A Toast to Wine & Food – Wailea Style!

Tickets Now On Sale For The First Annual Wailea Wine & Food Festival December 6-9, Wailea Resort, Maui

The Wailea Resort Association announces tickets for the inaugural Wailea Wine & Food Festival are now on sale at www.waileawineandfoodfestival.com. Hosted by world-renowned Master Sommelier Fred Dame, this four-day culinary extravaganza will showcase exceptional wines from around the world paired with the award-winning cuisine of Wailea Resort chefs. With the culinary focus on Maui’s rich bounty of ranch, ocean and farm products and the cuisine of Hawaii Regional Cuisine Founding Chefs Peter Merriman, Alan Wong, Bev Gannon and Marc Ellman, this long awaited celebration will mark the first year for Wailea Resort’s new signature event.

“We are thrilled to bring this unique new experience to the residents and guests of Wailea Resort, says Bud Pikrone, General Manager for the Wailea Resort Association. We promise legendary winemakers, fantastic cuisine and eight master sommeliers ready to share exciting new trends in food and wine. We can’t wait to kick off this fantastic new event,” he adds.

With events taking place at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, The Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and the Grand Wailea, the weekend will include educational and interactive Wine Encounters such as “Pinot Passion”, “Three Decades of Cabernet”, “Escape To Italy in Eight Glasses” and “Wine & Cheese – The Perfect Pairing” – an exceptional wine and cheese pairing that will be lead by Wailea’s own Ann Tuomela of Guava, Gouda & Caviar.

Stand out events such as the “DaVine Experience Under The Stars”, held at the Grand Wailea Resort’s Reflection Pools Lawn promises a memorable evening of cutting edge cuisine perfectly paired with over 75 wineries from around the world.  “Grillin’ & Chillin’ – Where There’s Smoke, There’s Wine” – a laid back Sunday barbecue with picnic tables and musical entertainment will be held Oceanside at the Wailea Beach Marriott, featuring Wailea’s top restaurants and chefs mastering their grills and a bountiful selection of fine wines.

An array of entertaining winemakers’ dinners will be held throughout the weekend at Wailea Resort restaurants with participating wineries such Justin Vineyards, Palmina Wines and Wind Gap to name a few.

The first annual Wailea Wine & Food Festival will also hold a silent auction, displaying local artwork from the “Art, Wine & Food” contest, along with other items to be auctioned throughout the weekend with proceeds benefitting the Maui Culinary Academy.

Participating Wailea Resort hotels will provide complimentary valet parking with validation for all event attendees including four-day festival pass holders, ala cart and Kama’aina ticket holders.

Tickets and passes to the inaugural Wailea Wine & Food Festival are now available for sale on-line, for details, a complete schedule of events and tickets visit  www.waileawineandfoodfestival.com.  Images available upon request.

ABOUT WAILEA RESORT

Situated on Maui’s premiere sunny southwestern coastline, Wailea Resort spans the emerald slopes of Haleakala to the shores of the Pacific. A master planned community, Wailea Resort is home to five crescent shaped white sand beaches, world renowned golf and tennis courts, the David Leadbetter Golf Academy along with scenic coastal walking trails, shopping and award winning cuisine. Wailea Resort boasts five luxury hotels and spas, premiere vacation rentals, luxurious condominiums and town homes.

The inaugural 2012 Wailea Wine and Food Festival is made possible by resort partners and sponsors including Destination Resorts Hawaii, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, Grand Wailea, Hotel Wailea, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort & Spa, The Shops at Wailea, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Wailea Golf Club, Wailea Beach Villas and Wailea Gateway Center. Sponsored in part by Hawaii Tourism Authority, County of Maui, Hawaiian Airlines, Modern Luxury Hawaii Magazine, Wailea Magazine and FIJI Water.