Most people who attend the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 17-18, look forward to the famous coastal food as much as the world-class art and fabulous entertainment. They will also have the chance to extraordinary sample local wine, as Half Moon Bay Winery returns as the festival’s official winery.

This year’s event will feature Half Moon Bay Winery’s limited-release Syrah handcrafted from premium grapes grown in the Redwood Valley area of Mendocino County. The Syrah comes with a commemorative 39th anniversary festival label. It will be available by the bottle and by the glass.

Half Moon Bay Winery is owned by a small group of individuals who share a dedication to the coastside. The principal owners are Joe and Victoria Cotchett, longtime Main Street preservationists. Their partners are Moss Beach residents Don and Diane Thornton and Bev Cunha Ashcraft, former owner of Cunha’s Country Store. “In creating the Half Moon Bay Winery label, we’ve taken the opportunity to make wines that complement the coast’s signature produce and seafood,” says Joe Cotchett. “Visitors will be able to enjoy pairing coastside wine and food while strolling at the festival.”

The winery’s five current releases are named in honor of distinctive features of the coastside: Main Street Merlot, Cunha’s Country Store Chardonnay, Fisherman’s Red (a Blend of Carignane, Cabernet and Syrah), Coastal Fog (a Chardonnay blend) and Cameron’s Pub Cabernet. Each label features a watercolor painting by Diane Thornton.

At the Art & Pumpkin Festival, the Syrah will be available by the by the glass along with Half Moon Bay Winery’s Central Coast Chardonnay, La Nebbia sparkling wine and mimosas at two booths hosted by the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. The Pumpkin Festival-label Syrah will be available by the bottle at The Beautification Committee merchandise booth.

Half Moon Bay Winery uses grapes from well-established vines grown on California’s Central Coast and North Coast. The wines are available exclusively at various coastside retail and restaurant locations. For information, visit their website at www.halfmoonbaywinery.com