wine festival

Naples Winter Wine Festival Proves Big Giving Is Back

Filed under: Wine, Events, Charity, Big Givers

Big giving is back at one of the year's grandest wine events. The Naples Winter Wine Festival in Naples, Florida was held over the weekend. It raised $12 million for Collier County's underprivileged and at-risk children during the live auction of 70 one-of-a-kind auction lots. The total was healthily above last year's $8.1 million and over double the $5.1 million raised in economically gloomy 2009. The total nearly grazed the $12.2 million record set in 2006. The festival has brought in over $94.5 million since it began in 2001.

Approximately 580 festival guests were seated under a giant tent set on the grand lawn of The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples bidding on lots that ranged from $30,000 to $1 million. The million-dollar lot was an 8-foot-tall bronze sculpture, Reina Mariana, by artist Manolo Valdés. The 2,000-pound sculpture had traveled to the festival grounds from New York City's Columbus Circle, where it had been on display. The top wine lot, modestly called Perfection, was a total of 100 bottles of 100-point wine in a custom cabinet. It equaled the highest bid of a wine-only lot in the festival's history at $400,000. A 39-bottle collection of Sine Qua Non, many in large format and including 100-point wines, captured a winning bid of $160,000; a 25-year complete vertical of Shafer's Hillside Select and 24 bottles of the vintner's Silver Anniversary Sensation, when released in 2013, resulted in a high bid of $150,000; and four magnums of Colgin Cellars IX Estate Napa Valley Red Wine went for $130,000.

Tags: naples wine festival, naples winter wine festival, wine festival

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Alsace Wine Festival Brings European Taste To Northern California

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

Northern California's Mendocino County offers a different wine profile than you can get in other places in the state. In many ways it is similar to Oregon with cooler weather that is favorable to pinot noir and to riesling and other aromatic whites. The Anderson Valley growing region will celebrate Alsace-style white wines next month in an decoration: underline;">Alsace Wine Festival weekend event February 12 and 13 that brings together a variety of different white wines including Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Muscat. The event includes a technical conference where participants can interact with winemakers and wine experts from around the globe and discuss the trends. This year's topic is Old World/New World and includes a discussion of Alsace wine and the wines of Germany as well as a look at Anderson Valley wines and the white wines of New York's Finger Lakes region.

The grand tasting brings together a variety of different wineries including Alderbrook Winery, Breggo Cellars, Domaine Weinbach, Foursight, Hagafen Cellars, Handley Cellars, Husch Vineyards, Lazy Creek Vineyards, Londer Vineyards, NY Finger Lakes Wine Alliance, Toulouse Vineyards and many more. A winemakers dinner is scheduled for the evening of February 12 in the private dining room at Scharffenberger Cellars. A sit-down dinner will be prepared by a renowned local chef and each course will be perfectly paired with wines featured at the festival or locally produced. The dinner is $125 and is nearly sold out.

The next day is given over to winery open houses. Local wineries are participating and hosting special programs. Events include live music, food pairings, cheese tastings and more. All together a lovely way to wile away Valentine's Day weekend in beautiful Northern California.

Tags: alsace, alsace-style wine, white wine, wine, wine event, wine events, wine festival

Fairfax Hotel Hosts Second Annual Capital Wine Festival

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

With the swearing in of the 112th Congress this week, there's either plenty to celebrate or a crucial need to dull the pain. Whichever mood your political leanings have put you in, the good news is that the Fairfax Hotel at Embassy Row (part of the Starwood luxury group) will be hosting the second annual Capital Wine Festival, starting on the 20th of January. Located in Dupont Circle, the festival is the creation of Chef Daniel Bruce, who helms the kitchen at the Boston Harbor Hotel and founded its sister event, the Boston Wine Festival. Since organizing Boston over twenty years ago, he's expanded the event to include New Orleans (2007), Berkeley (2010) and DC (2010). Two disparate, yet equally popular and significant, wine regions are covered by this year's festival: the US West Coast (California and Oregon) and Italy. Over the course of eight dinners, festival participants will experience the wines of vineyards such as Poggio al Tesoro, Continuum Estate and Ponzi Vineyards, all presented by representatives from the wineries. A food and 45-label wine gala reception kicks it all off, but unlike most festivals, there's no need to run between events to cram everything in. The Capital Wine Festival is spread out over a leisurely two months, meaning that the party/pity-party will continue long into the 2011 session.

