| Epcot Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival |
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Previous Events
19 September 2004: Food and Wine Festival preparations (thanks to Orlpassholder)
Above: The American Gardens theatre
Above: World Showcase
30 August 2004: Food and Wine Festival information
WHAT: Now in its ninth year, the festival
has expanded to six weeks (from four) in celebration of the world's
great food, wine and beer. Featured daily: culinary demonstrations
and samplings; wine and beer seminars and tastings; live
entertainment; children's activities; Eat to the Beat! concerts.
More than 20 international food and wine marketplaces around World
Showcase Lagoon represent different regions of the world, with
appetizer-sized portions from $1-$4.50. Ticketed events scheduled
throughout the festival: prestigious wine schools; elegant grand
tastings and dinners; celebrity lunches; vertical tastings; food and
wine pairings.
WHAT'S NEW: Valencia, Spain, marketplace and cultural
experience; The New England Fair salute to the best of the region;
Napa Valley Wine School; Festival Welcome Center Champagne and
Sparkling Wine Bar; Exquisite Evenings at Epcot dinner series;
Brewers' Dinners; Sweet Sundays dessert celebrations; Di-Vine Dinner
at Cítricos; Celebrate the Harvest family exhibit with Eat Your
Colors! and The Beautiful Bounty experiences.
RETURNING FAVORITES: Australia, Discover Down Under cultural
experience; the prestigious Bordeaux Wine School USA, Italy Wine
School and Australian Wine School; Eat to the Beat! concert series;
Party for the Senses food and wine grand tastings; Food and Wine
Pairings at popular Epcot restaurants; Lunch and Learn celebrity
chef lunches; Oktoberfest celebration at Germany pavilion; Great
Beers of the World seminars; Epcot Junior Chef Program.
KEY COMPONENTS:
Festival Welcome Center at Innoventions Plaza features new Champagne
and Sparkling Wine Bar, a wine shop, merchandise and information
kiosks, KitchenAid home accessories.
Eat to the Beat! concert series with three evening
performances by popular entertainers on the America Gardens Theatre
stage:
Oct. 1-5 - Kool and the Gang
Oct. 6-10 - Starship
Oct. 11-12 - Beach Boys
Oct. 13-15 - Temptations Review
Oct. 16-20 - Taylor Dayne
Oct. 21-25 - Commodores
Oct. 26-28 - Three Dog Night
Oct. 29-30 - Survivor
Oct. 31-Nov. 4 - Blake Shelton
Nov. 5-9 - Eddie Money
Nov. 10-14 - Chubby Checker & the Wildcats
Forty-five-minute wine seminars and tastings at The Terrace between
France and Morocco in World Showcase and at the Festival Welcome
Center in Future World.
More than 20 international food and wine marketplaces around World
Showcase, with wine and appetizer-sized portions from $1-$4.50. A
new cultural experience this year showcases the traditions of
Valencia, Spain, complete with fiestas, folklore and cuisine
including wines, oranges and the famous Paella Valenciana.
For beer lovers, there will be more than 30 national and
international beers available around World Showcase and a Specialty
Beer Garden near The American Adventure. Returning to The American
Adventure courtyard is The History of Beer in America presented by
the Boston Beer Company, makers of Samuel Adams beer, with seminars
and tastings. Next door at the United Kingdom pavilion, guests can
sample Old World brews in daily seminars.
Interactive culinary demonstrations daily at The Odyssey Culinary
Center. Walt Disney World and celebrity chefs reveal their tips and
tricks.
A festive Oktoberfest celebration at the Germany courtyard with
food, beer and collectible steins.
Epcot Junior Chef Program Making Nestle Toll House Cookies
experience at The Land pavilion in Future World for youngsters ages
4-10, daily 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Celebrate the Harvest on the Rose Walkway with Eat Your Colors! --
an interactive experience that celebrates fruits and vegetables, and
The Beautiful Bounty -- with the focus on honey and peanuts.
