Blue Ridge Wine Festival - Group Lodging Cabin Rentals
Before planning your trip for the Blue Ridge Wine Festival, first you need to find NC Mountain Cabins For Rent and North Carolina Mountain Cabins through BLUE RIDGE FOR RENT.
BLUE RIDGE WINE TASTING
Grand Tasting
The Grand Tasting is the headline event for the Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival each year. Many North Carolina wineries will be pouring their wines for you to sample. Great vineyards like Hanover Park, Biltmore, Childress, and Banner Elk Winery are among them. A full list can be found on our website. You will also find wines from domestic and international wineries like X Winery, Hope Estates, Rodney Strong, and Tortoise Creek.
The Grand Tasting will be in the Main Tent on Maple Street, just off Main Street in Downtown Blowing Rock. From noon to 4pm, you can enjoy wine, food, and a festival atmosphere. Discover new favorites, and take home some great wine. Some wines are available for purchase right in the tent. Find the others at our great wine vendor locations downtown: Christopher's Wine and Cheese and Blowing Rock Market.
Grand Tasting
Saturday, April 17
12 noon- 4pm
Maple Street, Downtown Blowing Rock
$35 in advance, $40 at the door
Tickets to this and all other events are available on www.BlueRidgeWineFestival.com
Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge
What is a food festival without a good food fight? Local chefs have been competing for weeks for the chance to battle it out LIVE on stage during the Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival. The Quarterfinals will take place during the last two weeks of March, determining the four teams that will appear at the Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge Semi-finals on Saturday, April 17. The Grand Finale will be on Sunday, April 18th, and will determine the overall winner.
In this Iron Chef-style event, each round will feature a Mystery Ingredient, unknown to the chefs until the clock starts. Chefs and their two teammates will have one hour to prepare 3 dishes that feature this ingredient. The audience watches the food preparation on the big screens as the teams scurry about the stage. Chef interviews and other video also plays while the teams work against the clock. This event is pure foodie entertainment.
The dishes will be judged by area food critics. John Batchelor of the Greensboro News and Record is Head Judge. He has judged the final dishes since the event began several years ago, and is responsible for inventing the system implemented by the judges each year. There are 4 other judges for the final rounds: Donna Florio, Senior Writer for Southern Living Magazine; Marcia Langhenry, Editor for the Atlanta Journal Constitution; Jane Garvey of Gayot.com; and Moreton Neal, Food Editor for Raleigh Metro Magazine.
To find out more about this year's competing chefs, the rules, and the competition so far, click to www.FireOnTheRock.com
Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge
Hayes Performing Arts Center, Blowing Rock
$10 per round, or $25 for three-round pass
Semi-Final Round I:
Saturday, April 17, 11:00am
Semi-Final Round II:
Saturday, April 17, 4:00pm
Finale Round:
Sunday, April 18, 2:00pm
Tickets to this and other events available on www.BlueRidgeWineFestival.com
Winemaker Dinners
Indulge in a fantastic multi-course meal with wine pairings provided by an experienced winemaker. At these dinners, you can speak directly with winemakers and winery owners about the featured wines and vineyards. Blowing Rock restaurants are known for excellent cuisine and they'll be showcasing their best. A list of participating restaurants and full menus are available at www.BlueRidgeWineFestival.com.
Prices vary. Reservations required, and space is limited. Call individual restaurants to make your reservation.
Uncork the Festival- A Taste of Rio
The big opening night party, Uncork always has a great fun theme. This year's party will feature Brazilian Steakhouse-style food and great Latin music. Indulge in a variety of grilled and roasted meats, served straight from the skewer. A delicious array of salads and vegetables will be available as well. South American wines and collector's wine glasses will be available for purchase. Don't miss the chance to show your salsa side on the dance floor, and learn a few new steps from a Latin Dance instructor. An art auction will also take place at the party, benefiting local charities.
Uncork- A Taste of Rio
Thursday, April 15
6:30pm-9:30pm
Chetola Resort
$25 per person
Advance tickets available on www.BlueRidgeWineFestival.com
Other Events
There are several other events to enjoy at the 2010 Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival:
Take part in the Downtown Scavenger Hunt, and enter to win a fantastic festival prize pack. The Hunt will take you through Downtown Blowing Rock's unique stores and boutiques on your search. Browse through our beautiful galleries during the festival's Gallery Stroll. Blowing Rock is home to more than a dozen art & craft galleries. Contribute to charity while viewing the glorious Designer Showcase Home on Main Street. Ticket sales for the Showcase Home will go to help purchase new patient beds for Blowing Rock Hospital. For all you night owls, several Blowing Rock restaurants have late-night entertainment on the weekends. Try Canyons, Twigs and Crestwood after dark to hear some great local bands. And, Crippen's will be hosting a Murder Mystery Night on Saturday! Don't forget to indulge in a Champagne Brunch on the Sunday of the festival, before taking in the Fire on the Rock Finale. Several restaurants host this Brunches each year, and it's a great way to wrap up the weekend.
Find more about all these events online at www.BlueRidgeWineFestival.com or call the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at 828-295-7851 for more information.
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