The Region’s Premier Epicurean Escape! The Grand Wine & Food Affair 2010

HOUSTON - Are you ready for some festivity, fun and frivolity? 
This is an event that brings together internationally acclaimed wineries and chefs with Texas’s regional superstars to create an unbelievable series of vintner dinners, wine tastings, a local flavors tour, an elegant grand tasting, an decadent outdoor  sip and stroll and the around the world bistro brunch.  Join us April 21 - 25, 2010 to enjoy five unforgettable days of celebration.  The Grand Wine & Food Affair is so joyously over the top, you will swear you never had so much fun!
For detail information on all the events, see the schedule below.

Wednesday, April 21
Valentino Vinbar with Patz & Hall at Hotel Derek
2525A West Loop South – Houston
6:30 PM
$500/Table for four- $750/Table for Six - $1,000/Table for eight

Italian legend, Piero Selvaggio has been celebrated for providing a true taste of Italy at his award-winning restaurants in Santa Monica and Las Vegas. PS Valentino Vinbar Houston is a new innovation from Luciano Pellegrini and Piero Selvaggio and will serve as the venue for the kick-off week-long celebration of wine and food.  Also present will be Patz & Hall, James Hall and Anne Moses are part of the team who turned a desire to craft benchmark, single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs into one of California's most celebrated artisan wineries.
   

Thursday, April 22
Mockingbird Bistro with Beaulieu Vineyard
1985 Welch at McDuffie- Houston
6:30 PM
$125/Individual $750/Table for six

Beaulieu Vineyards winemaker Jeffrey Stambor will be the special guest at this extraordinary vintner dinner.  Award winning Chef John Sheely will prepare his exceptional cuisine matching each course with the exceptional wines from BV.  Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar combines Sheely's Texas roots with a style of cooking that he knows well, that of the Riviera, specifically the French Riviera. At Mockingbird, the feel of the menu is “country-French-meets-American-market.”

Friday, April 23
BV Perspective and Philosophy of Napa Valley and Rutherford Cabernet
Sugar Land Marriott Town Square - 16090 City Walk – Sugar Land
Cane Room
5:15 PM – 6:30 PM $40
Celebrate the 110 years of outstanding Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with BV Winemaker, Jeffrey Stambor.  BV's relentless attention to detail, deep knowledge of its legendary Napa Valley vineyards and our ability to blend handcraftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology have resulted in wines that express the richness and balance that have become synonymous with Beaulieu Vineyard.  Jeffrey will take participants on a BV journey exploring the philosophy driving each of this winery’s exemplary Cabernets including Napa Valley, Rutherford, the Clones and the Legendary Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet. 

The Grand Tasting
Sugar Land Marriott Town Square – 16090 City Walk – Sugar Land
7:00 – 9:00 PM - $125
The hottest ticket in town, is set for the elegant ballroom of the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square to host some of the most sought wines in the world to be paired with the talents and creations of some of the country’s most sought out culinary superstars.

Saturday, April 24
Local Flavors brought to you by My Table
St. Arnolds Brewing Company – 2100 Lyons – Houston (Shuttle pick up is promptly at 9 AM)
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM $50

This extraordinary experience takes you on a culinary adventure with celebrated foodie, publisher of My Table Magazine Teresa Byrne-Dodge.  Your day begins at The Last Organic Outpost to sample freshest organic produce.  Next visit the Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market to hear from the experts what farm-to-market means and taste the freshest foods the chef’s use in their recipes.  The last stop is a tour and tasting of Houston’s own St. Arnold’s Brewery.  Guests will receive an organic market bag commemorate the event.

Sienna Sip & Stroll
Sienna Plantation – Sienna Springs Resort – 7102 Sienna Ranch Road – Missouri City
1:00 – 4:00 PM - $60

All new tropical oasis is the new setting for the biggest culinary event in the region.  Stroll through the outdoor tented occasion, as you enjoy culinary delights displayed on over 40 tables, and over 50 featured wineries; the event will be filled with cooking demonstrations, by award winning chefs, fine artisans, and many other exciting activities and delights. Live island sounds add to this tropical party.  Don’t miss the Havana style bar where you can enjoy Zapaca rum and fine cigars.  

Vintner Voyage at Haak Vineyards & Winery
Haak Vineyards & Winery – 6310 Ave. T – Santa Fe
7:30 – 10:30 PM - $125

Take a voyage with Raymond and Gladys Haak to experience vintage vinos from their rare and limited wine library. Haak Vineyards & Winery invites you to step back in time to provide an entertaining experience not to be missed.  Guest will be greeted by winemaker Raymond Haak and his wife who will serve as hosts for the event.  The evening includes a stroll through the vineyard estate.  As special guests of the Haak's for the evening, you will be seated in the intimacy of the winery cellar.  Each dinner course will be paired with two extraordinary wines selected from the Haak Winery library of rare and limited availability wines.  

Sunday, April 25
Bistro Brunch at Town Square
Sugar Land Town Square
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM - $50
An around the world bistro brunch, that will feature specialty dishes and wines from major wine regions of the world, such as Italy, France, Germany, Spain,  Australia,  New Zealand, California and many more! The Latin inspired sounds of the Mark Towns band will complete this experience.

Plan your weekend and enjoy a stay at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square.  The three day VIP Grand Pass includes The Grand Tasting, Friday, April 23th; the Sienna Sip & Stroll, Saturday, April 24th; and the around the world Bistro Brunch on Sunday, April 25th.  For more information about The Grand Wine & Food Affair visit www.TheGrandWineAndFoodAffair.com or phone 713-SIP-WINE.