Tags: california, dupont circle, fairfax hotel, italy, oregon, StarwoodHotels, washington dc, wine, wine festival

Cooking Star Nadia G Headlines Zinfandel Festival

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

This year's ZAP Festival sponsored by Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) celebrates 20 years of "inspiration." The annual festival takes place each winter in San Francisco. This year's ZAP festival takes place from January 27-29th.

This year's festivities include rising cooking star Nadia G who has a show, Bitchin' Kitchen on the new Cooking Channel. Nadia G kick off the festivities at Good Eats and Zinfandel Pairing on January 27th at 6:00 p.m., doing a demo in The Zin Kitchen, where she'll cook up a storm in cherry-red stilettos. On January 28th, she'll take part in the Evening with the Winemakers, and on January 29th, she'll cut the ribbon and blog live at the Grand Zinfandel Tasting event beginning at 2:00 p.m.

The ZAP 20th Annual Festival presents four events in three days with around 250 wineries showcasing Zinfandel, America's Heritage Wines. Producers pour their barrel samples and new releases during educational seminars, culinary demonstrations and food pairings culminating in the Grand Tasting at Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. Tickets are $70 for non-ZAP members and include your ZAP wine tasting glass (and a much-needed mini loaf of bread). Then get ready for all the Zin you can handle. More details about this fun and festive event are available at the ZAP website.

Tags: nadia g, wine festival, wine festivals, zappos, zinfandel, zinfandel festival

Newport WineFest Runs This Weekend

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

This weekend will see some serious wining and dining at the Newport WineFest 2010 on the waterfront in Newport, Rhode Island. The event takes place on August 20-22, 2010 at the Newport Yachting Center. The event offers wine tastings, gourmet dishes and special spirits events.

Luxury spirits company William Grant and Sons will have a large presence at the event showcasing their Milagro, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry, Glenfiddich and Balvenie brands. Milagro tequila and Hendrick's will both have a 35' x 35' activation area which will include a tent, bar and lounge areas. Stoli, Sailor Jerry, Glenfiddich and Balvenie will share a 4-sided pavilion where they will sample refreshing summer cocktails and many Scotch variants.

The weekend's festivities include a grand tasting from 6pm to 11pm on Friday night with a special mixology demo at 10pm. On Saturday the Grand Tasting runs from 5 – 10pm with a 5- 7pm: Grand Cru Tasting featuring high-end variants of Balvenie, Glenfiddich and others. On Sunday there is a chefs and champagne brunch in the morning with another grand tasting from12 – 5pm including a 3:30 pm demo of Milagro's Freshest Margarita. Tickets are available for individual events or an all-event pass can be picked up at the door for $335.

Tags: balvenie, food and wine, milagro, newport winefest, William Grant, wine festival

Bodega Festival Celebrates Seafood and Wine In A Hitchcock Setting

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Events

The Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine Festival celebrates its 16th year when it gets underway August 28 and 29th. The festival brings revelers to Watts Ranch in the village of Bodega, California for art, music, wine, beer and plenty of seafood. This scenic location in Sonoma County is where Alfred Hitchcock filmed his classic thriller, "The Birds." More than 30 wineries and 15 micro breweries will pour wine and beer, while 15 restaurants and catering companies will served up barbecued oysters, crab cakes, Key Lime calamari, clam chowder and other delicacies.

A juried art show and sale will feature the work of 100 artists and craftspeople and the festival also has three stages with a variety of musical entertainment, a Wild Wonders Animal Show and other activities for children including rubber duck races. Headline entertainment this year includes saxophonist Jules Broussard (Saturday afternoon) plus Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks (Sunday afternoon). Proceeds from the event support Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, which works in partnership with the California State Parks Foundation to provide environmental stewardship programs, and the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department. Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 28, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 29. Tickets purchased in advance are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for children between the ages of 12 and 18, and free for children less than 12 years of age. For additional information, go online to www.winecountryfestivals.com.