Pumpkins & Melons Mania! Colorful fall harvest showcased in The Land
greenhouses and experienced during the Living With the Land boat
tour.
TICKETED EVENTS:
The prestigious Bordeaux Wine School USA, Napa Valley Wine School,
Italy Wine School and Australian Wine School are respected one-day
wine education programs with lunch and certification; $125 each
program. The Italian school is Oct. 16 and 17 at L'Originale Alfredo
di Roma Ristorante in the Italy pavilion; the Bordeaux school is
Oct. 23 and 24 at Bistro de Paris in the France pavilion; the Napa
school is Oct. 30 and 31 and the Australian school is Nov. 6 and 7,
both in the Wonders of Life VIP Lounge.
Party for the Senses food and wine tastings are grand-scale events
in World Showplace between the United Kingdom and Canada pavilions,
with 20 eminent chefs and featuring more than 50 international wines
and beers; $95. Includes VIP seating for the Eat to the Beat!
concert series and viewing for "IllumiNations: Reflections of
Earth." 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and Nov. 6 and
13. (Epcot admission required.)
Signature Dinner Series features themed evenings reflecting the
world's great wines and food. Five-course dinner with Walt Disney
World chefs, with wines paired by vintners' selected wineries; $125.
Hosted at premier Disney resort restaurants 6-9 p.m. Oct. 10, 17 and
Nov. 14.
Exquisite Evenings at Epcot. Stellar five-course dinners with
celebrity and Walt Disney World chefs, at World ShowPlace. Wines
chosen by vintners who share their passion and knowledge throughout
the meal; $185. 6-9 p.m. Fridays and select Sundays. Includes live
entertainment and private viewing area for "IllumiNations:
Reflections of Earth." Jackets requested for men. (Epcot admission
not required.)
Food and Wine Pairings at seven Epcot restaurants featuring varietal
wines paired with food by a wine expert; $35. Times vary daily.
(Epcot admission required.)
Vertical Wine Tastings. Wine aficionados can taste at least 10
vintages from exceptional vineyards and hear VIP wine speakers at
Martha's Vineyard, Disney's Beach Club Resort, Saturdays; $95-$150.
Brewers' Dinners. Brews from international and domestic brewers are
paired with dinner menu. 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays at one of two World
Showcase locations; $55. (Epcot admission required.)
Lunch and Learn. A celebrity chef prepares lunch, including
appetizer, entrée and dessert, at The Odyssey Culinary Center. Ask
questions of the experts and take home recipes. Wines served to
complement dishes. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays;
$75. (Epcot admission required.)
Sweet Sundays. Celebrity pastry chefs create three items plus a
grand finale, with samplers presented with a dessert wine. 7-8:30
p.m. Sundays; $55. (Epcot admission required.)
Di-Vine Dinner. An Australian guest chef and a Cítricos culinary
team led by Chef Gray Byrum prepare cuisine from Australia, with a
winery principal artfully pairing select wines. Seatings at 5:30 and
7:30 p.m. for Australia Now! at Cítricos, Disney's Grand Floridian
Resort & Spa, Sunday, Oct. 3; $125.
REGIONS OF THE WORLD AND TOPICS REPRESENTED:
India (new)
The New England Fair (new)
Tortilla Cocina (new)
Valencia, Spain (new)
American Backyard Barbeque
Australia, Discover Down Under
Canada
China
France
Fresh from Florida
Germany Oktoberfest
Great Beers of the World
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Morocco & Mediterranean
New Zealand
Peru
Piemonte Chocolate Café
Poland
Russia & Eastern Europe
Scandinavia
South Africa
Southeast Asia
Specialty Beer Garden
WEB SITE: disneyworld.com/foodandwine
FOR ALL RESERVATIONS: 407/WDW-FEST
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Immerse yourself in a Valencia, Spain,
cultural experience. Sip to learn at a Napa Valley wine school.
