The tenth anniversary edition of the Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival kicks off this September 25th, and first out of the gate are the seminars. You’ll notice a change this year, as they will only be holding seminars on Friday afternoon at the Viking Hotel. In previous years seminars ran all three days, and some conflicted with Grand Tastings. That could be a major inconvenience as the weekend seminars were across town at the Hyatt, but last year they seemed to have solved that by holding the Saturday and Sunday seminars in the Tea House, right on the grounds of Marble House and fifty feet from the Grand Tasting tent. Still, there has been a decision to cut back and
The wine from Quintessa in 2014
eliminate the weekend seminars. So if you want to get a little more in depth with some pretty iconic wineries, and learn more about their wines, you’ll need to join in the Friday seminars.
Note: all seminars are at the Hotel Viking, a change from previous years. They are also all $40, and still one of the best values around. This year you can spend time with a classic Champagne house, an iconic Italian producer and a well respected Napa Valley winery focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Along the way you’ll get some food pairings, terroir comparisons and displays of what the winemaking craft can do.
Here’s the lineup. You can get tickets to all the events at the Newport Mansion website: http://www.newportmansions.org/events/wine-and-food-festival/tickets-events
We’ll see you there.
A votre sante!
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Champagne Taittinger: Master Class
Bernard Sun, Brand Director, French Portfolio at Kobrand Corporation, and Matthew MacCartney, Executive Chef, Jamestown Fish
Come hungry and thirsty! Sun and MacCartney will explore the versatility of Champagne and food pairing. Sip through these various bubbles: Brut La Francaise, Prestige Rose, 2006 Millesime and 2005 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc, as Chef MacCartney pairs each wine with a specialty bite.
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
A Tale of Two Vineyards: Tignanello and Townsend
Niccolo Maltinti of Marchesi Antinori
The Antinori family of Tuscany has been making wine for 630 years and 26 generations. The family’s most famous vineyard is Tignanello and the Sangiovese-based wine of the same name that it produces is the original Super-Tuscan. Marchese Piero Antinori first created Tignanello with the 1971 vintage. The Antinoris’ passion for winemaking and innovation is being continued today at their Antica Napa Valley estate perched high atop Atlas Peak in Napa Valley. This tasting offers an in-depth look at the craftsmanship that goes into making wines from Tenuta Tignanello and the Antica Napa Valley estate. There is a clear connection between these two important estate vineyards that are at the core of Antinori winemaking.
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
The Craft of Winemaking with Bouchaine Vineyards
Gregory Gauthier, Vice President of Wine Production and Sales, Bouchaine Vineyards
Take an interactive-sensory journey, exploring the diverseness of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape from Napa Valley. Experience how one grape-same vineyard, clone and vintage; red and white can universally taste different through the process of winemaking.
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