-faith, live-action production will take you back 2,000 years as 100 actors re-create the original Nativity scene. This free event begins at 6:30 p.m. and repeats every 30 minutes. The event is located by St. Michaels School at 345 Church Street.

There’s also time to experience Livermore wine tastings! You can go upper crust with the Riedel Wine Glass Presentation and Tasting on Thursday, December 20, and learn why the wine glass you choose affects the taste of your beverage. Your $75 ticket includes set of 4 premium wineglasses.

Or, for $5.00, you can party like there’s no tomorrow and enjoy the End of the World Port Wine Release on Friday, December 21.  Visit the Livermore Valley Wine Country website for full details!

Things are looking merry and bright in Livermore Valley! As a longtime Livermore resident and real estate professional, I’m proud to be a part of our community. If buying or selling a home is on your wish list, give me a call! I’ll share the latest market activity, and provide the expert guidance you need for success.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season,

John Kurtzer
Your Livermore Real Estate Expert
RE/MAX Accord

Livermore Real Estate
View Livermore Listings
Visit My Website

Filed Under: Livermore Valley Events, Livermore Valley Wineries & Vineyards, Real Estate Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Enjoy Spring and Summer Fun in Livermore Valley!

April 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Livermore Valley is a great place to live, and it gets even better during our famous events! Here’s a quick rundown of our upcoming festivals!

Our wine-making heritage is proudly celebrated during the Livermore Wine Country Festival, held in beautiful downtown Livermore on May 5 and 6. Sample the region’s best wines and handcrafted beers! If you don’t wish to imbibe, you can still enjoy over 200 vendor booths offering delicious foods, beautiful art, and jewelry, clothing and more! There is a family-friendly kids area too!

Next, take Mom out for a day in Dublin! Antiques, crafts, French cuisine and jazz music will surround Dublin Heritage Park on Saturday, May 12. Bring a picnic lunch and relax during the free concert, or partake in family activities around the park.

If you enjoy antiques, don’t miss the Spring Antiques and Collectibles Street Faire in downtown Pleasanton on May 27! It’s a collector’s paradise, full of one-of-a-kind items and curiosities.

Celebrate our western history with the Chili Shooters Stampede in downtown Livermore on June 2! Sample unique chili creations and enjoy western themed activities! This event kicks off Western Heritage Month, featuring the world’s fastest rodeo, along with country-western concerts, movies, and more!

Whether you prefer a relaxing day in the country, or the festivals in our vibrant communities, Livermore Valley has something for everyone! As your Livermore Valley real estate professional, I’m proud to call this area home, and I’m happy to share information about Livermore Valley events. When you’re buying or selling a home in Livermore, Pleasanton or Dublin, I’ll be ready to help you! Always feel welcome to contact me with your real estate questions.

John Kurtzer
Your Livermore Real Estate Expert
RE/MAX Accord

Livermore Real Estate
View Livermore Listings
Visit My Website

Filed Under: Livermore Valley Events Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Taste of Terroir in Livermore Valley!

July 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It helps to know a little French when you live in wine country! “Terroir” means soil, and the phrase “gout de terroir” translates to “taste of the soil.”  This phrase describes the earthy flavor of some wines.  It is used to describe the regional flavor of wines, as the grapes are affected by soil composition, moisture, elevation, wind and sunlight. Climate plays an important role in the quality of wine, and Livermore Valley has proven to be highly suitable in this regard.

Livermore Valley first won international acclaim for wine at the 1889  Paris Exposition. The gold medal won by a Livermore Valley wine was the first such award for any American vineyard.

Livermore Valley not only put California wine on the map – it charted the route for the successful vintages that would follow. Today, nearly 80% of California Chardonnay vines can be traced back to their Livermore Valley genetics.

