Kapalua Food & Wine Festival Offers Seminars, Chef Demos

By Vanessa Wolf

A chef demo from the 2013 Kapalua Food & Wine Festival. Courtesy image.

The 33rd annual Kapalua Food & Wine Festival is here.

In addition to the much-lauded evening dinners, each day is filled with a variety of wine seminars and cooking demonstrations.

Hosted by Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, “A Journey through Emerging Regions” takes attendees through the wines of New Zealand’s North and South Islands.

Starting Friday, June 13 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, the event invites you to “take your palate on a journey and taste some of this island nation’s finest red and white wines from several different varietals from the pristine wine growing sites of New Zealand.”

Featured wines include:

• Pyramid Valley Vineyards – 2011 Earth Smoke Pinot Noir, North Canterbury
• Pyramid Valley Vineyards – 2011 Lions Tooth Chardonnay, North Canterbury
• Villa Maria – 2011 Esk Valley Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec, Hawke’s Bay
• Villa Maria – 2010 Taylors Pass Pinot Noir, Marlborough
• Fromm – (Hawke’s Bay) 2011 Esk Valley Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec and (Marlborough) 2010 Taylors Pass Pinot Noir
• Fromm – 2011 Clayvin Vineyard Pinot Noir, Marlborough
• Misha’s Vineyard – 2010 Verismo Pinot Noir, Central Otago
• Misha’s Vineyard – 2013 Limelight Riesling, Central Otago
• Craggy Range – 2009 Gimblett Gravels Syrah, Hawke’s Bay
• Craggy Range – 2010 Sophia, Hawke’s Bay

Tickets are $90 per person.

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Also at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Seminar & Tasting follows at 3 p.m. and offers samples from:

• Morgan Winery – 2012 Double L Riesling, Santa Lucia Highlands
• Morgan Winery – 2012 Double L Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
• Talbott Vineyards – 2012 Sarah Case Chardonnay, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
• Talbott Vineyards – 2012 Sarah Case Pinot Noir, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
• Lucia Vineyards – 2012 Lucia, Gary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
• Lucia Vineyards – 2012 Lucia, Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia
• Roar Wines – 2011 Rosella’s Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
• Roar Wines – 2012 Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands

It’s held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and tickets are also $90.

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Be sure to rehydrate as it all starts again bright and early on Saturday, June 14.

The Pacific Northwest AVAs Wine Seminar is held at the (you guessed it) Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, and the featured wines include:

• 2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Canoe Ridge Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills
• 2012 Eroica Riesling, Columbia Valley
• 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Syrah, Stonetree Vineyard, Wahluke Slope
• 2010 Northstar Merlot, Walla Walla Valley
• 2009 Northstar Premier, Columbia Valley
• 2010 Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard, Yakima Valley
• 2010 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval, Red Mountain
• 2009 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
• 2010 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley

Held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., tickets are $90.

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This is followed by a celebrity cooking demonstration with Chef Mark Tarbell of Phoenix, AZ.

Chef Tarbell – the only winning competitor on the 5th season of Iron Chef America – was classically trained in France for wine and food and has received numerous accolades awards including being nominated as “Best Chef – Southwest” by the James Beard Foundation.

Chef Tarbell brings his passion for creating clean and natural seasonal American cuisine and love of fine wine brings together in a fun-filled, taste extravaganza.

Held at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, the demonstration is from 1 to 3 p.m. and hosted by Master Sommeliers Patrick Okubo and Michael Jordan.

Tickets are $150.

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Last up that day is the Brotherhood of Eternal Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Stars Wine Seminar at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.

Hosted by Michael Jordan, MS and Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast, this “not-to-be missed sampling” focuses on one of the most exclusive mountain growing regions in California and features:

• Williams Selyem – 2010 Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, RRV
• Williams Selyem – 2012 Williams Selyem Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, RRV
• Hartford Family Wines – 2010 Fog Dance Pinot Noir, RRV
• Hartford Family Wines – 2012 Fog Dance Pinot Noir, RRV
• Arista – 2010 Harper’s Rest Vineyard Pinot Noir, RRV
• Arista – 2012 Harper’s Rest Vineyard Pinot Noir, RRV
• Kosta Browne – 2010 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir, RRV
• Kosta Browne – 2012 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, RRV
• Papapietro-Perry – 2010 Pommard Llones Pinot Noir, RRV
• Papapietro-Perry – 2012 Peters Vineyard Pinot Noir, RRV
• Benovia – 2010 La Pommeraie Pinot Noir, RRV
• Benovia – 2012 La Pommeraie Pinot Noir, RRV

Held from 3:30 to 5 p.m., tickets are $90.

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Get your beauty rest.

Sunday, June 15, is equally chockablock with events.

“The Italians are Coming” seminar features a quartet of “true superstar, game-changing Italian winemakers.”

Visiting from Piemonte in the northwest of Italy will be La Spinetta, a highly acclaimed Barolo/Barbaresco specialist and Braida, a “revolutionary Barbera superstar.”

From Tuscany, Ciacci Picolomini – considered one of the best – and the legendary Vittorio Fiore (Poggio Scalette) round out the panel.

Wineries include:

• Braida Barbera d’Asti “Bricco dell’ Uccellone” 2011
• Poggio Scalette “Il Carbonaione” 2011
• Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino “Pianrosso” 2008
• La Spinetta Barbaresco “Starderi” 2006

The panel is held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and costs $90.

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It’s followed by another cooking demonstration, this time with award-winning celebrity chef Dean Fearing.

Paired with the wines of David Arthur Vineyards and co-hosted by winemaker David Long, the following menu is not only being demonstrated, but served.

• First Course
  • Barbecued Shrimp Taco with Mango, Pickled Red Onion Salad and Smokey Citrus Vinaigrette
• Second Course
  • Cast Iron Wild Striped Bass on Gulf Lump Crab-Sweet Corn Succotash with Tabasco and Bacon Gastrique
• 3rd Course
  • Thyme Crusted Lamb Chops with Chuck Wagon Black Beans and Sweet Potato Rajas
• Dessert
  • Parker County Peach Buckle with Blackberry Sauce

Held from 1 to 3 p.m., tickets are $150.

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Finally – at least as seminars go – from 3:30 to 5 p.m. is the  “Bacchus Loves the Hillsides” Tasting and Seminar.

Hosted by Michael Jordan, MS and Steve Heimoff of Wine Enthusiast, the focus is on “the most exclusive mountain growing regions in California.”

Featured wines include:

• Stonestreet – 2009 Christopher’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Mountain Estate, Alexander Valley
• Stonestreet –2011 Upper Barn Chardonnay, Alexander Mountain Estate, Alexander Valley
• Schweiger – 2008 Dedication, Spring Mountain
• Schweiger – 2010 Cabernet Franc, Spring Mountain
• Continuum – 2009 & 2011, Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley
• Anakota – 2009 Anakota Helena Dakota Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley
• Anakota – 2009 Anakota Helena Montana Cabernet Sauvigno, Knights Valley

Tickets are $90.