Food & Wine Trails has planned 14 different wine cruises in 2010 to the Mediterranean and Australia and New Zealand. The cruises are on three of the highest rated cruise lines of the world, with each sponsored by a winery or a group of wineries that brings 300 to 400 bottles of wine for their guests to enjoy.
Wineries host these cruises to educate and build relationships, so an incredible selection is brought to wow the group says Food & Wine Trials President, Larry Martin. All 2010 Food & Wine Trails cruises are on Celebrity, Regent and Oceania Cruises, which are premium or deluxe, adult-oriented cruise lines. Guests are highly discerning when it comes to onboard service and food quality, and these cruise lines receive top awards in these areas.
Food & Wine Trails cruises begin at $1,649 per person double occupancy and all except one include free round-trip airfare, the ship and port fees, and prepaid gratuities as an early booking incentive. Martin stresses that this offers tremendous value to the consumer, as his programs include all that wine, many private events, all meals, deluxe accommodations, taxes and round trip air transportation.
The 2010 Food & Wine Trails wine-cruise collection includes a few past sponsors, such as the Russian River Valley Winegrowers, the Zinfandel producers of ZAP, and Matanzas Creek and Arrowood wineries, but also many new sponsors as well. New sponsors include Wines from Spain and Andr Lurton, Bordeauxs largest owner of wine-chateaus. These two organizations are cruising on Food & Wine magazines May 19th European wine cruise.
Firestone, Sebastiani, Three Rivers and Lincourt Winery are teaming up, on a May 24th cruise that will begin in Marseille and end in Rome.
Robert Mondavi, Franciscan and Mt. Veeder are three top Cabernet-Sauvignon producers, and are hosting a Napa Valley focused Cabernet cruise from the Greek Islands to Barcelona on June 30th.
Flowers Winery has won many awards and was one of the first wineries to develop a direct-to-consumer program. They are hosting their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Mediterranean cruise on July 24th.
Food and wine cruises that are still in the works include November 2010 cruises to New Zealand and Australia hosted by Pat Kuleto of Kuleto Wines and Pat Kuleto Restaurants who will travel with San Francisco restaurateur and James Beard award-nominee Nancy Oakes of Boulevard Restaurant, and a South American cruise hosted by world famous vintner Paul Hobbs. Paul will most likely host a pre-cruise visit to his hot new winery in Mendoza Vinas Copos, which received Wine Spectators highest rating ever given for a South American wine.
Also planned for January 2011 is another Sydney to New Zealand cruise hosted by cult Pinot Noir producer Halleck Vineyard. Halleck will be accompanied by nationally known wine-writer Dan Berger.
August 7th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | Comments (0)
Sunflowers, Chardonnay & “Sand-Wishes”
Sun, July 19th
12:30-3:30
Luncheon/Fundraiser to benefit Make A Wish of Suffolk County
Grab your friends and head out to Pindar Vineyards for an afternoon of good wine, good food and good company all for a fantastic cause. $35 per person includes lunch, glass of Sunflower Chardonnay, logo glass, dessert, and live music on the Pindar pavilion overlooking the vines. Proceeds go to Make A Wish of Suffolk County to grant a wish for a child in that area. Groups are welcome, but reservations required are — call or e-mail to reserve your space 631.734.6200 x104 or events@Pindar.net.
On a side note, the sunflower field at Pindar will be in bloom –U-pick bouquets $6 each, pre-picked bouquets $7.
July 10th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | Comments (0)
July 9th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | Comments (0)
Mortimer Bester, a 24-year-old sommelier at Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa on South Africa’s famed Garden Route, has won the Chaîne de Rôtisseurs’ Jeunes (Young) Regional Sommeliers competition and will represent South Africa at the finals in the United Kingdom this September. Born and raised in Knysna, Bester, what is most impressive about Bester is that he had never tasted wine when he joined Pezula as a waiter in 2005.
Werner Wentzel, Pezula’s F&B Manager and Wine Director, who has mentored Mortimer for the past four years, says that once he started attending Pezula’s in-house tasting sessions, his passion for and knowledge about wine began to grow so quickly that he was promoted to Sommelier in 2007.
Bester was the regional winner of the Chaîne de Rôtisseurs’ Jeunes Sommeliers competition last year. His high score on the final examination, which included blind tastings of wines from all over the world, secured his spot in the global finals.
The 2009 International Jeunes Sommeliers final takes place on September 25th in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the bailliage of Great Britain.
