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SEPTEMBER 2008
Seasonal
Tip:
Grape harvesting begins
this month, which means tastings and celebrations in
California's wine-growing areas. |
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September
8
Santa Rosa, CA—12th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival
More than 170 varieties of heirloom tomatoes in every size, shape and color imaginable will be featured, picked fresh from Kendall-Jackson Winery’s own culinary gardens at the 12th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival. Attendees will experience selections from gourmet food purveyors, different versions of tomato bruschetta at “Bruschetta Boulevard,” wine education seminars, a tomato growing contest, tomato-inspired art show garden tours and live entertainment–all paired with Kendall-Jackson wines. This year's “Best New Chef's Challenge” will feature returning champion Sean O'Brien of San Francisco's Myth and two time winner John Besh of Restaurant August in New Orleans. Tickets cost $55 per person in advance through June and $65 beginning July 1. Discounted tickets are available for wine club members. For more information call 800-769-3649 or visit www.kj.com.
September
11-14
Grapevine, TX—22nd
Annual GrapeFest
This four-day festival invites guests to tour the wineries
of Grapevine, an area named for the abundance of its
namesake. This festive city will introduce you to award-winning
wines of the region. Enjoy a rousing good time among
Texans eager to show you the fruits of their city. Highlights include the People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic; GrapeStomp; Vintner's Auction; Texas Wine Tribute; non-stop entertainment on four stages as well as a Kid Zone and a Tennis Classic. Visit www.grapevinetexasusa.com or call 817-410-3185 for more information.
September
14
Carmel, CA—Carmel Tomato Fest
Lovers of tomatoes won't want to miss the 17th
annual Carmel Tomato Fest at Quail Lodge Resort. The event will include a display of more than 350 heirloom tomato varieties from around the world for the tasting, dishes created by 60 of America's top chefs, a tasting of more than 100 wines, a “Salsa Showcase,” celebrity chef and gardening demonstrations, live music and dancing. For tickets and reservations
go to www.tomatofest.com or call 800-965-4827.
September
16-21
Bardstown, KY—2008
Kentucky Bourbon Festival
Celebrate a classic American spirit at the
2008 Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, Kentucky, the Bourbon Capital of the World. Guests enjoy five days of black-tie galas, historical tours, great food and entertainment. For more information, call 800-638-4887, ext.
4 or visit www.kybourbonfestival.com.
September
19-20
Maui, HI—Taste of Lahaina
Maui's
largest culinary festival will showcase new and popular restaurants in Maui County
and offering samples of signature dishes. Features include
a beer and wine garden, kids' fun area, restaurant tents and continuous live entertainment
on stage with Hawaii's current and legendary musicians.
The event benefits Maui youth groups. Kids 12 and under are free. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Lahaina
Recreation Park II behind the soccer field. For more
information visit www.visitlahaina.com.
September
19-21
Los
Angeles, CA—Port
of Los Angeles Lobster Festival
Lobster is king at the annual Port of Los
Angeles Lobster Festival, one of Southern California's
great food events. The feast is held at Ports O' Call
Village on San Pedro Harbor's picturesque waterfront
overlooking colorful commercial fishing boats and giant
ocean-going ships. The festival features a seafood fiesta
of Maine lobster, calamari, shrimp fajitas, crab and
fish cakes and other non-ocean-related food items. For more information, call the lobster
hotline at 310-798-7478 or visit www.lobsterfest.com.
September
20-21
Westminster,
MD—Maryland
Wine Festival
Enjoy Maryland’s ambience and offerings at this event featuring tastings
from wineries in attendance, live music, foods from
local restaurants, arts and crafts, wine education seminars
and a silent auction. Admission for adults is $20 and includes a souvenir wine glass, samples of Maryland wines and tours of the museum's 19th-Century farmhouse. The festival will take place Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m. at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster, Carroll County. For
more information, call 800-654-4645 or visit www.marylandwine.com.
September
20-October 5
Munich, GERMANY—Oktoberfest
"It's tapped!"
roars the Lord Mayor of Munich when opening the first
keg of Oktoberfest beer—the first of six million!
This ritual inaugurates the world's largest beer fest
along with a parade of bar owners and brewers on horse-drawn
carriages. Europe's most visited city, Munich, is the
home to this annual seventeen-day beer and sausage blowout.
Each beer tent boasts its own entertainment, and parades,
carnivals and food stalls provide endless fun. Certain
events are a must for Oktoberfest visitors; for example,
the parade of tent proprietors, the Trachten und Schützenzug
(folklore parade) and the Böllerschießen
(gun salute). Visit www.oktoberfest.de for all the details.