Discover Australia "down under," and drop by the Specialty Beer
Garden. World Showcase is your oyster, your Shiraz, and even your
lager during the first-ever six-week-long Epcot International Food
and Wine Festival Oct. 1 through Nov. 14.
After eight years of serving up millions of delectable food, wine
and beer samplings during a month-long festival, Epcot launches the
fest two weeks earlier with new festival marketplaces and an
expanded lineup of guest chefs and featured dinners, wine schools,
tastings and pairings.
"Each year, we host the largest, longest wine fest in the world, and
as demand for our food and wine events increased, we knew it was
time to grow even more for our guests," said Epcot Vice President
Brad Rex.
In recent years, the festival around World Showcase Lagoon has grown
dramatically, attracting a diverse audience of more than one million
each year -- from wine connoisseurs and gourmands to droves of wine
neophytes eager to boost their wine IQs. In addition, the fest's
nightly Eat to the Beat! concert series will feature an even more
varied lineup this year, including classic rock, oldies and country
performers.
"The festival is our opportunity to showcase not only all the
culinary and wine-related talent at Walt Disney World Resort, but
also to introduce great celebrity chefs and wine connoisseurs in the
industry," said Nora Carey, festival manager. "We strive to provide
various levels of experiences that reflect the diverse interests of
our guests, from simple marketplace tastings and seminars to
extravagant dinners."
More than 100 wineries offer tastings, and guests can sample the
cuisine of more than 20 international marketplaces in tasting
portions ranging from $1 to $4.50. Other highlights include:
The Festival Welcome Center, with a new Champagne and Sparkling Wine
Bar, commemorative posters and other festival keepsakes, the latest
in KitchenAid accessories and programming updates.
Some 250 Disney chefs and guest chefs -- including Allen Susser,
Eric Tanaka, Emily Luchetti and other notables -- conducting
culinary demonstrations and hosting elegant dinners and tasting
events.
Up to 1,200 wine and beer seminars providing complimentary
samplings.
New cultural experiences including Valencia, Spain, and The New
England Fair, and the return of favorites including Australia,
Discover Down Under.
New festival marketplaces including Peru and India, and the return
of favorites like Russia, Greece, New Zealand and Ireland.
A variety of grand-scale ticketed culinary events, including a
festival kickoff dinner with Fess Parker Winery and the weekly Party
for the Senses, a 20-chef, 20-winemaker extravaganza with special
entertainment.
The prestigious Bordeaux Wine School USA returns, along with the
Italy Wine School and the Australian Wine School. They are joined by
the new Napa Valley Wine School presented by the elite Copia Food
Arts Center.
And the popular Food and Wine Pairings have expanded to a daily (and
sometimes twice-daily) schedule at seven World Showcase and Future
World locations -- Morocco, Canada, Japan, China, France, Italy and
The Living Seas pavilions. The $35 ticketed event features VIP
winemakers presenting three wines paired with delectable food
samplings.
The alfresco setting of The Terrace, located between the Morocco and
France pavilions, is ideal for Meet the Winemaker sessions and
complimentary wine seminars.
Along with the music, dance, acrobatics and avant-garde
entertainment showcased at Epcot pavilions, festival guests can
enjoy Eat to the Beat! concerts performed three times each evening
at America Gardens Theatre. Headliners include Three Dog Night, Kool
and the Gang, Beach Boys, Chubby Checker, Eddie Money and other pop
favorites.
Kids and their parents won't want to miss the Pumpkins and Melons
Mania! display or the Epcot Junior Chef Program hosted by Nestlé at
The Land showcase. Along the Rose Walkway, there's more family fun
at the Celebrate the Harvest exhibit.
Entrance to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, plus
wine and beer seminars and cooking demonstrations, is included with
regular Epcot admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST for
information or reservations for special events and programs.
Festival details will be posted on the Web site: disneyworld.com/foodandwine.
