Sun Winefest brings fine food and wine to Connecticut

SUN WINEFEST, New England's most spectacular wine and food event, returns to Mohegan Sun Saturday, January 30th and Sunday, January 31, 2010.

The weekend's main event is the Grand Tasting, which will be held in the Convention Center from 12:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturday, January 30th and Sunday, January 31st. Sample more than 1,000 fine wines provided by international wineries and specialty beers from breweries and beer companies from around the world. Exhibitors showcasing related services such as wine storage, culinary accessories and specialty foods will also be featured. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, hear commentary from the winemakers and experts, and enjoy delicacies from some of the region's finest restaurants by purchasing tasting portions of signature dishes at a nominal rate.

Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $70.00 for a one-day pass and $110.00 for a weekend pass. They go on sale at the Mohegan Sun Box Office and through Ticketmaster Monday, September 14th. Ticketmaster customers may purchase online at ticketmaster.com, over the phone at 800.745.3000, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

SUN WINEFEST attendees will also have the opportunity to add to their experience by attending a series of interesting and educational seminars on a variety of topics. Tickets for seminars will be offered at an additional cost and are available at sunwinefest.com.

Mohegan Sun's Executive Chef, Michael Luboff, is pleased to host Mohegan Sun's own celebrity restaurateurs, Bobby Flay, Todd English and Jasper White who will be joined by an impressive lineup of culinary personalities. Celebrity chefs will be featured in cooking demonstrations all weekend on the Main Stage located in the Grand Tasting along with other entertaining presentations.

To further complement the SUN WINEFEST experience, Saturday night will feature a fundraiser to benefit The Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer. The evening features a Celebrity Chef Dine Around, giving guests the opportunity to be served delectable dishes prepared by world-famous chefs, television celebrities and cookbook authors. Each dish will be paired with extraordinary wines and many talented winemakers will be on-hand. The evening culminates with an elaborate dessert display presented by Mohegan Sun's Executive Pastry Chef Lynn Mansel. Tickets for the event are $175.00, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer, a non-profit-IRS 501(C)(3) corporation chartered by the State of Connecticut whose mission is to provide economic assistance and compassionate aid to Connecticut cancer patients and their families and raise funds for cancer research. Because CSF is one of only a handful of organizations in Connecticut that provides financial assistance directly to cancer patients and their families, they are inundated with more applications for assistance than they can fulfill. Their long-term goal is to never have to turn anyone away.

New for 2010 -- Introducing the Elite Cru Tasting in The Cabaret Theatre hosted by Contessa Premium Foods on Saturday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm. An exclusive opportunity for wine lovers of all levels to enjoy the "best of the best" from vineyards all over the world. From the experienced to the curious palate, taste some of the world's finest wines. Speak with vintners and discover your new favorite grape. Reserve your space now for this ultimate event. The Elite Cru Tasting will offer select vintages from premium wineries (Silver Oak Napa Valley, Antinori Solaia, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23, Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, to name a few) accompanied by Contessa Premium Shrimp.

Tickets to the Celebrity Chef Dine Around and Elite Cru Tasting are on sale now at sunwinefest.com or by calling Life Marketing and Events at 860.953.0444 ext. 144.

For more information on individual seminars, the Elite Cru Tasting, the Celebrity Chef Dine Around charity gala, special trade rates and hours and area hotel information, visit sunwinefest.com or call Life Marketing and Events at 860.953.0444 ext. 144.

SUN WINEFEST 2010 is a production of Life Marketing and Events, a West Hartford, Connecticut-based, full service firm that specializes in marketing, event management and production, public relations, sponsorship, advertising sales, creative design, promotions, publishing and more.