April in Paradise

4 days, 40 Food and Wine Events - The Florida Winefest & Auction.

by Nancy Suttles

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It all began 17 years ago in Sarasota, Florida, a Gulfside resort town known for its tropical weather and beautiful sugar-white beaches. A handful of friends got together and decided to host a weekend celebration featuring fine food and wine, and the proceeds would be given to a grants program to help children in the community. The rest is history.

Located only 45 minutes south of Tampa, Sarasota has always been a popular destination for colorful characters including artists, writers, actors, wealthy businesspeople, and—believe it or not—winemakers. Yes, Sarasota has become a second home to some of the countries most respected winemakers like Joan and Walt Flowers, owners of Flowers Vineyard & Winery on the Sonoma Coast, who are among the newest residents. As a top performing artisan winery making less than 25,000 cases a year, Flowers Vineyard and Winery produces award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Joan and Walt will serve as the honorary chairs of this year’s charity event.

Although quaint in size Sarasota is large in the community spirit shared by residents and international visitors alike. The Florida Winefest & Auction has grown to be one of the most successful inter- national food and wine events in the United States. David Elswood, international wine expert and guest auctioneer of Christie’s London, has dubbed the weekend “America’s Friendliest Wine Event.”

This year 66 vintners and winery owners will journey to Sarasota to pour their wine and meet the guests. Nowhere else in the country do participants have the opportunity to meet such talent in person—and taste their magic. This paired with incoming guest chefs, culinary personalities, and more than 5,000 food and wine lovers will make this a weekend one you’ll never forget.

The 2007 event will feature “Wine and Wings” an exclusive winemaker dinner in one of the new Hangarminiums SM at the Rectrix Aerodrome Center, the new private fixed base operator (FBO) in Sarasota (SRQ). The hangar will be transformed into a private dining club complete with a static display of Bombardier’s business and executive aircraft such as the Challenger 300 and 604 among other aircraft. Presenting motorcar sponsor, Bentley Tampa Bay, will showcase the Continental GTC as well as the hand-built Arnage.

The Rectrix facility, located on nearly 20 acres of airport property, is being developed to accommodate more than 180,000 square feet of aircraft hangars and passenger-service facilities. In addition to the FBO, Sarasota can boast the nation’s premier private-aviation accommodations for corporate and private aircraft operators because Rectrix has pioneered the Hangarminium SM concept, which offers owners all the benefits of private hangar ownership without the added expense for staff and equipment. Each Hangarminium SM will be built to accommodate various aircraft types as large as the Global Express and Gulfstream V or multiple aircraft fleets.

The Wine and Wings winemaker dinner will provide guests with the opportunity to meet Rich Frank, owner of Frank Family Vineyards — one of Napa Valley’s top producers. Housed in historic Larkmead Winery, Frank Family winemaker, Todd Graff, is a busy man; he crafts three Cabernet Sauvignons, two Chardonnays from Carneros, a reserve Pinot Noir, as well as a Zinfandel, a Sangiovese, a Port, and five sparkling wines that are sold only through the tasting room.

The wines are handcrafted in small quantities and available in select restaurants and retail stores. Rich’s passion for Napa and Frank Family Vineyards underscores his wildly successful long-term career in Hollywood. Rich served as chairman of Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications and headed Disney’s syndication arm Buena Vista. He also served as president of Walt Disney Studios for nearly a decade and oversaw the development of The Disney Channel.

Prior to his tenure at Disney, Frank was president of Paramount Television Group and one of the founders of USA Network. Under his leadership Cheers, Taxi, Entertainment Tonight, Home Improvement, Dead Poet’s Society, Good Morning Vietnam, The Lion King, and other entertainment properties achieved phenomenal success.

“We’re thrilled to participate in the Florida Winefest & Auction this year,” says Rich. “We think we have the ‘friendliest tasting room in Napa,’ so we’re looking forward to participating in ‘America’s Friendliest Wine Event.’ Florida has been as great a market for the Frank Family Vineyards, and we’re glad to be able to give back to the community and the children’s charities involved.”

The total number of dinner guests will be limited to 125. The menu will feature authentic Northern Italian cuisine created by Sergio Favalli, coowner of Atlanta’s La Grotta Ristorante Italiano with Executive Chef/coowner Antonio Abizanda.

For more than 27 years they have worked together to provide some of the finest Northern Italian cuisine in the country. Marisa Churchill, an executive pastry chef in San Francisco and one of Bravo’s Top Chefs will create a decadent dessert for the Wine and Wings dinner as well as an interactive dessert table at the champagne reception.

Private Air magazine is cosponsoring this year’s Wine and Wings winemaker dinner. The opening champagne reception and preview will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26. Other highlights of the weekend include food and wine seminars, Trade Wine Tasting, Friday evening Gala and Dinner Dance at The Ritz- Carlton, Sarasota, Grand Brunch and Charity Auction, and Sip and Shop, an al fresco wine tasting on St. Armands Circle.

For more information about the Florida Winefest & Auction or to purchase tickets for any of the April 26-29 food and wine events please visit floridawinefest.org or call 800.216.6199.

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