Fourth Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival

The Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival is back in DeVos Place again this year. If you have not made it to this fabulous foodie event, this is your year. If you have…. Well, you know what I mean. The information from the festival organizers is below and online. I hope to see you there. Click here to see my blog report from last year. The admission is a bargain at $15.00. Food and beverage tickets for sampling are available at the event.

Thursday, Nov. 17 (5-10pm)
Friday, Nov. 18 (4pm-10pm)
Saturday, Nov. 19 (Noon-9pm)

The location is the elegant 40,000 sq-ft Steelcase Ballroom inside DeVos Place, downtown Grand Rapids.

Bigger and better than ever before, this pre-holiday show remains one of the hottest events in town! Drawing more than 10,000 people, it is the largest culinary event in the state and one of the premiere festivals of its kind in the Midwest. Catering to both the connoisseur who lives and breathes for the finer things in life to the novice looking for an introduction to the world of wine, food, and other culinary delights, this festival delivers a grand experience that is sure to please every palette.

Over one hundred wineries from around the world will provide samples of as many as 1,200 assorted wines – including some hard to find, top shelf vintages. Brewmasters and distillers will also to be on hand providing tastes of their hand-crafted beverages.

Chefs from the area’s top restaurants prepare and serve samples of their culinary specialties.

Five select restaurants partner with distinguished wineries and breweries for special Pairings – gourmet multi-course meals served on-site in a casual yet intimate "bar top" setting. Tickets are $30-$40 each and may be purchased in advance online or at the Festival on a first-come, first-served basis.

Esteemed individuals from the culinary world host seminars, demonstrations and workshops on the Meijer Food Stage including bestselling author Ellie Krieger. Free beverage seminars, held classroom style in the breakout rooms off the Grand Gallery, give festival-goers a more in-depth look into the world of wine, beer and spirits including John Concannon from Concannon Vineyards in California.

Gourmet specialty items and high-end accessories are available in the Riverfront Marketplace.

Culinary and hospitality students from Secchia Institute of Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College, Ferris State University and Grand Valley State University work side-by-side with industry leaders for an unparalleled educational experience.

For more information: www.GRWineFestival.com or 800-328-6550. Also find them on Facebook and Twitter