Charlotte, NC Wine and Food Festival

[wondersofwine]

Held in the spring every other year, the dates are April 20-22, 2006. Tickets went on sale October 15th (my birthday) and some wine dinners are already sold out.
http://www.charlottewineandfood.com
Includes Thursday evening wine dinners at different restaurants with different vintners, culinary lessons, special tastings, vintners' tasting with pours from all participating wineries, auction, etc. I signed up for the Saintsbury dinner, the Vintners' Tasting, and a special session on Pinot Noir around the world led by Allen Meadows, "Burghound." Kevin Zraly is leading another tasting.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 11-10-2005).]

[Triple H]

Boy that sounds nice. My wife and I lived in Charlotte for 2 years from 97-99. very fond memories, in fact our son was born there. Sounds like Charlotte's done some growing up...or maybe I have, now that I think about it I wasn't very tuned into really good food and wine back then.

[wondersofwine]

The food scene has changed. Several "French bistros" which serve foods like sweetbreads that never would have sold in the 80's. Several tapas or "small plate" restaurants. A seafood and sushi restaurant with a good complementary wine list and Pacific Rim or Asian fusion-type preparations, etc. Bonterra (in a converted Baptist church) is both a restaurant and a wine-tasting locale as is Oneo. Regrettably, one restaurant, Bijoux, that I liked for the food, wine and decor (but pricy and often slow service) has closed. Dean & Deluca is another place for tasting wine in small pours or in flights.