Usually a day-long food and wine festival celebrating the region’s bounty, Sample the Sierra was facing a unique situation: how to transition an IRL festival that incorporated taste and smell to an online event.

Through creative thinking and planning, Sample the Sierra became a month long initiative to bring awareness - and more importantly, dollars to local restaurants, winemakers, and artisans.

Using video and live virtual events, as well as a 10-day takeout restaurant week, individuals were able to shop, sip and sample the area’s best without risking their safety.

The online festival was featured in 7x7.