28th Annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival

KAPALUA RESORT, MAUI, HAWAI’I (April 10, 2009) – A must-attend event for epicureans, Hawai’i’s longest-running wine and food festival returns for its 28th year at Kapalua Resort, June 11 – 14, 2009. Returning host of six years, well-known Master Sommelier Fred Dame together with the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival brings several of the world’s most famous winemakers, master sommeliers and renowned chefs to exceptional wine tastings, gourmet cooking demonstrations and festive gala functions at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.

“For close to three decades we have had the privilege of hosting a one-of-a-kind celebration that allows island visitors and residents to experience exciting new trends in wine and food,” said Nancy Cross, vice president of Events Management, Kapalua Resort.  “Guests from around the world flock to the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival year after year – not only for the exceptional event but also for the breathtaking setting,” Cross added.

Themed “Carnival,” this year’s festival features more than 133 wineries- including Gramercy Cellars, Williams Seylem Winery, Sapphire Hill Vineyards, Lachini Vineyards and Pisoni Vineyards & Winery -along with guest chefs Scott Giambastiani, executive chef for Google Inc. and Robert McGrath, founding chef of Roaring Fork and An American Western Bistro and proprietor of REM Restaurant, which is scheduled to open this spring.

In addition to signature events such as The Grand Tasting, participants can also select from a bevy of new seminars including Walla Walla and Cheese, Raising Riesling from the Dead, Psycho Pinots and In the Kitchen with Chef Robert McGrath. A new event this year – Masters of the Feud Game Show – will allow wine enthusiasts to face off against one another in a “Family Feud” style blind taste test contest, June 13, from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. On June 14, the ever-popular Kapalua Seafood Festival wraps up the weekend of festivities with a mouth-watering gala, featuring two dishes from each of the 15 participating Maui top chefs, live entertainment and fine wine selections.

Early birds can purchase event tickets in advance and save with Kapalua Wine & Food Festival’s “Buy Now and Save” promotion, which offers a $20 discount on selected event tickets, including The Grand Tasting, Kapalua Seafood Festival, An Organic Experience with Chef Scott Giambastiani and Day After Alchemy. Valid through May 15, the promotion is only available online at www.kapalua.com.