Eat, Drink, Be Merry at North Florida Wine and Food Festival

Lovers of fine wine and fine cuisine, this one’s for you: Later this month, the First Annual North Florida Wine and Food Festival will offer a weekend full of tasty delights for oenophiles and gourmands of all shapes and sizes. Coordinated by Professor Mark Bonn, all proceeds from the festival will benefit the Dedman School of Hospitality at The Florida State University.

The North Florida Wine and Food Festival will take place:

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AUG. 29 – 30

TALLAHASSEE AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

6800 MAHAN DRIVE (INTERSTATE 10 AT U.S. HIGHWAY 90, EXIT 209A)

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.

To kick off the festival, an independent blind tasting will take place on Monday, Aug. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the University Center Club at Florida State. Sixteen wine experts will be in attendance to judge 12 categories of sparkling, white, and red wines. At the end of the event, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be presented for each wine variety along with “Overall Best Red,” “Overall Best White” and “Overall Best of Show.”

Events scheduled for Aug. 29-30 are as follows:

• Saturday, Aug. 29: The Winemaker’s Dinner will take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m., with special guest Phil Wente of California’s Wente Vineyards. Wente will present five of his best wines to accompany perfectly paired entrées prepared by Dedman School Chef Jim Koenigsberg.

• Sunday Aug. 30: The Grand Tasting will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. More than 175 wines, many of reserve and single vineyard designation, both domestic and imported, will be featured. They will be poured for patrons to enjoy. In addition, many of Tallahassee’s most popular restaurants will be on hand, offering a taste of some of their unique creations and cuisine.

Visit www.winefoodfest.com for more information or to purchase tickets.