June 29th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | Comments (0)
California Natural Products in Lathrop, Calif. announced today their newest eco-friendly, health-conscious product: wine.
CalNaturale is the name of the company’s wine label, with its first release - a 2008 cabernet sauvignon - scheduled to hit the shelves late this summer. The wine features organically grown grapes from the Paso Robles Appellation, and the company describes it as “full-bodied” and “approachable.”
The grapes aren’t the only “green” aspect to this vintage, however. Each “bottle” is sold in a tetra pak which is smaller, lighter, and easy to open and reseal — no corkscrew necessary. The company claims that professional taste-testers have verified that the packaging does not detract from the overall flavor of the wine.
Organic wines have seen a growth spurt in market share over the last 2 to 3 years. Fore more organic wine resources, check out the following links:
http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor2/tswa20080430.php
http://www.wines-info.com/Newshtml/200903/1982009032602590048.html
http://www.reallynatural.com/archives/organic_wine_2004_jelu_malbec_1.php
June 26th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | Comments (0)
Kirkland Uncorked, one of Washington’s signature summer food festivals, will take place this year from July 17th to the 19th as. With an onslaught of art, style and taste, Kirkland Uncorked promises to be an exciting three-day summer celebration. Below is some information provided by Kirkland Uncorked.
ART
Beginning Friday, Kirkland Avenue, and Marina Park will transform into Artists’ Lane, showcasing over 60 of Northwest Art Alliance’s Best of the Northwest artists. After strolling through Artist Lane, guests can put their newfound inspiration to use and stop by the “Arts for All” exhibit in the Kirkland Uncorked Promenade. The exhibit includes clay throwing demonstrations, drawing activities including a still-life model, kids’ art activities and watercolor demonstrations. All kinds of artists are welcome from the fledgling doodler to the accomplished artiste.
STYLE
Kirkland Uncorked will showcase some of the newest lifestyle designs hitting the Pacific Northwest. Visit the Seattle Homes and Lifestyles Pavilion where lifestyle presentations from landscape to interior design will be displayed. Sounds of the area’s top jazz musicians and bands from Pony Boy Records will fill the Marina along with the tunes of 98.1 Classical King FM will resonate throughout the waterfront.
After exploring luxuries on land, head seaward toward the The Boat Show. Experience the floating life of luxury in the lavish collection of yachts presented by the Seattle Boat Show. Guests will also have the opportunity to tour the historic Lady Washington Tall Ship making Marina Park it’s port for the weekend.
TASTE
Indulge your palate with over 60 wines from 20 Washington wineries in the Tasting and Lifestyle Garden. Afterward, visit The Grape Choice Wine Shop featuring bottles and cases of the varietals featured within the event. Need a break from the grape? Visit the Henry Weinhard’s Beer Garden, pouring premium brands of Belgium Wheat, IPA, Private Reserve, and more.
To top off the tasting experience, guests are invited to sample some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest restaurant samplings. Witness the talent of Washington’s top chefs in a heated grilling competition.
June 23rd, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | Comments (0)
The second annual Crested Butte Land Trust Wine & Food Festival, July 23 - 26, will showcase hundreds of wines and cuisine in the serene surroundings of Crested Butte, Colo. All events during last year’s festival sold out, which led organizers to add new opportunities to indulge in great food, drink and a biking winemaker trails.
The festival, produced by Colorado Mountain Events, LLC, benefits the Crested Butte Land Trust, which has a mission to protect open space and wildlife habitat, preserve the valley’s ranching heritage, and provide access via trails.
Festival Favorites Returning
Wine seminars allow wine novices and aficionados alike to learn the nuances of wine during classroom-style sessions. These 10 seminars, either 60 or 90 minutes in duration, will be held all days of the festival and are sold a la carte from $35 to $50 each. Each event is limited to approximately 24 guests and is conducted in local restaurants.
The most exclusive happenings during the four-day event are chef dinners, where nationally renowned chefs are invited to Crested Butte and paired with distinguished local chefs to create a series of intimate dinners in private homes. The four dinners each allow 12 guests to enjoy a multi-course dinner that is paired with some of the finest wines in the world selected by the chefs and master sommeliers. Out-of-town chefs who have committed to date include Frank Bonanno, Keegan Gerhard, Troy Guard and Tyler Wiard of Denver and Kent Rathbun of Texas. Seats are $500 per person.
The Grand Tasting will feature hundreds of wines from around the world and hors d’oeuvres from more than a dozen local restaurants. Scheduled for Saturday, July 25 from 4 to 7 p.m., the Grand Tasting will be held in the Lodge at Mountaineer Square’s Grand Ballroom, located at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Tickets are $65 in advance and $80 day of event (21 years of age and older only), and $15 for children and designated drivers. Only 400 tickets will be sold.