September 26
Carmel Valley, CA—Harvest
Wine Seminar
Chateau Julien winemakers Bill Anderson and Marta
Kraftzeck will share the passion and excitement of
harvest at Chateau Julien Wine Estate's annual Harvest Wine Seminar. Guests are invited to observe, learn
and participate in the first stages of winemaking,
after grapes are harvested straight from the winery's
vineyard. Enjoy limited release Chateau Julien wines
and hors d'oeuvres while the winemakers crush, de-stem
and ultimately transfer the grapes into the cellar
to begin fermentation. Following the crush, dinner
will be served "family style" in the winery's
cellar amongst the French oak barrels and fermenting
tanks. The Grape Crush takes place at 7 p.m., dinner
at 8 p.m. The cost is $100 and early reservations are
suggested, as seating is limited. For reservations
or for more information call 831-624-2600 or visit www.chateaujulien.com.
September
26-28
Ledyard, CT—Foxwoods Food & Wine Festival
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Join chefs Tom Colicchio and Jacques Pepin, along with Food Network stars such as Guy Fieri and Ingrid Hoffman, at this third annual food and wine festival at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut. A welcome cocktail reception and gala dinner at MGM Grand at Foxwoods will kick things off with dishes prepared by Tom Colicchio, David Burke and other prominent chefs. On Saturday, indulge in the Grand Tasting featuring fine wines, book signings and celebrity chef demonstrations (a second Grand Tasting will be held on Sunday). Wine and spirits seminars will also be offered, as well as chef and winemaker dinners, a “Bon Bon Boogie” dessert and dancing party, a Jazz Brunch and a celebrity chef poker tournament. For individual event prices and more information, visit www.foxwoodsfoodandwine.com.
September
26-30
Santa
Fe, NM—Santa
Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
This year marks the 18th anniversary of this spicy event! Activities include guest chef luncheons, wine seminars, winemaker dinners and the Grand Food and Wine Tasting. Past participating wineries have included Benziger Family Winery, Kendall-Jackson and Wild Horse Winery. Restaurants such as Blue Corn Café, Anasazi Restaurant and El Farol have all contributed culinary treats to the event, and this year should be no different.
Call 505-438-8060 or visit www.santafewineandchile.org.
September
26-November 9
Lake Buena Vista, FL—Epcot International
Food and Wine Festival
It’s a small world at the thirteenth annual Epcot
International Food and Wine Festival held at Walt
Disney World Resort in Florida.
A six-week extravaganza of wine seminars, cooking demonstrations
and cultural experiences and live concerts like the "Eat to the Beat" series will entertain guests
throughout the festival. Entrance to the Epcot International
Food and Wine Festival, plus wine and beer seminars
and cooking demonstrations, is included with regular
Epcot admission. To make reservations for any of the
ticketed events, call 407-WDW-FEST. For details go to www.disneyworld.com.
September
27
Los Angeles, CA—26th American Wine & Food Festival
Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff hosted last year's star-studded event, which featured celebrated chefs such as Joachim Splichal, Nobu Matsuhisa and Sam Choy. This year's lineup promises to be just as impressive, with chefs like Gino Angelini (Angelini Osteria), Dean Fearing (Fearing's), Matt Hurley (CUT) and Nancy Silverton (Pizzeria Mozza) scheduled to participate. Enjoy live bands, an auction and libations from more than 70 fine wine and spirit purveyors. The festival benefits the Los Angeles Chapters of Meals on Wheels, which serves over three thousand meals each day to Los Angeles’ homebound senior and disabled citizens. Sign up early, as the event does sell out. For more information, call 310-574-3663 or visit www.awff.org. Universal Studios Back Lot, 3900 Lankershim Blvd., Universal City.
September
27-28
Tri-Cities, WA—Harvest
Festival and "Catch the Crush"
Join the Columbia Valley wineries in celebrating the
harvest and crush in the heart of Washington's wine
country. Member wineries will open their doors for
world-class wine tasting. Activities include grape
stomping, observing the harvest activities, tasting
hors d'oeuvres and relaxing to live music while
enjoying the last of the Indian summer in the Columbia
Valley vineyards. Be sure to snap up Columbia Valley
wines on special this weekend. Wineries will be open
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring your own wine glass or purchase
a logo glass. For more information, visit www.columbiavalleywine.com, or call 866-360-6611.
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