Wine Fest
Schedule of Events
Each Labor Day weekend for the past 20 years, Pinehurst has invited food and wine lovers from around the globe to share in an extraordinary four days of competitions and demonstrations, seminars and tastings, gourmet dinners and social gatherings. With attendance reaching 500 annually, this boutique event gives guests one-on-one access with experts, premier chefs, sommeliers and wine principals in a setting known for quality experiences.
SEPTEMBER 3-7, 2009
(Draft Schedule, Some times may change, more details to follow):
THURSDAY - September 3
Festival Focus Wine Competition
5:00pm-6:00pm
- Be part of the action as independent wine experts mingle with guests for an interactive wine competition. Guests serve as judges to score wines in 12 different categories. Please arrive by 4:45pm - the competition will begin at 5PM SHARP and the doors will be closed at this time.
After Competition Reception
6:00pm-9:00pm
- Join us for heavy hors d'oeuvres and a buffet of culinary delights directly following the competition. Meet our guest chefs and the Pinehurst culinary team along with select wines from St. Urbans-Hof Winery.
FRIDAY -September 4
Wine Seminar A
1:45pm-3:00pm
- Food & Wine 101 - Randy Caparoso, editor of Sommelier Journal, will start you on the lifelong journey of enjoying food and wine. Learn wine terminology, tasting tips to discover wine nuances, basics on perfect food and wine pairing, glassware, and different wine styles and characteristics.
Meet and Greet Champagne Reception
3:30pm-4:30pm
- Join us for a toast of bubbly in the Kendall Room to meet your fellow festival friends, the Wine Fest team, our presenting chefs and wine experts. Question the team and get insider tips on the weekend. Presented by Biltmore.
Wine Seminar B
4:30pm-6:00pm
- An Exploration into "Terroir" with Curtis Strohl of Ancien Wines - In this unique tasting presentation, you'll taste Pinot Noir from the same vintage, but from different appellations and vineyards, learning as you go the different soil types and the ways in which soil affects the wines.
Wine Seminar C
4:30pm-6:00pm
- Blending of Bordeaux Styles by Keith Schaufler of Girard Winery - each classic Bordeaux varietal, from Cabernet Franc to Petite Verdot, provides its own unique stamp on the world's best wines. Indulge in their intrinsic nuances in this interactive seminar.
Welcome Reception- Northern Hemisphere Theme
7:00pm-9:00pm
- Join us in the new Carolina Hall & outdoor Terrace as we saber a bottle of Champagne to toast our 21st Anniversary year, followed by an over-flowing buffet, Grand Tasting and live music. Chefs Adam Axman, John Tharp of Winston-Salem's Bleu Restaurant, and Patrick Cowden of A Southern Season are the featured chefs of the evening.
Grand Dessert Buffet and Tasting
9:00pm-11:00pm
- Award-winning Pastry Chef Matt Avery presents a confectionary delight, complete with dessert wines.
SATURDAY - September 5
Culinary Demonstration
9:00am-10:30am
- Enjoy a live cooking demonstration, teaching tips and techniques from our featured chef. Jeff Mosher, Executive Chef at the Robert Mondavi Winery, will present this demo as you taste your way through this learning experience.
Wine Seminar D
10:30am-11:45am
- New Zealand Produces Benchmark Sauvignon Blanc and More! Master Sommelier Brain Koziol will lead you through a tasting of award-winning Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs from New Zealand. You'll also learn about the other emerging varietals you should start discovering.
Luncheon
12:00noon-1:30pm
- Let Chef Thierry Debailleul tempt your palate with this three-course luncheon featuring expertly paired Chilean wines from Terra Andina. Our wine experts will be on hand for a fun q & a during this afternoon food and wine pairing.
Wine Seminar E
1:45pm-3:00pm
- Western Australia Wine Appellations - David Faulkner of The County Vintner Australia and New Zealand will educate you on the difference between appellations and wine styles in Western Australia.
Wine Seminar F
1:45pm-3:00pm
- Reserve Judgment: Celebrating 50 Years at Rodney Strong Vineyards with Stefen Soltysiak. Learn what Rodney Strong's been up to lately! Taste the stunning new Reserve wines from their Winery-Within-A-Winery project and test your knowledge on whether they have improved with age.
Wine Seminar G
3:15pm-4:30pm
- Cellaring Wines - Donn Danielson of Grgich Hills Estate will walk you through the ageability of California Cabernet and Chardonnay for your home cellar.
Wine Seminar H
3:15pm-4:30pm
- Sparkling Wine and Comparison of Terroir in Champagne & New Mexico - Presented by Tyler Young of Gruet Winery. Never thought excellent sparking could come from a Southwestern state? Find out why the New Mexico territory proved an excellent place to cultivate France's prized varietal.
Wine Seminar I
4:45pm-6:00pm
- Luis Torres presents The Art of Pairing Wine with Sushi. Sushi Chef Mike Lee teaches us basics of sushi, making our own rolls, and then turns the mic to our Master of Ceremonies to discover the perfect sushi and wine pairing. Join us in an Asian fusion session that will amaze and enlighten.
