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Midwest Winefest

Guy Bower

2005-04-01 09:21:00

: What can we expect at the 2005 Midwest Winefest?

ANSWER: Midwest wine and food lovers raise your glasses and toast a decade of wine tasting in Wichita with the 10th annual Midwest Winefest. Consumers and aficionados alike can "swirl, sniff, sip and taste" in this 3-day event April 21-23, 2005. The Midwest Winefest is presented by Standard Beverage Corporation and the Wichita Chapter of The American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF). The event seeks to educate attendees about wine and its responsible enjoyment. Participating is a way for people to help Wichita's Guadalupe Clinic provide medical care for the city's needy families who are working but can't afford insurance. Since the Midwest Winefest began, more than $1 million has been raised to benefit the Guadalupe Clinic.The festivities begin Thursday, April 21 with the Old Town Walkabout, a food and wine-sampling stroll through Wichita's historic Old Town district. The Walkabout runs from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. and the cost is $25 per person. Only 800 tickets will be sold and attendees must be over 21 years of age. Check-in is at the Old Town Farm & Art Market, where you will receive a wineglass and Walkabout map and proceed on your stroll.On Friday, April 22, consumers will have the chance to attend one of five wine dinners hosted by celebrity winemakers, owners or winery representatives. These dinners, by reservation only, are organized by the AIWF. Each dinner offers an elaborate; multi-course meal paired with complementing varietals from the featured winery. All Winefest wine dinners begin at 7 p.m. All dinners are coat and tie. Call (316) 682-5502 for reservations. 2005 Wine Dinners are:• Williamette Valley Vineyards at the Hyatt Regency. Celebrity Guest: Assistant Winemaker Don Crank, $85 per person.• The Australian Premium Wine Collection at the Wichita Marriott. Celebrity Guests: John Larchet, Winemaker/Owner & Sam Leavitt, $90 per person.• Guenoc Estate Vineyard & Winery at the Airport Hilton. Celebrity Guest: Bob Fallon, $100 per person.• Garretson Wine Company at Larkspur. Celebrity Guest: Mat Garretson, Winemaker/Owner, $85 per person.• Trinchero Family Estates at Guadalupe Clinic. Celebrity Guest: John Edgerly, $100 per person.The dinners at Larkspur and the Clinic are sold out! Saturday, April 23, The Midwest Winefest continues in Wichita's Century II Exhibition Hall with the Grand Tasting and Live and Silent Auctions. From 1-5 p.m., attendees will have the opportunity to taste selections from more than 300 different wines, enjoy gourmet cuisine from Wichita's finest restaurants, attend cooking with wine demonstrations and participate in the silent auctions. Enjoy live Jazz music, browse wine-related booths and a rare bottle exhibit, or visit the Cigar Veranda. At 5 p.m., the fast-paced excitement of the live auction begins with the venerable wine auctioneer, Fritz Hatton. Participants will have the opportunity to bid on everything from rare wine and wine dinners to vacation getaways and wine art. Tickets are $40 per person ($15 is tax de-ductible). Each person will be given a wineglass & plate, 20 tasting tickets and a Showbook & Auction Guide.For questions about the Walkabout, the Wine Dinners or Midwest Winefest in general, please call the Midwest Winefest Information line at (316) 265-7229, 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Visit our web site at http://www.midwestwinefest.com/Tickets for the Old Town Walkabout and the Midwest Winefest Grand Tasting can be purchased at Select-A-Seat. Charge by phone at (316) 755.SEAT (7328); in person: Kansas Coli-seum Box Office or Area Dillon's Stores; on-line at http://www.selectaseat.com/ (Mastercard & Visa accepted). Handling fees will be applied to all tickets excluding those purchased at the Kan-sas Coliseum Box Office only. Tickets for the wine dinners are on sale now, call (316) 682-5502 to make reservation. Seating is limited.

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Midwest Winefest

Guy Bower

2004-04-01 14:46:00

: What can I expect to see at the 2004 Midwest Winefest?

ANSWER:  This is the 9th annual Midwest Winefest. Listed in USA Today as among the "most popular wine festivals and charity auctions in the nation," consumers and aficionados alike can "swirl, sniff, sip and taste" in this 3-day event April 22-24, 2004. The event seeks to educate attendees about wine and its responsible enjoyment. Participating is a way for people to help Wichita's Guadalupe Clinic, located at 940 S. St. Francis, provide medical care for the city's needy families who are working, but can't afford insurance. In the past eight years, the Midwest Winefest has contributed over $1 million to the Guadalupe Clinic and in May of 2003 the clinic began a major renovation and remodeling project to allow the clinic to better serve its consumers. This project was completed in November 2003 and was made possible because of the dollars raised by the Midwest Winefest.Thursday, April 22nd kicks off a whirlwind three days of Midwest Winefest's wine, food and fun with the Old Town Walkabout, a food and wine stroll through the Old Town District. The Walkabout runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and the cost is $25 per person; only 750 tickets will be sold. On Friday, April 23rd consumers will be treated to four wine dinners hosted by celebrity vintners. The local branch of the American Institute of Wine and Food, organizes the dinners, available by reservation. Each dinner offers an elaborate, multi-course meal paired with complementing varietals from the hosting winery. The fun continues, Saturday, April 24th in Wichita's Century II Exhibition Hall with The Grand Tasting from 1 to 6 p.m. Attendees can taste from a selection of more than 350 wines and sample gourmet cuisine from Wichita's finest dining establishments. Upon entering, each person is presented a commemorative wineglass & plate, tasting tickets and a Showbook & Auction Guide. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the winemakers, sample gourmet food from Wichita's finest restaurants, watch exciting cooking-with-wine demonstrations, enjoy live jazz music, shop an impressive silent auction as well as vendor booths, visit the Cigar Veranda, view a Rare Bottle Exhibit, and experience the grand finale of the Midwest Winefest, the highly charged Live Auction, where patrons will have an opportunity to bid on rare and fine wine lots, wine-related experiences, giftware and other choice products and services. Saturday tickets are $40 per person in advance, $45 at the door ($15 is tax deductible), and tasting ends at 5 p.m.For questions about the Walkabout, the Wine Dinners or Midwest Winefest, please call the Midwest Winefest Information line at (316) 265-7229, 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Please leave a message and your call will be promptly returned.At Midwest Winefest 2004, you'll sip new wines, learn some interesting facts, taste outstanding foods and delight in the company of fellow wine enthusiasts. Best of all, your attendance will help the Guadalupe Clinic serve the needy families in our community.  For more information about the Midwest Winefest and the Guadalupe Clinic, visit our web site at http://www.midwestwinefest.com/.