Charlie Palmer’s Pigs & Pinot Returns to Healdsburg with Father-Son Chef Lineup

9 Minute read

10 Mar 2026

Journalist

The 19th annual food and wine weekend moves to Appellation Healdsburg this March, bringing together leading Sonoma winemakers and a lineup of tastings, seminars, and gala dinners.

Chef Charlie Palmer’s annual Pigs & Pinot food and wine weekend will return March 20–21, 2026, marking its 19th year and a new chapter for the event as it moves to Appellation Healdsburg, Palmer’s recently opened resort in Sonoma County.

The two-day gathering, long considered one of Northern California’s most anticipated culinary events, brings together chefs, winemakers, and sommeliers for a program centered around heritage pork, Pinot Noir, and culinary mentorship. Proceeds benefit the Palmer Family Education Foundation, which supports hospitality scholarships and education programs.

This year’s edition highlights a theme of father-and-son culinary partnerships, pairing established chefs with the next generation of restaurant leaders. Among the participants are Charlie Palmer and his son Reed Palmer, Wolfgang Puck and Byron Lazaroff-Puck, Emeril Lagasse and E.J. Lagasse, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Cédric Vongerichten, and Dr. Tim Ryan and Jackson Ryan.

“For nearly two decades, Pigs & Pinot has brought people together through incredible food, wine, and a shared sense of purpose,” Palmer said in a statement. “To bring the event to its new home at Appellation Healdsburg feels like a full-circle moment.”

In addition to the chef lineup, the 2026 festival will feature its first all-female Gala winemaker roster, spotlighting several producers from Sonoma County’s Pinot Noir community. Participants include Eva Dehlinger of Dehlinger Winery, Perri Haughwout of Perri Jaye Vineyards, Ashley Herzberg of Innumero Wines, Anne Moller-Racke of Blue Farm Wines, and Heidi von der Mehden of Merry Edwards.

The event’s programming includes a mix of tastings, seminars, and collaborative dinners designed to give guests direct access to the chefs and winemakers involved.

The weekend begins Friday evening with the Taste of Pigs & Pinot, where more than 60 Pinot Noirs compete in the festival’s “Pinot Cup” tasting alongside pork-focused dishes prepared by Palmer and guest chefs. A new VIP reception will offer early access to the tasting and an opportunity to meet participating chefs and winemakers.

Other highlights include the Ultimate Pinot Smackdown, a comparative seminar led by Master Sommeliers featuring Pinot Noirs from multiple regions, and the Table Talk Seminar, a discussion with the participating chefs hosted by actor and comedian Mario Cantone.

The centerpiece of the weekend remains the Pigs & Pinot Gala Dinner, a multi-course meal created collaboratively by Palmer, Reed Palmer, and the visiting chefs and paired with limited-production Pinot Noir wines.

The event concludes with The Final Flight, an informal closing gathering featuring cocktails, wines from the weekend’s tastings, and late-night bites.

Since its founding, Pigs & Pinot has raised more than $2 million for culinary education and community programs. That philanthropic focus continues through the Palmer Family Education Foundation, which supports organizations including The Culinary Institute of America and Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Program.

The festival’s new venue, Appellation Healdsburg, is a culinary-focused resort located on eight-and-a-half acres at the north end of the town. Dining venues include Folia Bar & Kitchen and Andy’s Beeline Rooftop, both centered on seasonal ingredients from Sonoma County.

Tickets for the 2026 Pigs & Pinot weekend are now available through pigsandpinot.com.