Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival

Wine, Beer and Spirits Seminar Schedule

EDUCATE… EXPLORE… ENTERTAIN…

 

 

What’s new in wine, beer and spirits?  What are the latest trends?  Be sure to attend these tutored seminars in a quiet setting where specialists, professional educators, critics, and makers present tasting and comparative experiences. 

 

This year’s offerings are a result of working with all of Michigan’s largest Wine Distributors and Importers, the Michigan Wine & Grape Council, and several Wine Trails.  Joe Borrello, President of Taster’s Guild International, headquartered right here in Grand Rapids, will introduce these special presentations. 

 

The following information is from the 2012 Wine, Beer & Food Festival.  The 2013 Festival information will be coming soon.

 

 

Sponsored by Michigan Radio

 


 

 

 

 

 

WINE, BEER & SPIRITS SEMINAR SCHEDULE

 

 

Thursday, November 8

6:00 PM

Seminar Room F ~    Wines of Italy!  Exploring the finest growing regions of Italy                                       

                                        Presented by Arthur Black, National Wine & Spirits Corp. Educator, Advanced Sommelier USA Best Young

                                        Sommelier Champion

 

6:30 PM

Seminar Room E ~    Fundamentals of Food & Wine Pairing

                                        Presented by The Wine Counselor® Michael Schafer, Sommelier

 

7:00 PM

Seminar Room C ~    California Micro & Macro Regional

                                        Presented by David Stanley, Meijer Wine & Beverage Steward

 

7:30 PM

Seminar Room D ~     Wines of Tuscany

                                         Presented by Gary Cook, Banfi

 

8:00 PM

Seminar Room F ~    Sake 101 - Learning the Basics of Sake, What You Have Always Wondered

                                        Presented by Arthur Black, National Wine & Spirits Corp. Educator, Advanced Sommelier, USA Best Young

                                        Sommelier Champion

 

8:30 PM

Seminar Room E ~    Bubbles & Chips - A fun session about sparkling wines and chips                                       

                                        Presented by The Wine Counselor® Michael Schafer, Sommelier

 

9:00 PM

Seminar Room C ~     Wine Country River Cruising

                                          Presented by Julie Petschler, Avalon Waterways


 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

 

 

Friday, November 9

6:00 PM

Seminar Room F ~    Newton

                                         Presented by Ellen Flora, Sr. Brand Ambassador for Napa Valley Property

 

6:00 PM

Seminar Room C ~     He Said Wine, She Said Beer

                                         Presented by Paul Faba, Sommelier and Stacy Faba, Ciccerone

 

6:00 PM

Seminar Room E ~    Wine 101

                                       Presented by The Wine Counselor® Michael Schafer, Sommelier 

 

6:30 PM

Seminar Room D ~    Spain & Argentina Favorites

                                        Presented by Tom Doran, Davis Wine Company

 

7:30 PM

Seminar Room E ~     Cruises Designed for Wine Lovers

                                         Presented by Deborah Cooper, Celebrity Cruise Line

 

8:00 PM

Seminar Room C ~    Chandon

                                        Presented by Ellen Flora, Sr. Brand Ambassador for Napa Valley Property

 

8:00 PM

Seminar Room F ~     Wines of Italy!  Exploring the finest growing regions of Italy

                                        Presented by Arthur Black, National Wine & Spirits Corp. Educator, Advanced Sommelier, USA Best Young

                                        Sommelier Champion

  

8:30 PM

Seminar Room D ~     Bell's Inspired Brewing

                                         Presented by Gary Nicholas from Bell's

 

8:30 PM

Seminar Room E ~    Fundamentals of Food & Wine Pairing

                                       Presented by The Wine Counselor® Michael Schafer, Sommelier

 

 
                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

 

 

Saturday, November 10

2:00 PM

Seminar Room C ~    Chandon

                                        Presented by Ellen Flora, Sr. Brand Ambassador for Napa Valley Property

 

2:30 PM

Seminar Room D ~     Buying and Selling Wine in a Tough Economy

                                        Presented by Rick Westgate, Palm Bay Imports

 

3:00 PM

Seminar Room E ~    Fundamentals of Food & Wine Pairing

                                        Presented by The Wine Counselor® Michael Schafer, Sommelier

 

3:30 PM

Seminar Room F ~    Wines of Italy!  Exploring the finest growing regions of Italy

                                        Presented by Arthur Black, National Wine & Spirits Corp. Educator, Advanced Sommelier, USA Best Young

                                        Sommelier Champion

 

4:00 PM

Seminar Room C ~    MDV

                                        Presented by John Staunton

 

4:30 PM

Seminar Room D ~     Matching Food and Craft Beer

                                        Presented by Fred Bueltmann of New Holland Beer

 

5:00 PM

Seminar Room E ~    Wine 101

                                        Presented by The Wine Counselor® Michael Schafer, Sommelier

 

5:30 PM

Seminar Room F ~    Newton

                                       Presented by Ellen Flora, Sr. Brand Ambassador for Napa Valley Property

 

6:00 PM

Seminar Room C ~     Secrets "The Vine" Cancun - Resort Designed with the Wine Lover in Mind

                                         Presented by Linda Thompson, Travel Impressions and Ann Kurek, Breton Village Travel


6:30 PM

Seminar Room D ~     New Wines of Sonoma

                                        Presented by Bruce Bruckman, Kobrand

 

7:00 PM

Seminar Room E ~    Marvelous Malbec

                                       Presented by The Wine Counselor® Michael Schafer, Sommelier

 

7:30 PM

Seminar Room F ~    Barrel Room Collection, Belgian Style Beers

                                       Presented by Scott Smith, Boston Beer, West Side Beer Distributing

 

8:00 PM

Seminar Room C ~    Reasons & Romance of Blending Grapes

                                        Presented by David Stanley, Meijer Wine & Beverage Steward