Now that you know more about Livermore Valley wine, get ready to enjoy it at the Taste of Terroir! This event focuses on the best pairings of local wine and cuisine.  At last count, 23 wineries are participating along with 16 restaurants.  This is a competitive event with judging to take place for the Most Innovative Pairing, Best Classic Pairing and Judges’ Best. There is also a People’s Choice award, giving you the opportunity to vote for your personal favorite.

Just in case you need more incentive, there is also a room entirely dedicated to desserts!  Live music will be performed on the patio and additional wine samplings will be available outdoors.

The Taste of Terroir is on Thursday, July 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Palm Event Center in Pleasanton.  Tickets are required for admission; ticket prices are $75.00 each.  Please note, no ticket sales to anyone under 21.

The beauty and heritage of our wine country is another great reason to call Livermore Valley home!  As your Livermore Valley real estate professional, I enjoy sharing events featuring our local lifestyle.  I also enjoy real estate, and I’ll be there for you when you’re ready to buy or sell a home  in Livermore, Pleasanton or Dublin! Always feel welcome to contact me for your real estate needs.

John Kurtzer
Your Livermore Real Estate Expert
RE/MAX Accord

Livermore Real Estate
View Livermore Listings
Visit My Website

Filed Under: Real Estate Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Enjoy the Livermore Wine Country Festival!

April 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Livermore Valley is home to one of California’s oldest wine regions. Our commercial wine production goes back to the 1840′s!  Our wine-making heritage is proudly celebrated during the Livermore Wine Country Festival, taking place on April 30 and May 1. This year marks the 20th annual running of the event, which has grown steadily in popularity.

Naturally, wine takes center stage at the festival. 19 wineries are expected to participate, giving you an opportunity to sample varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Chardonnay and Merlot, just to name a few. There’s more than I can list!

To get the most out of the wine sampling opportunities, consider purchasing the Pre-Sale Wine Tasting Package for $25. This gives you a glass and 1 oz. tastes at all the wine booths. That’s right – all!

If you enjoy fine craftsmanship in beer, then you’ll want to sample from the 13 breweries that will be participating at the festival. There is also a Pre-Sale Tasting Package available for beer for $25.  This includes a glass and 3-oz tastes from all beer booths.

Each Tasting Package is good for both days of the festival. It’s a good idea to go both days and pace yourself!  To take advantage of the pre-sale visit the festival website.

If you don’t wish to imbibe, there are still plenty of reasons to visit the Livermore Wine County Festival. The event is held in beautiful downtown Livermore, putting you at the heart of great shopping and dining. Browse, mingle, visit old friends and meet new ones as you stroll through over 200 vendor booths. You’ll find an eclectic mix of food, art, jewelry, clothing, services, and more.

Have I mentioned the music? Take your pick from three different stages hosting all-day music. Get an earful of jazz, rock, country, folk, and reggae.

Best of all, you don’t have to leave the kids at home. Unless you want to! There’s an area just for kids, with carnival rides and games. There’s nothing like carnival rides to make kids happy, and there’s also ride coupon specials, to make parents happy.

The Livermore Wine Country Festival brings together many elements of our Livermore Valley lifestyle. Delicious food, hand-crafted wines, art, entertainment, and time with family and friends, are all canopied under a mild climate. It’s a reminder why Livermore Valley is a great place to live.

I’m proud to be a part of our community. And when it comes to Livermore Valley real estate, I’m always happy to help buyers and sellers with their needs. If you have questions about buying or selling a home in Livermore, Pleasanton or Dublin, contact me, your Livermore Valley real estate professional.

John Kurtzer
Your Livermore Real Estate Expert
RE/MAX Accord

Livermore Real Estate
View Livermore Listings
Visit My Website

Filed Under: Real Estate Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Life is Sweet in Livermore Valley!

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The beautiful wine country we have in Livermore Valley is often mentioned in my blogs. And for good reason! Wine production is an important part of our regional heritage. Our local wineries proudly continue the tradition with award-winning vintages.  Livermore Valley’s wine reputation attracts tourism and helps draw new home buyers to our area.

