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MARCH 2008
Seasonal
Tip:
SPRING
LAMB comes fresh to markets this month. Also,
asparagus is harvested and the year's Brie is
ripe. |
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February 29-March
2
Albuquerque, NM—20th Annual National Fiery Foods
& Barbecue Show
With
more than 10,000 attendees last year, this event boasts
the largest collection of hot and spicy products ever
assembled in the US, so if you have a low threshold
for spice, better stay home from this one. If you can
take the heat, browse the exhibits of hot sauces, salsas,
barbecue sauces, candies, honeys, chips, pestos, nuts,
jams, jellies, snacks, soups, salad dressings, mustards,
beans and ketchup, and attend cooking demonstrations.
The intense event will be held at the Sandia Resort
& Casino Events Center where guests can also spend
time at golf, the spa and gaming. Cost is $10 per person.
For more information visit www.fiery-foods.com or call 505-873-8680. |
March
1
Portland, OR—Classic
Wines Auction |
The
Classic Wines Auction at the Oregon Convention Center is
the largest charity auction in Oregon and has a stellar line up of guest chefs and winemakers.
Each year the auction selects four honorary wine ambassadors
to represent Oregon, Washington, California and an International region. The 2008 ambassadors will be:
Casey McClellan of Seven Hills Winery (WA), Peter Mondavi Jr. of Charles Krug Winery (CA), Carl and Marilynn Thoma of Van Duzer Vineyards (OR) and a representative from Ferngrove Vineyard Estates (Australia). The week prior to the auction
features an expanded winemakers dinners from Feb. 26-28, followed by the Ambassador Dinner on Feb. 29 at the Portland
Art Museum. For more information, call 503-972-0194, email info@classicwinesauction.com or visit www.classicwinesauction.com |
March 1
Santa Rosa, CA—Crab
& Fennel Fest |
Crab and fennel fit together like a hand and a glove. Add
some Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris to the mix, and you’re
in for a truly delicious experience. Coinciding with the Russian
River Wine Road 30th Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend, the Fifth
Annual Crab & Fennel Fest features the local, fresh Dungeness
crabs along with softly sweet wild fennel. Included is the "Vineyard Designated Tasting" where guests will be able to sample some of the
most unique and special bottles of wine from the Russian River
Valley. For more information or to purchase tickets,
call 707-521-2534 or visit www.rrvw.org. |
March
1-9
Healdsburg, CA—Russian River Wine Road 30th Annual
Barrel Tasting Weekend |
Sample
wines right out of the barrel, visit with winemakers and
peruse the cellars of your favorite wineries along the Russian
River Wine Road. Purchase a tasting glass and event wristband for
$20 and let the adventure begin. You go directly into the
cellar at more than 100 wineries and sample wines from the
barrel. Purchase "futures," then come back to
the winery to pick them up after the wine is bottled, about
twelve to sixteen months later. Held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
For details, call 800-723-6336 or visit www.wineroad.com. |
March 7-8
Shell Beach, CA—Eighth Annual World of
Pinot Noir |
Almost 160 Pinot Noir producers from around the globe
will gather at The Cliffs Resort in Shell Beach for
two days of education, tastings, camaraderie and even
kayaking. Some of this year's participants include Acacia
Vineyard, Belle Vallee Cellars, Fiddlehead Cellars,
Meridian and Talley Vineyards. The schedule for the
eighth annual World of Pinot Noir includes in-depth
seminars, two grand tastings (Friday and Saturday) featuring
entirely different groups of Pinot Noir producers and
a gala dinner featuring local and guest chefs. There
will also be a featured tasting with John Haeger (author
of North American Pinot Noir), along with Peter Neptune, Patrick Comiskey, Fred Dame and Allen Meadows, and a Santa
Barbara-style Paulée dinner. This food and
wine extravaganza will be hosted by participating wineries
and sommeliers from around the globe. Get all the details
at www.worldofpinotnoir.com. |
March
7-9
New York, NY—First
Annual New York Wine Expo |
The producers of Wine Expo Boston are bringing the popular event to the island of Manhattan for the first time ever. Over 600 wines from more than 170 winemakers from around the world will be available for sampling, including a large selection of local wines from Long Island and upstate New York. In addition to sampling, consumers can learn from the experts at a wide range of seminars designed for all levels of wine enthusiasts. Topics include wine tasting, wine and food pairings, wine serving, selecting the right vintage, among others. Participating speakers include best-selling author and wine columnist Mark Oldman, who will be giving the keynote address. The third and final day of the event is dedicated to trade, including restaurateurs, retailers and other food and beverage professionals. The event will be held at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door on the day of the event. Use the promo code "schwartz" to receive $10 off the ticket price if purchased before February 29th. For tickets, event hours and more information, visit www.wine-expos.com. |
March
7-9
McMinnville, OR—15th
Annual McMinnville Wine & Food Classic |
This
three-day event held in the heart of Oregon's wine country
features more than 140 booths of Oregon's best wineries,
foods and arts & crafts. This year’s event will
be held at the Evergreen Aviation Museum where the famous
“Spruce Goose” is located. Enjoy by the taste,
glass, bottle or case. Visit and experience artists and
enjoy culinary delights from throughout the Northwest. Some
of last year's attendees were Bradley Vineyards, Golden Valley Brewery and Zebra Cellars. More info at www.macwfc.org or call the Wine Line at 503-472-4033. |
March 14-16
Paso
Robles, CA—16th
Annual Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival |
Get
acquainted with the Paso Robles wine country at the 16th Annual Paso Robles
Zinfandel Festival where more than 90 area wineries will
host an array of events. The event will feature a Grand
Tasting of Paso Robles wine country Zinfandels. There will
be a live auction followed by a silent auction and the Grand
Tasting. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to causes
benefiting health and education for the vineyard worker
population in the local community. Special winery events
will be offered throughout the weekend at Paso Robles wineries.
