NEWPORT MANSIONS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL Kicks off this FRIDAY--TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE by Philip S. Kampe

For the past several weeks I have been passing out brochures about the NEWPORT MANSIONS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL to all of my wine friends, both in and out of the wine industry.

I said to all of them "WHY NOT SPEND THE WEEKEND IN NEWPORT, one of America's most charming cities, and attend the NEWPORT MANSIONS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL?"

It looks like a lot of fun...and a true ESCAPE from reality.
The POSITIVE response has been overwhelming....

Why not ESCAPE TO NEWPORT this weekend and join in the FESTIVITIES?
It is for a good cause--THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NEWPORT COUNTY--a non-profit organization.

The NEWPORT WINE &FOOD FESTIVAL is the most sophisticated wine and food festival on the East Coast. ROSECLIFF and MARBLE HOUSE host the Festival where more than 100 of the world's Finest Vintners and more than two dozen of New England's finest chefs prepare their signature dishes for the festival attendees.

WINE SEMINARS start on Friday, September 23rd at 12:30pm.
The first SEMINAR (all priced $20 on Friday) is led by the Italian Trade Commission.
Titled: PERUSING THE PENINSULA, the Seminar will complete your Italian lifestyle experience by presenting a stellar selection of Italian wines hailing from snow-capped and sun-kissed regions of Italy. The session will be led by MICHAEL WILSON and IAN WOLFF of LA CUCINA ITALIANA Magazine.

At 2:30pm, my friend and wine personality, MARK OLDMAN, will lead a SEMINAR titled, DRINK BRAVELY, fashioned after his new Best Selling book, OLDMAN'S BRAVE NEW WORLD OF WINE. The seminar will focus on finding irresistible wines of moderate cost and maximum appeal. Mark is known to all as the main judge in the PBS series, THE WINEMAKERS.

The final seminar on Friday begins at 4pm and is led by International Wine Celebrities, ALAIN & JOHN JUNGUENET. They will guide you through a tasting of TEN of the TOP FRENCH WINES from recent 2005-2010 vintages. Some of the wines that will be sampled include: 2005 CHATEAU La GRACE DIEU, a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru; 2008 CLOS des PAPES, a Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc and a 2009 CHATEAU GUIRAUD Bordeaux Blanc 'Le G'.

On SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER two seminars take place:
At 10am 'THE ART OF BORDEAUX BLENDING' ($40) will be led by the founder of JUSTIN Vineyards of Paso Robles, California, JUSTIN BALDWIN. Justin walks you through the steps of blending Boredeaux varietals into world class wines. At the seminar you will be able to blend wines from barrel samples.

At 12:30pm FOOD & WINE Executive Wine Director, RAY ISLE, will lead you through 'EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WINE' ($20).Yu will taste eight wines and will learn all of the wine basics and myths.
++ALL SEMINARS WILL BE HELD AT HOTEL VIKING++

THE NEWPORT MANSIONS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL GALA takes place at 7pm on Friday night, September 23rd, at ROSECLIFF, Newport's seaside answer to the GILDED AGE of splendor. ROSECLIFF is home to many famous movies including THE GREAT GATSBY. The GALA will be a remarkable evening of music, food and wines being served that are priced above $65 a bottle This elegant event is a chance to experience an evening of high style paired with vintage wines and chef prepared dishes.

The 6th Annual GRAND TASTING takes place on both Saturday and Sunday from 12-4pm at the MARBLE HOUSE. Wines will be samples from over 100 wineries. Food from the areas leading restaurants and caterers will be served.
Celebrity chefs demonstrations will take place at the Cooking Tent.
Celebrity chefs include: ROSEANN TULLY of INTERMEZZO; DAN ENOS of OCEANAIRE SEAFOOD ROOM; JAKE ROJAS of TALLULAH of THAMES; KEVIN GAUDREAU of THE PIER RESTAURANT; DAVE JOHNSON of LOCAL 121; NEIL MANACLE of FLUKE WINE,BAR & KITCHEN; KARSTEN HART of CASTLE HILL; ERIC HAUGEN of OCEAN HOUSE and KYLE KETCHUM of HYATT REGENCY NEWPORT.
Auctions, book signings and the Infiniti Inspiration Lounge round out the events centered around the GRAND TASTING.

One of the HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEKEND will be the SUNDAY JAZZ BRUNCH with LIDIA BASTIANICH. The brunch takes place from 10:30am to noon at Hotel Viking and features a menu inspired by LIDIA. Boston TV and radio personality, BILLY COSTA, will be the emcee for this NOT TO MISS BRUNCH. After the Brunch, LIDIA will be available to autograph her newest book: LIDIA COOKS FROM THE HEART OF ITALY: A FEST OF 175 REGIONAL RECIPES.

This upcoming weekend of September 23rd to 25th will be one to remember.
TICKETS can be purchased online at: www.NewportMansionsWineAndFood.org or by calling 401-847-1000 ext.140

PHILIP S. KAMPE
MARIA REVELEY
philip.kampe@thewinehub.com