LuxeSyndicate

Just when you think you have nothing left to look forward to because all the holiday festivities are over, wine country comes to New England in the form of two events.

First up is Mohegan Sun Winefest 2007 this coming weekend in Connecticut. It’s easy to get excited about the chance to try 1,000 wines during the two-day Grand Tasting or to enjoy a dinner prepared by a team of celebrity chefs. But the seminars — these are the jewels in a wine event’s crown. For anyone who wants to learn more about wine, or be in the company of leaders in the field, these are not to be missed.

This weekend’s offerings are amazing, inexpensive and go beyond wine. They will be intimate gatherings with great wines to taste, but more importantly, interesting information shared by an impressive mix of wine experts. These seminars are done by industry leaders whom the public doesn’t have access to the rest of the year.

For Italian wine lovers, on Saturday there are two chances to hear Leonardo LoCascio, founder and CEO of Winebow, one of the world’s most prominent importers. At 11:30 a.m. he will lead a tasting seminar on the wines of Sardinia and Sicily. Some of these wines have viticultural roots dating back to the 19th century, others use ancient varietals. All will reveal the terroir of these islands.

At 3:30 p.m., LoCascio will examine The Power and Grace of Italian Reds. He has assembled a collection of graceful wines from some well respected winemakers including Falesco, Allegrini, Castello di Bossi, Tua Rita, Prunotto and more.

The cost for each talk is just $40.

At 12:50 p.m. on Saturday, the delightful Kate MacMurray will share three wines from MacMurray Ranch in California, but more importantly, will explain how to describe wines’ aromas and taste profiles. She is the daughter of Fred MacMurray of My Three Sons and acting fame. Her enthusiasm will be contagious. The cost is $40.

If wine isn’t so interesting to you, go learn about high-end, craft beers from Sam Calgione, owner of Dogfish Head brewery. He makes one of the great microbrew India Pale Ales. The cost for his seminar and tasting is $30.

One of the best wine seminars I ever took was years ago before I wrote about food. It was a Riedel Glass Tasting. Through the sharing of fine wines served in four different glasses, I learned how a sip of wine could be enhanced by the correct delivery to the taste point in my mouth. The seminar will be held at 4:50 p.m. Saturday and you’ll leave with a set of Riedel Extreme, four beautiful glasses designed to serve Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The cost is $55, a bargain.

You can get a different point of view on the mouth-blown and hand-finished wine glass from the Bottega del Vino Crystal and Walter Schug from Schug Carneros Estate Winery. The cost is $55.

One seminar will be devoted to a single varietals like Riesling (Sunday, $12:50 p.m., $35) delivered by Saskia Prum of the S.A. Prum Winery in Germany.

Others examine old world grapes of Grillo and Nero D’Avola (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., $35); proper wine storage (Sunday, 2:10 p.m., $30); and Medusa Zinfandels (Sunday, 3:30 p.m., $40).

To sign up for any seminar, call (860) 728-5700 or go online at www.sunwinefest.com and click on seminars.

The Grand Tasting runs from noon to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun. Tickets are $60 for a one-day pass and $95 for a weekend pass. On Saturday, their will be a dinner with celebrity chefs Todd English, Jasper White, Mary Ann Esposito, Sara Moulton, Daisy Martinez, Douglas Rodriguez, Aaron Sanchez, Lydia Shire, Kim Canteenwalla, Jimmy Burke, Chris Schlesinger, Luis Bollo, Michael Ginor, Ihsan Gurdal, Walter Potenza, Floyd Cardoz and Mary Sue Milliken. Tickets may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, over the phone at (860) 886-0070, or in-person at the Mohegan Sun box office.

[Via The Providence Journal]