Tags: art festivals, bodega, food festival, food festivals, sonoma county, sonos, wine festival, wine festivals

Emeril Lagasse Heads New Kentucky Food Festival

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

Louisville Kentucky's Churchill Downs will be the setting for a new food and wine festival called Fork, Cork and Style. The event, scheduled for September 12 from 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at Churchill Downs racetrack will feature chef Emeril Lagasse among other celebrity chefs who will offer cooking demonstrations. A wine testing will feature Grgich Hills, Jordan Winery, Cloudy Bay and many more. Festival tickets run from just $15 (for festival admission and the first plate of food) to as much as $500 for a VIP ticket that includes a meet and greet with celebrity chefs, reserved seating at the cooking demo stage, access to the wine tasting and VIP parking.

[via Wave 3]

Tags: churchill downs, emeril lagasse, food festival, food festivals, kentucky, louisville, wine festival, wine festivals

Vintage Indiana Offers A Day Of Tasting The Midwest's Finest

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

Wine festivals aren't just limited to the coasts. One of the biggest events to take place in Indiana is the Vintage Indiana festival which is held in Military park in downtown Indianapolis on June 5 this year. The festival features offerings from 26 Indiana wineries and 11 restaurants as well as other activities. The Indiana Wine Grape Council named Traminette Indiana's state grape and the festival should feature some offerings using the grape. The event is a family affair, there is the KidZone at Vintage Indiana 2010 which includes face painters, cartoonist and balloon artists and ice cream.Tickets for the all-day event are $25 at the door. An overnight package that offers two tickets and a stay at the Hyatt Regency is $166.

[via The Journal Gazette]

Tags: indiana, vintage indiana, wine events, wine festival

Naples Wine Festival Raises $14 Million

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Auctions

This year's Naples Wine Festival didn't top last year's record of $15.6 million but $14 million isn't too shabby in this economy. The Florida festival always brings the big spenders. Tickets to the festival cost $7,500 per couple but the real money, which is all donated to less fortunate families and children, comes the extravagant auction items. Some of the high-end wine lots included $190,000 for a three-liter bottle of 1990 Vega Sicilia, plus a visit to the winery, $220,000 for a case of 1961 Bordeaux and $240,000 for six magnums of Screaming Eagle cabernet and two commemorative Harley Davidson motorcycles and gear. The festival also always features high-end cars. This year Mr and Mrs Monte Ahuja bid $450,000 for the rights to own the first U.S.-delivered Bentley Brooklands coupe. The auction also features walk-on parts in television shows, front-row seats at fashion shows and trip to the Oscars. Perhaps what's most amazing about this event is that all that money comes from just 500 guests bidding on over 70 lots. Over eight years the auction has raised nearly $70-million for children and families.

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Tags: bentley, florida, naples, naples winter, NaplesWinter, wine auction, wine festival, WineFestival

Beef, Wine And A Little Bit of Country

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Events

If you like beef, wine and country music, have we got an event for you. The Best Of Country, Beef and Wine Tasting Festival on July 14 in Bridgeport, California offers a country-style feast Paso Robles wines and country entertainment. The event takes place at the Bridgeport Ranch Barns & Terrace, an outdoor entertainment venue. The fare from local restaurants will be paired with wines from the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and the Hunewill Ranch Bakery will be featuring country style desserts also paired with Paso Robles wines. Tickets are $65 each and include a souvenir Riedel wine glass and "The Best Of" recipe book which features recipes and wine pairing suggestions from the evening's festivities.

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Tags: california, cookout, dining, event, paso robles, PasoRobles, wine festival

25th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

It's time for a spring road trip, Paso Robles is having their 25th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival May 18-20. When the festival begin in 1983 there were just 17 wineries in Paso Robles. Now there are 170 wineries in Paso Robles and more than 90 producers will be at the festival in the downtown city park. The festival usually sells around 6,500 tickets to wine enthusiasts from all over the nation. The marquee event in the park is on Saturday, May 19. There are two levels of passes, general admission which costs $50 and the Silver Pass admission ticket which sell for $75 and lets you in an hour before general admission so you can taste a bit before things get hectic.

