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Mega wine events
By CHRIS SHERMAN
Published January 25, 2006
Great wine, and greater money, flows this weekend in Naples as the Florida tasting season pops open with a mega-million-dollar blast.
The youngest of the Gulf Coast's big wine events is already the richest in the world. It is an intimate event for 550 who spend three days with star vintners and superstar chefs at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples.
How super? Emeril Lagasse, Charlie Palmer, Marc Vetri and Michelle Bernstein, to name a few: for wines, Vega-Sicilia, Dom Perignon, Colgin, Harlan, Shafer and more.
The cost is $7,500 per couple plus the fun of bidding $30,000 and up for prize bottles and vintages. Last year's crowd ponied up $11.6-million for charity, more than the annual auctions in Napa and Sonoma.
That's steep, but the sixth annual edition is now sold out. However, other, more affordable, wine and beer events will take place in the coming months. Look for details every week in Food File, which appears in this section, and circle these dates:
Feb. 4, Wine by the beaker. The Museum of Science & Industry and and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits host the annual Einstein on Wine with 80 wineries and chefs scattered through three floors of exhibits at MOSI, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. Call 813 987-6000 to make reservations or go to www.mosi.org for more information.
Feb. 9-11, Winning wines. Thousands of wines and legions of wine judges gather at the Florida State Fair in Tampa for one of the nation's fastest-growing competitions for wines from the West Coast, Florida and dozens of other winemaking states. If you're at the fairgounds, stop by the Florida Living Center and watch the pros drink or check out their medal decisions.
March 4-5, Crafty brews. Florida craft brewers bring out their best for the all-day 2006 Beerfest in Ybor City on March 4. Brew fans also gather for annual brewing awards at the Brewers' Ball at Skipper's Smokehouse on March 5. Information: www.floridabrewersguild.org
March 9-11, Sonoma comes to town. Wine makers of Sonoma County bring their road show to the Tampa Bay area for trade tastings, a black-tie gala and a grand tasting at the annual Abilities fundraiser at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. For more information, call (727) 538-7370, ext. 345.
April 27-May 1, Double magnum. The Florida Winefest in Sarasota, west-central Florida's oldest, starts early in the week with tastings, seminars, auctions and grand affairs at the Ritz-Carlton. Information: (877) 352-9463. Then the wine spills over into Tampa for three days of wine and chef Jeannie Pierola's food in tastings and dinners at the Bern's Winefest. Information, (813) 253-0358.
- Compiled by Chris Sherman from staff reports. He can be reached at 727 893-8585 or sherman@sptimes.com
[Last modified January 24, 2006, 09:31:48]
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