 | Guy Bower
is the host of "The Good Life Radio Talk Show," Food, Wine and Fun for Your Ears on KNSS Newstalk 1240 AM. His show, in its 12th year, airs from 9-10 a.m. Saturdays and is a "who's who" of the food, wine and beverage industry. Guy is a retired Air Force officer with 20 years experience flying fighters. Now a pilot for FedEx, he is flying the Airbus. Throughout his career in the military, which involved many years living in Europe, he has been a dedicated food and wine enthusiast and home chef. Associated with the radio program, Guy regularly attends national seminars and wine tastings as both enthusiast and participant. A published writer, he has authored many articles on the enjoyment of food, wine & the "Good Life." He currently teaches wine appreciation classes at WSU's Continuing Education Center and is the founding chair and past chapter chair of the American Institute of Wine & Food, Wichita. |
Midwest Winefest
2005-04-01 09:21:00
Swirl, sniff, sip and taste
: 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.
