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JUNE 2008
May 31-June 1 & June 7-8
Santa
Cruz Mountains, CA—Vintners' Festival:
A Taste of the Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountain region has won acclaim
for its local wineries since the 1800’s; now there
are over 40 small, family-owned wineries in the region
that are a part of the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers'
Association (SCMWA), which includes vineyards such as
Beauregard, Bonny Doon and Glenwood Oaks. This association
will host a two-weekend event that includes attractions
such as tastings of special wines, food, music, art
exhibits, winery tours and barrel tasting. It's a great
opportunity to purchase regional wines from Santa Cruz.
The cost is $30 in advance or $35 at the door. The event
lasts from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. with restaurants closing at
4 p.m. Call 831-685-VINE or visit www.scmwa.com for more information.
June
1
Los Angeles, CA—16th Annual Grande Marque
Champagne Tasting
Sample
bubbly, nosh on tasty foods and enjoy scenic ocean views
all in the name of charity. More than 50 Grande Marque
Champagnes will be matched with the signature dishes
of southern California's top restaurants as well as Petrossian Caviar—talk about decadence! Champagne will be flowing from the likes of Bollinger,
Dom Perignon, Cristal, Moët
& Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and more. Culinary treats will be provided by restaurants such as Drago, Mélisse and Yamashiro. Proceed will benefit the
UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center & Madisons Foundation. This sure-to-be-sparkling event will be held at the lovely Le Merigot Beach Hotel & Spa in Santa Monica. Tickets cost $150 per person and can be purchased online. Proceeds will benefit the UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center & Madisons Foundation. For more information, call Wally's at 310-475-0606 or
visit www.wallywine.com.
June
1
Madera, CA—A Celebration of Wine
This 26th annual fundraising event to benefit the Vincent
E. Petrucci Library at CSUF’s Viticulture &
Enology Research Center will be held at Rancho Vista del Rio, located off of Highway 99. From 3 p.m.-6
p.m., guests will enjoy wine from up to 100 California
wineries, such as Eberle,
Tablas Creek and Nappa Ridge, and sample food from over
40 Central California restaurants that include Ducey’s on the Lake, Erna's Elderberry
House and Fiscalini Cheese Company. The event will also host a
wine auction, featuring the finest selection from both participating and non-participating wineries as well as vintages from some of California's most respected personal wine collections. Tickets cost $70 each
and include a souvenir wine glass, buffet plate, program
and one drawing ticket for a prize raffle.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.acelebrationofwine.com or by calling 559-244-5741.
June
1
Los
Angeles, CA—Taste of the Nation
The 20th annual Taste of the Nation gathers local restaurants for one tantalizing day of gourmet food and palate-pleasing wine at a tasting for the public. Enjoy the outdoors and a strolling buffet featuring cuisine from enduring favorites such as Asia de Cuba and Providence, as well as exciting newcomers such as BLT Steak, Citrus at Social, Foxtail and Paperfish. General admission tickets are $115 in advance, $125 at the event. The VIP package is priced at $175 and includes valet parking, a gift bag and other perks. 100 percent of the ticket sales benefits Share Our Strength’s fight to end childhood hunger in the U.S. and abroad. The event will take place from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Media Park in Culver City. For more information, visit taste.strength.org.
June
5-8
Napa
Valley, CA—Auction Napa Valley
This year marks the 28th anniversary of the Napa
Valley Wine Auction, the world's largest wine charity
event with nearly $78 million raised for local nonprofit
agencies since its inception in 1981. The festival includes
a wine tasting, dinner, entertainment and the highlight of
the weekend: the auction. Guests can bid on specialty
bottles, gourmet meals, hotel accommodations and other
luxury items. In addition to the auction, Vintners across
the Valley will hold private parties for auction attendees
at the wineries and in their homes. This year’s
event is chaired by Heitz Wine Cellars. For more
information, visit www.napavintners.com.
June
14-22
St.
Catharines, Ontario, CANADA—Niagara New
Vintage Festival
Both wine connoisseurs and enthusiastic amateurs will enjoy regional wines while taking in the beautiful scenery of this area between Grimsby and Niagara-on-the-Lake, home to 16,000 acres of vinyards. Join more than 30 Ontario wineries for special events, tours and tastings to celebrate Ontario’s newest wines. The TD Bank Financial Group “New Vintage Grille” will be held on Saturday, June 16 at the Niagara Culinary Institute in Niagara-on-the-Lake from 6 pm to 9 pm. At a cost of $90 CAD per person, this oenological journey will allow participants to be the first to experience the 2005 and 2006 vintages uncorked by more than 25 acclaimed wineries and celebrity chefs. For more information, visit www.niagarawinefestival.com or call 905-688-0212. Email info@niagaranewvintagefestival.com.
June
19-22
Waikoloa, HI—Dolphin Days
The Hilton
Waikoloa Village Dolphin Days Summer Fest hosts
dolphins and humans alike at this 14th annual event.
