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2007 Festival
The 2007 Lake Geneva Wine Festival presented a series of spectacular offerings to over 1500 participants September 6-9 in Lake Geneva, WI and the
surrounding lake communities. Endorsements came from major sponsors Chicago Magazine, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa and Terlato Wines International
as well as the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, which awarded the festival a substantial grant earlier in the year.
Venues for the Thursday evening Fine Wines, Fine Dinners in some of Lake Geneva’s most beautiful lakefront
homes and
restaurants sold out quickly.
Over 300 guests experienced the artistry of acclaimed winemakers and chefs including traveling talent from Chicago’s Carnivale, Opera, Le Lan and
Room 21. Friday
seminar
highlights included an extensive discussion of champagne given by Master of Wine, Charles Curtis of Moet-Hennessy with
poured samples of vintages from 1988 forward. Sunset on Friday gave way to
“A Grand Evening in Thyme” gala
event where 200 guests were
delighted with Italian hospitality and warmth at the world class Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. The delicious wines of Terlato Wines International
were beautifully complemented by the culinary talents of food historian Giuliano Bugialli of Italy and Chef Tony Mantuano of Chicago’s Spiaggia.
Picture perfect weather on Saturday at the beautiful lakeside campus of George Williams College of Aurora University, contributed to the success
of the weekend’s main event. The
Grand Tasting
with over 200 different wines from around the world and tables of delectable food samplings was
spectacular by any standards. The Grand Tasting was followed by the
Fine Wine/Luxury Lifestyle Auction,
emceed by ABC News 7 Chicago’s
SteveDolinsky and auctioneered by renowned chef Jeannie Pierola of Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, Florida. Bidding was lively for top flight auction
items, including Screaming Eagle wine, select Pinot Noirs and cooking with Gabe Viti from Gabriel’s in Highland Park, IL Saturday night and Sunday
afternoon brought visitors to downtown Lake Geneva for a
Sip and Shop
experience sponsored by lake area retailers.
Wine and food enthusiasts should mark their calendars for next year’s festival Sept 4-7, 2008, where they will have the opportunity, once again,
to experience the natural beauty of Lake Geneva along with many pleasures of the palate in this unique coming together of community and
creative wine and culinary excellence.
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