Walk Around & Wine Tasting
6:30pm-7:30pm
- Our second Grand Tasting of the festival is a precursor to our grand gourmet dinner, where our wineries will offer samples of their top of the line vintages. Located in the St. Andrews Room of the Resort Clubhouse.
Grand Gourmet Gala Dinner
7:30pm-11:00pm
- Celebrate in style with our formal (black tie optional) gourmet dinner. This elegant five-course dinner featuring five chefs will be expertly paired, allowing you to sample and savor the best in haute cuisine with premier wines. We'll end the night on the dance floor with live music and wine bars. Featured chefs include John Tharpe of Bleu, Thierry Debailleul of Pinehurst, Patrick Cowden of A Southern Season, Jeff Mosher of Robert Mondavi Winery and David Nolan of the Ritz-Carlton Tyson's Corner.
Prestige Dinner featuring Jonathan Luft
7:30pm-9:30pm
- Only 24 people can participate in this elite dining experience, featuring the prestige wines of Silver Oak and the six-course dinner featuring Intercontinental-Tampa Hotel's Executive Chef, Jonathan Luft. Join us in the new 1895 Grille Wine Room in the Holly Inn for this very special white-glove experience. Guests will join the Gary Lewis Big Band at the Members Club for dancing. Shuttles available.
SUNDAY - September 6
The Ultimate Champagne Brunch
11:45am-2:00pm
- Champagne is served at noon as we feast from an incredible buffet in the Carolina Dining Room.
Wine Seminar J
1:15pm-2:30pm
- Sangiovese As Seen Through 600 Year-Old Eyes - Presented by George Foote of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, enjoy an in-depth look at the unique characteristics of one of the country's newest and most exciting viticultural areas. Find out what makes it different, and how its unique micro-climate influences the flavor profile of the wines produced in the A.V.A.
Wine Seminar K
1:15pm-2:30pm
- German Rieslings and Wines of the Mosel - Nik Weis, owner and vintner of St. Urbans-Hof, will pour wines from a number of his estates to show the influence of terroir on Riesling, as well as share information drawn from the long history of wine production in the Mosel.
Wine Seminar L
2:30pm-3:45pm
- Biodynamics and Unusual Food and Wine Pairings- Jack Tanksley will discuss organic and biodynamic wine & food pairings from his book, "Breaking all the Rules."
Pastry Demonstration featuring David Nolan
3:45pm-5:15pm
- Executive Pastry Chef of the Ritz-Carlton/Tysons Corner, David Nolan will introduce seasonal berries into three separate desserts you can learn how to make - and sample the results.
Wine Seminar M
5:15pm-6:30pm
- Walla Walla Valley - The Perfect Climate for Wine. In this seminar presented by Kim Clothier of L'Ecole No. 41, you'll discover Washington State's acclaimed Walla Walla Valley AVA. Walk through the history, geology, climate, soils, sustainable farming practices and wines from their Estate Seven Hills Vineyard.
Feast from the Four Corners
7:00pm-9:30pm
- Join us as we sample food and wine from all over the world. Complete with five culinary experts waiting to wow your taste buds, great door prizes and an incredible silent auction to benefit local programs, you won't want to miss this spectacular event! Featured chefs include Ashley Van Camp of Ashtens, Mark Elliott of Elliott's on Linden, Warren Lewis of Chef Warrens, Ryan Payne of the Magnolia Inn and Adam Hinderliter of Pinehurst.
REMEMBER: Priority Access is given to all Food and Wine Fest overnight guests for all events, and are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Popular seminars and dinners fill quickly and typically weeks before the event, so please fill out event registration forms prior to August 10.
Individual tickets for locals only go on sale July 15, 2009. Call 910.235.8415 for details, pricing and information.
Additional Information:
- For additional information about the wine festival, call 910.235.8708 or send an e-mail to pinehurst.winefest@pinehurst.com. Information will also be posted to pinehurstwinefest.com
- Wine Mart will be open Friday and Saturday from 10am until 9pm, Sunday from 12noon until 9pm, and Monday from 9am-11am. All wines purchased at Wine Mart will be at cost plus 10% + tax. Wine Experts will be available at Wine Fest Central/Wine Mart throughout the weekend.
- NEW THIS YEAR: Fed Ex will ship your wine home from the wine mart. Costs will depend on weight and amount to be shipped at your expense. Check with Wine Mart for more details upon arrival.
- A silent auction benefiting Sandhills Community College Culinary program and North Carolina Central University's Hospitality Management program will run the length of the event. Door Prizes will be posted in Wine Central and winners will be displayed as prizes are awarded throughout the weekend, all by Saturday evening.
- NEW THIS YEAR: The Spa and La Bella Donna Minerals will be offering complimentary 30-minute mineral makeovers to Wine Fest guests on Friday and Saturday. You must have a reservation. To book Spa appointments and makeovers or tee times, call 1.800.487.4653, option #3.
- All events are resort/business casual attire, with the exception of the Grand Gourmet Gala, which is formal/jacket and tie required, and black tie optional.
- You must be 21 years of age or older to attend dinners, seminars, and tastings.
All overnight guests must fill out a registration form for events of their choosing after making their overnight reservations. For more information, email us at pinehurst.winefest@pinehurst.com or call 800-487-4653.