Sip fine wines, nibble on island delicacies and even
play with the dolphins at this festival with the striking
beauty of Hawaii as your backdrop. Inspired by the playful finned creatures at the Dolphin Quest Learning
Lagoon located at this Hilton location, the event benefits
the Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Pacific
Marine Life Foundation. Over the past 13 years,
Dolphin Days has raised and donated more than $500,000
to these charities. For more information call 808-886-1234 or visit www.dolphindays.com.
June
13-15
Aspen, CO—Food & Wine Classic in
Aspen
Join celebrity chefs in the mountainous region of Aspen as they present themed cooking demonstrations. Chefs
and their demonstrations include cooking with Jacques
& Claudine Pepin, "Grill It!"
with Bobby
Flay, "Secrets to Japanese Cooking" with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, "A Delicious Take on Spain" with José
Adrés, "East-West Vegetarian"
with Ming
Tsai and more. Noted wine authorities will also
be present, such as Danny
Meyer, Anthony Giglio and Joshua Wesson for three
days of reserve wine tastings and wine seminars. For more information, call 877-900-WINE or visit foodandwine.netscape.com.
June
28
Ojai, CA—Fifth Annual Ojai Lavender Festival
The
California Lavender Association in partnership with
the The Lavender Inn presents this festival devoted
to our fragrant friend. Enjoy the Mediterranean Marketplace
at Libbey Park with fresh and dried flowers and herbs,
craft items (including soaps, candles, body care, lavender
wands and wreaths), aromatherapy, food and drink and
more. There will also be guest speakers on health and
nutrition as well as live entertainment. This fragrant (and free!) event will take place from 10 am to 5pm. For more information visit www.lavenderfestival.net or call 805-798-1231.
June
21
Waikoloa, HI—The Great Waikoloa Food, Wine &
Musical Festival
In conjunction with Dolphin Days, The Great Waikoloa Food, Wine & Musical Festival is the highlight of the weekend. Over two dozen of Hawaii's most talented chefs will prepare culinary specialties, paired with a wide selection of fine wines, boutique brews and spirits. There will be entertainment aplenty as well, such as the All-Star Smooth Jazz Jam Session, a silent auction and a firework display. Call 808-886-1234 for further information or visit www.dolphindays.com.
June
26-29
Atlantic City, NJ—Toast to the Coast Atlantic City
Make a special trip to the shore for the Toast to the Coast Atlantic City - Food & Wine Spectacular, a weekend of gourmet events at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Showboat Atlantic City and Bally's Atlantic City. During the Food & Wine Expo & Tasting, guests will have the opportunity to sample fine food and wine, shop for culinary gadgets and cookbooks, and view demonstrations from celebrity chefs Roland Meisner, Ingrid Hoffmann and Guy Fieri. Other events will include a cigar beach party, Vine and Dine gala, a cooking demonstration featuring Giada De Laurentiis, a lunch at Mia created by George Perrier and Chris Scarduzio (chefs and owners of Le Bec-Fin and Brasserie Perrier in Philadelphia) and a complimentary champagne toast where revelers at each of the four casinos will officially "Toast the coast!" Venue locations and ticket prices vary. For more information, visit www.harrahs.com/toasttothecoast.
June
26-29
Telluride, CO—Telluride Wine Festival
Celebrate the magic of food and wine amid unspoiled
vistas and majestic 14,000-foot peaks in southwest Colorado's
San Juan Mountains. The annual wine festival is celebrating
its 27th anniversary and will offer food and wine enthusiasts
a rare opportunity to meet winemakers, celebrity chefs,
experts and authors. Participating wineries include Eberle
Winery, Heck Estates, Jordan Winery and more. Events
are priced individually; Weekend packages are available. For more information, visit www.telluridewinefestival.com.
June
26-29
Kapalua,
Maui, HI—27th Annual Kapalua
Wine & Food Festival
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Hawaii's
longest-running and most prestigious food and wine
event, held at the Kapalua Resort on Maui, will host
world-class winemakers, master sommeliers and chefs
for thousands of wine and food lovers. This year's
distinguished roster includes chefs Mary Clarke, Pano Karatassos and Frank Ostini, and Master Sommeliers Fred Dame (Constellations Wines) and Larry Stone (Rubicon Estate), among others. Attendees can enjoy wine-tasting
seminars like "Cult Cabs" and "Chards of Class," celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, a charity
winemaker dinner, a seafood festival and the annual Grand Tasting. Culinary aficionados will
have the opportunity to interact directly with the
winemakers and chefs as they sample and learn more
about exclusive wines and cuisine as well as trends
in today's food and wine industry. A four-day pass—which grants access to most of the events at the festival—costs $800 per person; tickets for selected events are availabe to purchase à la carte. For more information, call 866-669-2440 or visit www.kapalua.com.
Back
to the Calendar
(Updated:
06/02/08 ET)
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