For more information call 800-549-WINE or visit www.pasowine.com. |
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Join
the member wineries of Rhône Rangers for a day of sampling
fine wines, bread, cheese and other foods at this tenth annual
event held at Ft. Mason Center, San Francisco. More than 120
member wineries will be presenting barrel samples, new releases
and library samples of American Rhône wines, accompanied
by food from Bay area and Northern California artisan producers.
For more information, call 800-467-0163 or visit www.rhonerangers.org. |
March
15-16
Kenwood/Glen
Ellen, Sonoma County—18th
Annual Heart of the Valley Barrel Tasting Tour |
Enjoy
the best that Sonoma Valley has to offer. Taste fine wines
from wineries throughout the valley, nibble on scrumptious
food pairings prepared by local chefs and restaurants, listen
to local musicians and peruse art from local artists. twenty
area wineries are participating with a portion of the proceeds
benefiting local charities. Tickets are $55 per person and
$20 for designated drivers. For more information call 866-794-WINE,
email info@heartofsonomavalley.com or visit www.heartofthevalley.com. |
March
15-16
Phoenix, AZ—West of Western Culinary Festival |
Over
the course of two days, the West of Western Culinary Festival
will take place near downtown Phoenix at the Phoenix Art Museum,
where more than 50 chefs have collectively redefined the
image of Western cuisine. Expect samples from over 50 restaurants
at the Grand Tasting, wine tastings at The Wine Table and
a Garden Party. And don’t miss the Desert Diversity
Expo presented by Slow Food Phoenix and Community Food Connections,
which will display Arizona’s food heritage. For more
information and to purchase tickets, call 602-262-5652 or
visit www.westofwestern.com. |
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The
one and only "Culinary Masters" will take place
at the Hyatt Regency Irvine and is a culinary extravaganza. The event
will offer guests a five-course meal paired with wines by
one of the top chefs in Orange County. Chefs Azmin Ghahreman (Sapphire) and John Cuevas (The Loft at Montage Resort & Spa) are the event's honorary chais. The chefs will design the
menu and have their restaurant's waiters serve the tables.
Included the evening is live music and an auction for rare
wines and trips around the globe. Proceeds from the event
will benefit the Roosters Foundation, a charity that helps
at-risk and disadvantaged children in the community. For
more information, call 949-706-7613 or visit www.roosters.org. |
March
27-29
Kailua-Kona,
Big Island, HI—Seventh Annual Kona Chocolate
Festival |
If
there should be a celebration for anything in the world,
it should be for chocolate. Come see why chocolate has long
been revered as a gift from the gods at the Kona Chocolate
Festival at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa. The multi-day event includes a
Chocolate Symposium and decadent evening Gala on Saturday
to end the event. The symposium will offer spa treatments,
educational tours and seminars for chocolate enthusiasts.
At the gala, taste the creations of Big Island chefs, ice
cream and candy makers, sample more than 25,000 different
kinds of sweets and chocolate, drink champagne, wine, beer
or 100% Kona coffee and dance under the stars to live music.
At the end of the night, make sure to vote for your favorite
dessert or appetizer. Proceeds benefit Kona Public Waldorf
School. Gala tickets cost $45 in advance, $55 day of event.
Tickets will be available February 2008. For more information
visit www.konachocolatefestival.com. |
March
28-29
Cincinnati, OH—The Cincinnati International Wine Festival |
The
Cincinnati International Wine Festival, founded in 1991,
is one of the Midwest's largest annual wine and food events.
Each March in the Cincinnati Convention Center, more than
600 wines from 130 wineries are poured, accompanied by food,
live music, auctions and other special events. In 2006,
the festival donated more than $278,000 for Cincinnati area
charities. The festival has raised over $2.25 million since
its beginning for charities like Cancer Family Care and
the Ronald McDonald House. For more information and tickets,
visit www.winefestival.com or call 513-723-9463. |
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March
29-30
Hermann, MO—29th Annual Wurstfest
The
“best of the wurst” is celebrated at the 29th
Annual Wurstfest. Sample and purchase Old-World delights
like bratwurst, leberwurst, schwartenmagen and sommer sausage.
All events will be held in the Pavilion at Stone Hill Winery
and at the Hermannhof Festhalle. Live German music, sausage-making
contests, a brat knot-tying contest, a “whole hog
sausage breakfast,” crafts, wine tastings and more.
For more information, visit www.hermannmo.info or call 800-932-8687.
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Back to the Calendar
(Updated: 02/19/08 ET) |
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