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Tags: california, paso robles, PasoRobles, wine, wine festival, wine tasting

Bidders Go Car Crazy At Naples Wine Festival

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Events

The bidders at the Naples Winter Wine Festival really went hog wild this year setting a new record for the luxury auction. The Naples News reports that the well-heeled bidders managed to spend $16.5 million during the auction that ended the festival on Saturday and $18.3 million at the event total. Overall the festival has raised, in seven years $55.26 million for Collier County children's charities. The wine and travel lots all brought in plenty of money but the cars proved to be very hot items. Somebody really, really wanted to get their hands on a limited edition 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead convertible. Raymond Lutgert, founder of a Naples development firm spent a record $2 million for the car. He wasn't the only one to overpay for a car, Monte Ahuja, a business man spent $1.3 million on a Bentley that he could have purchased for $350,000. The Bordeaux-colored 2007 Maserati Quattroporte, which was being raffled off brought in $790,000 and a Lexus LS 600h L Luxury Hybrid Sedan sold for $280,000.

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Tags: florida, naples, rolls-royce, wine festival

Vince Neil Wants To Tempt You With His Tequila

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Wine, Events

Vince Neil, Motley Crue's lead singer, has a new gig. A while back I wrote about his foray into the world of wine. Neil now also has followed in the footsteps of another wild-haired rocker, and launched his own tequila. Neil's tequila is called Tres Rios and he will be appearing at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival on February 25 to show people how to make the perfect margarita.He will also be part of an auction that includes a case of signed bottles of Vince Neil's Tres Rios Tequila, two first class tickets on Delta Airlines to Las Vegas, a suite at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and an invitation from Vince to have drinks with him in person at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, dinner at the RIO at Café Martorano and a Vince Neil autographed guitar. Other auction items include the chance to attend Auction Napa Valley as the guest of Beringer Vineyards, a whole host of tempting wine lots, and the chance to have a dinner for 10 with another celeb-turned-winemaker, Lorraine Bracco.

[via Blabbermouth]

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Tags: events, lorraine bracco, LorraineBracco, south beach wine and food, tequila, vince neil, wine, wine festival

Luxist Heads To Zap!

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

Never let it be said I am neglecting my wine education. This week I will be heading north to attend not one but two wine-themed events. First up, the Unifed Grape Symposium in Sacramento and a chance to learn more about challenges and opportunities facing vineyards. I am looking to peeking behind the curtain a bit to learn more about the magic of wine. And will report back with the latest wine industry news.

Next up, ZAP, the annual Zinfandel tasting in San Francisco that causes thousands to converge to taste Zinfandel after Zinfandel. The massive Saturday tasting costs $60. It will be a bit of a marathon, tasting around 100 wines in one afternoon. I'll be following the sage advice of Alder over at Vinography and planning my attack wisely and remembering to sip well and spit often. Hope to see you there.

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Tags: san francisco, wine, wine festival, zinfandel

Telluride Wine Festival

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

It may not be ski season but it's still gorgeous in Telluride, Colorado. The 25th Annual Telluride Wine Festival gives you chance to check out this ridiculously picturesque town in the month of June. The festival, which runs from June 22-25 includes winemaker's luncheons, a grand tasting held in Town Park, cooking demonstrations, the Toast of Telluride & Mountain Village, a Scotch and cigar tasting, and the Sunday brunch which is the festival finale. The guest chefs include Vitaly Paley, the owner of Paley's Place in Portland Oregon, Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson co-owner with Bobby Stucky of Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colorado and Ana Sortun of Oleana in Boston. The Patron Package sells for $850 and includes priority seating at all festival events. Individual events are priced from $40 to $125.

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Tags: colorado, colorado wine events, telluride, wine, wine events, wine festival, wine tastings

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