More Live From Epcot Videos: France

We’re unexpectedly still in the Orlando airport this morning, so you get another video! My hotel didn’t have AMC so I missed last night’s Mad Men. No Mad Men Monday today! But you do get to see me enjoying some sparkling champagne and creme brulee in “France.”

Epcot Wine & Food Festival: Reporting Live (2)

It’s Michelle, “reporting live” from Epcot Barcelona. It’s worth noting that the Wine & Food Festival is focusing on cities this year instead of countries.

Epcot Wine & Food Festival: Reporting Live

Kevin “reporting live” from Epcot Japan:

Featured Cincinnati Wine Events: Oct 17-23

We’re out of town this weekend, at the Disney Epcot Food & Wine Festival. Since we’re out of town, you need to enjoy all the excellent events happening while we’re gone – then fill us in on what we missed.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, 2005 (photo by Michelle)

This week is bookended by a lot of events, including fundraisers. Pay close attention to tomorrow night and next Friday. You’ll also notice that you can get your fill of paella this week, including Thursday at The Party Source and Friday at Water Tower Fine Wines.

Remember, all the recurring events, those dependable weekly tastings,
are displayed on our calendar. The one-time events are after the jump.

For information on what’s going on
in Dayton, you can refer to Mark’s blog at Uncorked.

Local Wine Tasting Event Calendar

Friday Interactive Wine Tasting Map

Saturday Interactive Wine Tasting Map

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Disney’s Wine & Food Festival

I've heard people make fun of this, but until you attend, well … let's just say that when Disney decides to do something, they tend to make it first-class. 

We're out of town this weekend, heading to Walt Disney World in Orlando. This will be our third outing to the Epcot Wine & Food Festival. Epcot is never overly popular with the kids, but during the Food &
Wine Fest, there seem to be substantially fewer kids in the evenings.

We previously attended in 2005, when we discovered it by accident, and 2006, when we planned the entire trip. In fact, in 2006, we were able to take an 8-hour course on Spanish wine from Master Sommelier & Master of Wine Doug Frost. We also attended an amazing dinner party called The Party of the Senses.

Apparently we had more disposable income in 2006, because those particular items are not in our budget right now. That's okay though, because the Wine & Food Festival is an amazing experience even without the extras.

Imagine the familiar setup of the Epcot World Showcase. Now add in several extra countries and line the entire lake rim with kiosks from the existing and extra countries. Each of those kiosks basically offers tapas-like options from each country, as well as wine and/or beer from that country. Kevin and I tend to eat our way around the world several times.

Many of the kiosks also have extensive learning. In the past, there have been free beer and Twinings tea seminars and a walk-through of Australian wine country. This year I know there is a special area for New York (Long Island and Finger Lakes) wine country. 

The Epcot Welcome Center is transformed into a wine bar and classroom. For $8/session, you can take any number of extensive seminars on wine and cooking from winemakers, Master Sommeliers, and well-known chefs. Curious? Download the Program Guide (pdf).

We've got reservations and such each night. We were originally supposed to take this trip with the Hoperatives, but a family emergency has unfortunately forced them to cancel. Without our friends along, we may skip a few reservations. However, we will most likely be tasting some beer at Big River on Thursday night, followed by dinner at Irish Raglan Road in Downtown Disney. Saturday afternoon we will definitely be enjoying a tequila tasting at the new Tequila Bar (La Cava del Tequila) in Epcot Mexico. Sunday we'll probably go to my other favorite theme park in Disney: Animal Kingdom. Other than that, we're playing it by ear.

The Epcot Wine & Food Festival runs every day through November 8.

It's worth mentioning that, despite the fact we have no kids, I am a giant Disney freak. I love Disney. Combining Disney with an excellent food & wine festival? I'll be quite happy indeed.

Curious about the food we'll be munching on as we eat our way around the Epcot World? The menu is after the jump. Also after the jump, a slideshow of our last couple visits to Epcot:

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