Cincinnati Int’l Wine Festival Events

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Back in December, I posted about the upcoming Cincinnati International Wine Festival. Yes, tickets went on sale back then. Tickets tend to go rather rapidly. Closer to the date, I promise I’ll post an updated version of my Annual Wine Festival Survival Guide.

In the meantime, you need to buy your tickets. You can purchase tickets from any of the listed stores, which include Cork n Bottle, Dilly Deli & Cafe, The Liquor Cabinet, and Little Sonoma.

The official Host this year is Michael Mondavi. Instead of spending a lot of money to meet him at a wine dinner, I recommend going to a Cork n Bottle event instead. On March 9, Michael will be at the Buttermilk location for an exclusive tasting. Michael will be guiding participants through a sampling of his family’s latest vintages and will also be signing bottle purchases of his collectible Cabernet Sauvignon.The event runs from 6:30 – 8:30 and costs $25. You definitely need to RSVP, because space is limited, so email tim.hue@corknbottle.com to grab a spot.

If you are interested in the Wine Dinners that precede the Festival each year, grab a spot uber-quick. Even though the dinners are pricey, they include all of your food and wine, and you get to schmooze with winemakers. Most of the dinners take place on March 11 and, although I’ve listed them at the bottom, you’ll see many are already sold out. If I had $300 to spare (which I don’t), I’d kill to go to the Villa San Juliette tasting at Morton’s. I have a small crush on the winemaker.

The Wine Festival runs March 12 – March 13:

Friday Evening, Mar 12 6:30 – 9:00 PM: $70.00 prior to event, $75.00 at the door
$105 for Grand Tasting ticket and Special Tasting ticket, $110 at the door
Saturday Afternoon, Mar 13, 2:30 – 4:30 PM: $60.00 prior to event, $65.00 at the door
$95.00 for Grand Tasting ticket and Special Tasting ticket, $100.00 at the door
Saturday Evening, Mar 13, 6:30 – 9:00 PM: $70.00 prior to event, $75.00 at the door
$105 for Grand Tasting Ticket and Special Tasting ticket, $110 at the door
Special Tasting Room: Enjoy high end wines for one hour prior to the Grand Tastings. Each ticket will be an additonal charge of $35 for 7 tastes.

The moral of all of this is – buy your tickets soon. Whether it’s for the special dinners or for the festival itself, make your plans early this year.

Wine Dinners

March 10:

Michael Mondavi at The Palace Restaurant in the Cincinnatian Hotel
Tickets $175 - SOLD OUT!

March 11:

Carlo & Johnny – SOLD OUT!
Banfi International
Tickets: $150

DaVeed’s at 934
Graziano Family of Wines
Tickets: $125

Eddie Merlot’s
Kuletto Wines
Tickets: $125

Embers
The Hess Collection
Tickets: $150

Hugo
Frank Family Vineyards
Tickets: $150

Jags – SOLD OUT!
Truchard Vineyards
The Meeker Vineyard
Tickets: $150

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse – SOLD OUT!
Wines from the Nickel & Nickel Family
Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel and Dolce
Tickets: $150

Boca – SOLD OUT
Marc de Grazia Selections
Tickets: $150