What’s New
Due to an outstanding response to the Grand Tasting in 2008, an Evening on Elk Avenue will feature a similar format on Friday, July 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. From First Street to Second Street on Elk Avenue, guests will do a wine walk, enjoying wine sampling and hors d’oeuvres prepared by local eateries. Tickets are $45 (21 years of age and over), and those under 21 are welcome to stroll with parents at no cost. A package price of $100 is available when purchasing an adult ticket for both the Grand Tasting and Evening on Elk Avenue.
Participants who want to add the world-class mountain biking of Crested Butte to their weekend can explore some of the most beautiful rides on Earth with a few grapes and gourmet food as part of the mix. Winemaker Trails are rides led by professional guides at both beginner/intermediate and intermediate/advanced levels. Bicyclists will convene afterwards for a gourmet picnic prepared by notable local chefs in a remote yurt in a beautiful mountain valley. A winemaker will bring favorite wines to share and discuss with each group, limited to 24 participants for each Friday, Saturday (two rides) and Sunday rides. Each rider will receive a custom festival cycling jersey. The cost is $175 per person.
Tickets for all festival activities may be purchased at www.crestedbuttewine.com or in person at the Crested Butte Land Trust office (308 Third Avenue, Crested Butte).
June 22nd, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | Comments (0)
Just in time for Father’s Day and the brightening June weather, some major wine events are taking off over the next two weeks. Take a look and buy your tickets now!
The Golden Glass 2009 in San Francisco, CA
http://www.thegoldenglass.com/
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The Food and Wine Festival in Pennington, NJ
http://lowfoodandwinefestival.com
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Around the World in Hudson Valley area, NY
http://hawangunkwinetrail.com
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Pinot Days in San Francisco, CA
http://www.pinotdays.com/
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Taste of Redwood Valley in Redwood Valley, CA
http://atasteofredwoodvalley.com
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Wine & Food Classic in Stowe, VT
http://stowewine.com
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And for those of you who like to plan, here are some events coming up in August and September:
Shoreline Wine Festival in Guilford, CT
http://www.shorelinewinefestival.com/
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Illinois Wine Experience in Springfield, IL
http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/tents/wine.htm
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Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival in Santa Clara, CA
http://www.santaclaraartandwinefestival.com/
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The 15th Annual Bodega Seafood, Art & Wine Festival in Bodega, CA
http://www.winecountryfestivals.com/
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Illinois Wine & Art Festival
http://www.wineandartfestival.com/
Thanks to the following sources for contributing to this post:
Wall Street Journal: Life & Style
Connecticut Wine Trail
Kirby Pringle of the The News Gazette
June 19th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events, Wineries | Comments (0)
Via Dei Mille hosted a wonderful event to celebrate the launch of their new prosecco this past Wednesday. Called Via dei Mille Prosecco Extra Dry, the prosecco officially launched June 10th and it will be used in the the swank Italian restaurant’s signature prosecco cocktails and is available to guests by the glass, bottle, or for purchase to enjoy at home.
Imported from Italy’s Veneto region, the Prosecco, Verdiso, Perera and Bianchetta grapes used in the making of Via dei Mille Prosecco Extra Dry come from various zones in the region. Via dei Mille Prosecco Extra Dry is characterized by its straw-yellow color and apple, pear and citrus aromatics. Its fruity and slightly floral bouquet lends itself well to complement seafood and light pasta dishes as well as fresh cheeses and poultry.
June 17th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events, Reviews, Types | Comments (0)
Food & Wine will be hosting its 27th annual Classic in Aspen. At an elevation of 9,000 feet, amongst 5,000 foodies, dozens of culinary icons and more than 50,000 bottles of wine, the Classic will once again this year unveil the newest trends and innocations emerging from the culinary world. The classic offers more than 80 cooking and wine seminars and it is widely recognized as the top destination to discover the latest culinary trends. Signature Food & Wine Classic events include the Grand Tasting Pavilion, which includes hundreds of exhibitors sharing their new products, the Food & Wine Best New Chefs dinner, the Classic Quickfire and the 20th anniversary of the American Express Restaurant Trade Program.
The event will take place from Thursday evening, June 18 through Sunday afternoon, June 21 at the St. Regis Hotel (970 920 3300) on 315 East Dean Street.
June 16th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events | Comments (0)
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