Another selling point of Livermore Valley is our proximity to San Francisco. Livermore is about 45 miles away from San Francisco, giving us space from the hustle and bustle, yet allowing a reasonable drive to the big city. This is good to know when special events come around, like the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon!

Chocolate lovers will want to clear their calendars for this one.  The finest chocolatiers, confectioners, and gourmet sweet purveyors will be at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco on April 17. Admission fees apply, but samples of chocolate paradise are included!

You’ll also enjoy chocolate-making demonstrations, celebrity chef presentations, and expert wine pairing advice. Over 50 exhibitors will be taking part of this popular event.

Chocolate was once viewed as a mere indulgence, but medical studies of recent years suggest that dark chocolate provides some health benefits. In fact, you may have already heard that dark chocolate can boost your mood, improve your circulation, and provide antioxidants. This echoes similar findings about the benefits of red wine when consumed in moderation.

Not only does dark chocolate pair well with red wines, the combination is potentially good for you!

That should cover your conscience as you nibble your way through the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon.

Our region is known for having a cultured palate. You can see this by looking at the quality of restaurants and wineries we have right here in Livermore Valley! When you add the array of culinary specialties to be found in an hour’s drive, the offerings are nearly overwhelming. Perhaps that’s why events such as the Taste of Tri-Valley and the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon are so popular. You can save time and sample from the best.

Livermore valley real estate works like this too. When you’re looking to buy or sell a home, you want to make the most of your time.  You need to get information as efficiently as possible. You want to see the best choices available and make informed decisions. That’s where I come in, as your professional Livermore Valley real estate agent. Contact me today, and I’ll put my experience to work for you!

John Kurtzer
Your Livermore Real Estate Expert
RE/MAX Accord

Livermore Real Estate
View Livermore Listings
Visit My Website

Filed Under: Real Estate Tips Tagged With: , , , ,

Days of Wine and Homes in Livermore Valley!

January 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Of all the topics in Livermore Valley, there are two specialties that come up in conversation wherever I go – wine and real estate.  The interesting similarity between them is the concern about aging.

When speaking of Livermore Valley wines, aging is generally regarded as a positive.  Many people assume, sometimes incorrectly, that older is always better with any bottle of wine.  Yet there are many elements that affect the peak of flavor, and each wine has a distinct timeline of maturity.  

For example, a good Chardonnay may peak within 2 to 6 years of bottling.  Varieties of Syrah enjoy longer maturity, stretching from 4 to 16 years.   Then you have White Zinfandel which does not benefit by aging and is best enjoyed fresh.

In regards to Livermore Valley real estate, the perception of aging is quite opposite. Namely, the less time a home spends for sale on the market, the better.   However, there are many aspects that affect the number of days on market. Each area and price range will have its own example of “normal.”  It’s important to understand these relationships and how they impact you as a buyer or seller in Livermore Valley.

Let’s look at some local activity.  Statistics shown in my prior blogs illustrate that Pleasanton and Livermore homes priced under $299,000 have brisk sales; the average days on market being 34 and 37, respectively.

The upper mid-range shows more variables.  Homes priced from $500,000 to $749,999 have an average of 56 days on market in Pleasanton.  The same price range in Livermore currently averages 125 days on market.

The pendulum swings back towards Livermore’s favor on the high end of the price range.  Homes priced at one million dollars or more averaged 88 days on market in Pleasanton, but in Livermore, this price range averaged only 39 days on the market.

Why are some price ranges moving faster than others? What should you expect as a buyer or seller in today’s Livermore Valley home market?  Contact me and I’ll share my expertise with you!

John Kurtzer
Your Livermore Real Estate Expert
RE/MAX Accord

Livermore Real Estate
View Livermore Listings
Visit My Website

Filed Under: Livermore Valley Real Estate, Livermore Valley Wineries & Vineyards, Real Estate Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,