11 February 2004: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Extended
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- After eight years and
millions of delectable food and wine samplings, the month-long Epcot
International Food and Wine Festival will lengthen its run to 45 days
beginning Oct. 1, 2004.
In recent years, the popular festival has grown dramatically,
attracting a diverse audience of wine connoisseurs and gourmands, as
well as droves of wine "amateurs" eager to boost their wine IQs. In
addition, the wine fest's Eat to the Beat! nightly concerts, with acts
that that have included Sister Sledge and Three Dog Night, have drawn
additional crowds since their 2002 festival debut.
"Each year, we host the largest, longest wine fest in the world, and
as demand for our food and wine events increased, we knew it was time
to grow even more for our guests," said Epcot vice president Brad Rex.
"We're happy to announce the festival will expand by 15 additional
days and run from Oct. 1 through Nov. 14, 2004."
During the 2003 event, festival chefs served up appetizer-sized
tastings of international foods at the rate of nearly 28,000 per day.
More than 125 celebrity and Disney chefs conducted culinary
demonstrations or hosted special dinner- and tasting-events. And, at
least 840 wine and beer seminars delivered complimentary tastings to
festival guests.
27 August 2003: Food and Wine Festival details
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Disney guests will sample wines from renowned vintners and boutique wineries, taste creative cuisine of many regions and soak up non-stop entertainment during the eighth annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Oct. 18-Nov. 16 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
One of the world's largest food and wine experiences with more than 100 wineries represented, the festival expands each year with new offerings and events. The park's 11 World Showcase countries and special festival marketplaces, including this year's "Australia, Discover Down Under" experience, will serve up food and wine samplings from exotic regions around the globe, with appetizer-sized tastings ranging from $1-$4.50. Chocolate lovers can explore the history and production of chocolate at the new "Piedmont, Italy: The Land of Chocolate" exhibit. For the second year, the Eat to the Beat! concert series promises nightly performances by artists including Sister Sledge, the Spinners, Three Dog Night, The 5th Dimension, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, and Chubby Checker & the Wildcats. In addition, the prestigious Bordeaux Wine School USA returns for a second year, and the Banfi Italian and Australian wine schools make their festival debuts.
Guests also can enjoy scheduled culinary demonstrations, wine seminars and multi-cultural performances at no additional cost. For beer aficionados, there are the "History of Beer in America" tastings and seminars by the Boston Beer Company, makers of Samuel Adams beer.
The Party for the Senses food-and-wine-tasting weekly events each feature the creations of 18 eminent chefs and choices of more than 50 wines and beers. In addition, guest opportunities to reserve the more intimate Food and Wine Pairings have increased by 60 percent, with pairings now scheduled at Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier restaurant and Restaurant Marrakesh.
Dozens of performers ranging from acrobats to musicians add street-festival energy to this seasonal culinary celebration. Walt Disney World guests can toast the festival with champagne and get information at the park's Festival Welcome Center across from Future World Fountain and Innoventions Plaza.
Scheduled events in addition to daily wine seminars and culinary demonstrations include:
- Eat to the Beat! concert series with evening performances by popular entertainers on the America Gardens stage at no additional cost.
- Party for the Senses, a hip, hot celebration of the senses featuring more than 30 wines with flavorful foods Oct. 18 and 24, and Nov. 1, 8 and 15, for $85 in World Showplace.
- Bordeaux Wine School, a one-day wine education program with lunch and wine school certificates presented upon completion, at Bistro de Paris in the France pavilion Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 for $125.
- Banfi Italian Wine School, a one-day wine education program with lunch and wine school certificates presented upon completion, at L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante in the Italy pavilion Nov. 6 through 8 for $125.
- Australian Wine School, a one-day wine education program with lunch and wine school certificates, Nov. 14 through 16, at Spaceship Earth VIP Lounge for $125.
