WGBY to host Wine Lovers Weekend

Date: 2/9/2009

SPRINGFIELD Special guest Sara Moulton, executive chef for Gourmet Magazine and host of the popular cooking program Sara's Weeknight Meals, will make several appearances at this year's spectacular and expanded two-day WGBY's Wine Lovers Weekend scheduled for Feb. 27 and 28 at the Springfield Marriott.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.wgby.org/wine or by calling 1-800-838-3006.

WGBY's Wine Lovers Weekend kicks off on Feb. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. with the Wine & Food Lovers Tasting at the Springfield Marriott where attendees can sample from hundreds of wines and dozens of specialty foods.

A new feature this year is the Table & Vine Connoisseur's Tasting. Among the special items available for sampling are a Fallet-Dart Brut Grande Selection Champagne, a 1998 Chateau Grand Pontet Bordeaux and a 2004 Prince de Merode-Croton Clos due Roi Burgundy.

"Table & Vine really loves sponsoring the annual Wine Tasting with WGBY," Michael Quinlan, wine sales manager for Table & Vine, said. "It's not only a chance for us to reach a terrific audience of potential customers, but it's a great opportunity to educate people about some of the great wine varieties and bargains that are out there and we really feel strongly about supporting and urging our customers to support public television here in western New England."

The celebration of wine and food continues on Feb. 28 at noon with an exclusive cooking demonstration by celebrity chef Sara Moulton and lunch with wines from Table & Vine at Spoleto's Restaurant in Northampton.

Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. Moulton will host a VIP reception, preceding the Wine Lover's Dinner back at the Marriott. The intimate pre-dinner event features a book signing and sparkling wine provided by Table & Vine of West Springfield. Additional tickets are required for this event and are only available with dinner ticket.

At 6 p.m. the Wine Lover's Dinner begins with a champagne reception. This year's exquisite seven-course wine dinner menu was planned by Moulton from the pages of Gourmet Magazine. Among the delicacies being served at the WGBY Wine Lovers Dinner, are pan seared cod with creamy fennel ragout, braised short ribs, celery root and pecan salad, grape sorbet and pumpkin flan with pumpkin seed praline.

According to noted wine educator and volunteer chair of the WGBY Wine Committee, Jim Holsing, this year's dinner will prove to be a great value.

"Having helped set up this tasting and dinner for all of its 25 years, I am amazed how it constantly improves. As compared with other dinners for charity, this is fun raising not fund raising," Holsing noted.

All proceeds benefit WGBY.