The 34th Annual Kapalua Wine and Food Festival is scheduled for June 11 – 14, 2015 this year and you don’t want to miss it! This celebration is one of the longest running food and wine events in the USA and embraces all things Hawaiian, most notably the fabulous culinary bounty on Maui.
Let’s take a look at the schedule:
Thursday, June 11– Events are by invitation only.
Friday, June 12:
Kapalua Plantation
Festival Golf Tournament at the Bay Course, Kapalua with a 7am shotgun start. This event is not included in the 4-day pass and is sold separately. The tournament will be followed by a complimentary award luncheon and prizes with advanced reservations required.
AVAs of Willamette Valley Wine Seminar & Tasting at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua from 12:30pm to 2pm. You are invited to join some of the true pioneers and new stars of Oregon Pinot Noir for a tour of the Willamette Valley. The seminar will showcase established headliners and the newest upcoming wineries.
“Great Wines made by Amazing Women” Wine Seminar & Tasting at the Ritz-Carlton from 3pm – 4pm. The first annual Women in Wine panel features some of the best winemakers in the industry today which just happen to be women. As the schedule predicts “this girl powered panel tasting” will become an annual seminar that will celebrate the women that craft some of the finest wines in the world.
The Grand Tasting Kapalua Style is hosted by Honolulu Star-Advertiser/HI Luxury Magazine and will be held at Montage Kapalua Bay from 6pm – 9pm. Premium wines will be showcased with fabulous gastronomic indulgences from Kapalua Resort restaurants. A walk-around tasting and evening under the stars all on the oceanfront grounds of Montage Kapalua Bay with entertainment by local rising star Lily Meola.
Saturday, June 13
Zinfandel – “America’s Grape Variety” Wine Seminar & Tasting from 11am – 12:30pm will feature Zinfandel which for years has been referred to as America’s grape variety. Whether it actually was brought to the U.S. from Italy or Croatia, the very fact that Zinfandel has been grown and flourished in America for well over a hundred years qualifies it as a resident grape variety. During all of that time, Zinfandel has witnessed many different stylistic and profile changes. For this year’s festival, we have assembled a panel of today’s most celebrated producers (of old vines & heritage grape selections) to better understand where this grape variety stands.
Winemaker Dinners Celebrity Chef Winemaker Dinner with Michael Mina will be held at 6pm at two different locations: Montage Kapalua Bay featuring the La Crema Winery Dinner and at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Call the resort for additional details and information.
Cooking Demonstration with Celebrity Chef Charlie Palmer & Winemaker Daryl Groom at the Ritz-Carlton from 1pm – 3pm. These long time friends and cohorts team up for a fun and feisty cooking demonstration featuring Chef Palmer’s progressive American style of cooking with wines made by Daryl Groom.
West Coast “Game Changers” Wine Seminar and Tasting at the Ritz-Carlton from 3:30pm to 5pm. The coastal California wine growing regions have grown meteorically in acclaim, especially over the past five years and deservedly so. High risk/high reward farming in these “colder sites” with configuration of the hills, elevation and proximity to the sea result in cooler growing conditions, combined with marine influenced soils, create very unique growing conditions. Thankfully, there is also a new generation of young, winemaking “Turks,” who have emerged and are absolutely changing the game. Join us and travel up Highway 101 from Santa Barbara County to Anderson Valley as you visit and taste with some of the most talented young winemakers of our era!
Sunday, June 14
The “Wine World of Sports” Wine Seminar & Tasting at the Ritz-Carlton from 11am to 12:30pm. This seminar brings together an amazing panel of celebrity athletes – “Hall of Famers” from baseball and football – that are now driven to make extremely high quality wines from different regions of the US! Taste their best wines and “Talk Story” with them about their sports careers – and their newest passion – making “Killer Wines!” Seriously, these guys have played in Super Bowls and World Series!
Cooking Demonstration with Celebrity Chef Michael Mina at the Ritz-Carlton from 1pm to 3pm. Award winning Chef, restaurateur and author showcases his balanced approach to cooking focusing on spice, sweetness, acidity and richness. Co-hosted by the always engaging Master Sommelier Rob Bigelow and winemaker Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne. Wine pairings are from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Kosta Brown Winery.
“Elusive and Exclusive” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Seminar & Tasting at the Ritz-Carlton from 3:30pm and 5pm. This seminar features a panel of winemakers famous for producing seriously amazing “elusive” wines from the most exclusive “neighborhoods” in the Napa Valley.
Seafood Festival at Ritz-Carlton on the Beach House Lawn from 6pm to 9pm. 14 of Maui’s Top Restaurants showcase a seafood specialty and culinary creation in competition for Maui No Ka Oi Magazine’s “Best of the Fest” award. Premium wines, Kona Brewing Company’s all new Makana Series – limited edition ales brewed in Hawaii for Hawaii and specialty cocktails featuring Hendrick’s Gin handcrafted by Young’s Market Mixologist Joey Gottesman. Hawaiian entertainment provided by Nuff Sedd. Restaurants featured include – The Banyan Tree, Star Noodle, Pacific’O, Japengo, Maui Culinary Academy, Joe’s Nuevo Latino, Makena Beach Restaurant, Humuhumunukunukuapaua’a, Morimoto Maui, Pailolo Bar & Grill, Hula Grill, Roy’s Restaurant Maui, Migrant and Mala/Honu/Frida’s. NOTE: Must be 21 years of age or older to attend all events. Must bring valid ID. *The schedule is subject to change so please visit the website for updates.
Syed Sarmad, Principal Broker for Advantage Vacation
