The 9th Annual Washington D.C. International Food and Wine Festival
The 9th Annual Washington D.C. International Food and Wine Festival, is scheduled to be held over the first weekend in March 2008, from Friday the 29th of February 2008 to Sunday the 2nd of March 2008. The event which is touted to be the Mid-Atlantic's Premier Wine and Food Event will be held indoors at the Ronald Reagan Building and the International Trade Center in Washington D.C. The Washington Post is the presenting sponsor of the 9th annual Washington D.C, International Food and Wine Festival. The event will feature more than 200 international wineries who will present their wares at the event along with specialty food vendors and manufacturers of related lifestyle products and services.
The Wine and Food Festival Week
The festival features new events this year such as the gastronomical extravaganza called 'Wine and Food Festival week', which is to be held from Monday the 25th of February to Thursday the 28th February. The event comprises of nightly vintner dinners which will be held at a bunch of the area's prominent restaurants. This event is a precursor to the main event of the annual International wine and food festival. During the Wine and Food Festival week you will be able to enjoy prix-fixe dinners at the participating restaurants. These prix-fixe dinners will include specialties of each restaurant and these menus will be paired with appropriate fine wines supplied by prominent winemakers. Some of the restaurants participating in festival week are Café Trope, OYA and Bangkok Joe.
The full list of participating restaurants and wineries is on http://www.wine-expos.com/DC/.
The Grand Cru Wine Lounge Opening Party
Devotees of good food and wine are sure to enjoy the Opening Night Party which is to be held at The Grand Cru Wine Lounge on the 29th of February from 7pm to 10 pm. This exclusive event will feature luscious foods prepared by the area's best chefs. These delicious plates will be paired with extraordinary vintages provided by well-known winemakers. Some of the restaurants who are participating in the event are BLT Steak, Circle Bistro and Notti Bianche and Rustico Restaurant. Tickets for the opening night cost $175 per head and are available online at the website of the festival.
The Grand Tasting
The Grand Tasting is the main event of the festival which is to be held in the elegant environs of Ronald Reagan building. The Grand Tasting will be held everyday from 2pm to 6pm on every day of the festival. The event will feature more than 200 wineries, whose representatives will be on hand to pour more than 1000 wines for you to sample.
The Grand Tasting will also feature food exhibitors who will be offering samples of their delectable products for you to taste and savor. At this event you will have the chance to watch informative live cooking demonstrations on the Washington Post Culinary Stage. You will also be able take part in the winemaker 'Meet and greets' where you will have the unique chance to meet and mingle with many innovative wine makers. Your admission ticket to the Wine and Food festival gives you access to this Grand Tasting and the various allied events.
As you enter the Grand Tasting you will receive a commemorative Wine and Food festival glass which is yours to keep. You will also receive a 4-color glossy brochure which will give you information about the exhibitors at the event and their location in the arena. The brochure also has the schedules of the 'Meet and Greets,' cooking demonstrations etc. You can purchase tickets for the entire weekend or a single day on the website of the festival.
Guided Tastings & Seminars
The International food and wine festival will also feature a series of guided tastings and seminars which will seek to educate visitors on various aspects of the global wine industry. At these guided tastings you will be able to sample a variety of vintages as well. One of the prominent speakers at this year's schedule of seminars includes Gloria Maroti Frazee, Director of Education at Wine Spectator magazine.
The 9th Annual Washington D.C. International food and wine festival promises to be an invigorating and entertaining affair. You would do well to mark the dates and clear your schedule in order to attend its many exciting events.