- Food and Wine Pairings, featuring wine experts pairing great food and wines Mondays at Restaurant Marrakesh ($35); Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Coral Reef Restaurant ($35) and Le Cellier ($35).
- Reserve Dinners, for an elite dining experience that marries great wines and food and includes VIP viewing of "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" at the Wonders of Life pavilion VIP Dining Room Oct. 19, 23, 25, 30 and 31, and Nov. 6, 7, 13 and 14 for $175.
Additional events in celebration of the festival are:
- Signature Dinner Series, with five courses and wine pairings from featured vintners, to be held at a different Disney signature resort restaurant each Sunday for $110.
- Vertical Tastings, a rare opportunity for wine lovers to sample 10 vintages from stellar producers and hear VIP wine speakers, Saturdays for $125.
- Riedel Crystal Wine Glass Tastings, where wine aficionados can explore the science and artistry behind the design of the world-renowned Riedel crystal wine glasses for $125.
Talented chefs will explore culinary customs and food trends during demonstrations at The Terrace, an alfresco setting between the Morocco and France pavilions. Also at The Terrace, guests can explore the Festival Wine Shop and see Artisans Among the Arbors -- an eclectic array of artists.
Children ages 4-10 can take part in the Junior Chef Program “Making Nestle Toll House Cookies” at The Land pavilion, and other kids’ programs include Kitchen Karnivale! presented by Del Monte Fresh Produce, a new interactive experience along the rose walkway in Future World that stars the Kitchen Kabaret Players and celebrates fruits and vegetables. Kids discover that “eating your colors” can be fun and healthy. Parents learn fresh and tasty ways to present fruits and veggies to kids.
Entrance to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, plus wine and beer seminars and cooking demonstrations, is included with regular Epcot admission.
21 October 2002: Food and Wine Festival
The Food and Wine Festival (Thanks to SeanR)
More photos of the Food and Wine Festival, again notice how extensive the Spanish representation is. Thanks to Fudgie for the photos below.
15 October 2002: Food and Wine Festival preparations (thanks Eric)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A hip new food-and-wine-tasting party, an outdoor concert series with name entertainment, an elegant Signature Dinner series and the prestigious Bordeaux Wine School program join the popular lineup of events Oct. 19-Nov. 17 at the seventh annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
Returning by popular demand around the park’s World Showcase are more than 20 international food-and-wine-tasting marketplaces, culinary demonstrations at The Terrace and “History of Beer in America” tastings and seminars by the Boston Beer Company, makers of Samuel Adams beer.
Dozens of performers ranging from acrobats to musicians add street-festival energy to the daily fun of this seasonal culinary celebration. Walt Disney World Resort guests can toast the festival with champagne and gather information at the new Festival Welcome Center across from the Future World Fountain and Innoventions Plaza. An exciting new “Discover Andalucia, Spain” cultural experience celebrates the region’s olives and olive oils, famous tapas, fine sherries, skilled craftsmen and dazzling Flamenco dancers.
The food and wine festival around the World Showcase Lagoon is one of the world’s largest and expands with new offerings each year. More than 100 wineries offer tastings, and cuisine is featured from more than 20 countries and regions of the world at international marketplaces. In addition to the 11 World Showcase countries, festival marketplaces will serve up samplings from South Africa, Scandinavia and other regions, with appetizer-sized tastings from $1-$4.50.
Scheduled events in addition to daily experiences include:
- “Eat to the Beat!” Concert Series with performances by popular entertainers on the America Gardens stage, daily at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.
- Bordeaux Wine School, a one-day wine education program with lunch and wine school certificate presented upon completion, Nov. 7-10, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for $100 at Bistro de Paris in the France pavilion.
- Party for the Senses, a hip, hot celebration of the senses featuring more than 30 wines with flavorful foods every Saturday, 6-9 p.m., for $79 in World Showplace.
- Food & Wine Pairings, featuring wine principals pairing great food and wines, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 4-5:30 p.m., for $30 at the Coral Reef Restaurant in The Living Seas pavilion.
- Reserve Dinners, for an elite dining experience that marries great wines and food and includes VIP viewing of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” Thursdays and Fridays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., for $150 at the Wonders of Life pavilion VIP Dining Room.
Additional events in celebration of the festival are:
- Signature Dinner Series, with five courses and wine pairings from up to three selected wineries, Sundays, 6-9 p.m., starting at $100 to be held at a different venue each week including California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Jiko-The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Bistro de Paris at the Epcot France pavilion.
- Vertical Tastings, a rare opportunity for wine lovers to sample 10 vintages from stellar producers and hear VIP wine speakers, Saturdays, 2-3:30 p.m., starting at $75 at Ariel’s at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
This year, dozens of wineries will conduct free seminars in tents alongside World Showcase, and talented chefs will explore culinary customs and food trends at the complimentary Lifestyle Culinary Demonstrations at The Terrace, an alfresco-like setting between the Morocco and France pavilions. Also at The Terrace, guests can explore the Festival Wine Shop and see Artisans Among the Arbors -- an eclectic array of artists.
A special program for children ages 4-10, “Making Nestle Toll House Cookies,” bakes up a storm each day from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at The Land pavilion. The Land’s “Pumpkins & Gourds Galore!” is a fall harvest celebration with kids’ activities surrounding pumpkin patches, exotic gourds and melons.
Entrance to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, including The Robert Mondavi Family of Wines tour, wine and beer seminars and cooking demonstrations, is free with regular Epcot admission of $50 ages 10 and up, $40 ages 3-9.
The festival takes place during 100 Years of Magic, Disney’s celebration honoring founder Walt Disney on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Guests are treated to new parades, live shows and attractions in a four-park celebration.
Guests can call 407/WDW-DINE for information or reservations for special events and programs during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, or visit the Web site: www.disneyworld.com and link to Epcot for festival details.
2 October 2002: Spain Pavilion update
It seems that the Spain Pavilion is only to be part of the Food and Wine Festival, and not a full blown pavilion at this time. Although of course the presence at the festival may be an indicator of a plan for a permanent pavilion at some later stage.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Andalucia, a colorful corner of Spain known for its superb sherries, olive oils and gastronomic delights, earns the spotlight with a new exhibit at the seventh annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Oct. 19-Nov. 17.
The 3,500-square-foot “Discover Andalucia, Spain” experience, located in World Showcase near the Germany pavilion, brings the region of Andalucia to life with a small, terraced olive-tree exhibit, weathered stucco buildings and courtyard, flamenco dancers and an olive oil tour. The free-flowing tour concludes with a complimentary sherry tasting.
Andalucia, a region in the southwest of Spain bordered on the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, is the largest sherry producer in the world and is famous for its tapas and light cuisine created with the area’s enduring olive oils.
The Andalucia, Spain experience, created in participation with the economic development branch of the Andalusian government, includes:
- An olive oil tour in buildings reminiscent of those found throughout Andalucia. It features the history of the region’s olive oil production, the agriculture at the core of cultivation and production, a re-creation of a traditional olive oil press and a tasting of the final product with information about olive oil’s health benefits.
- A sherry tour that demonstrates the traditional solera cask aging system and a tasting of sherry served to guests by an authentic veneciador.
- Craftsmen and artisans showcasing crafted wares and traditional products.
- A traditional Andalusian courtyard with fountain and arches.
- A tapas bar with gazpacho and other appetizer-sized portions, plus wine and sherries of the region.
- Authentic flamenco performances throughout the day.
The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival around the World Showcase Lagoon features more than 20 food and wine marketplaces, free wine-tasting seminars and culinary demonstrations, a specialty beer garden and the new “Eat to the Beat” Concert Series with daily performances by popular entertainers. In addition to the 11 World Showcase countries, festival marketplaces will serve up samplings from South Africa, Greece, Chile and other countries and regions.
