Wine & Food Festival

Named among Forbes Travel Guide’s Top 10 Winter Food Festivals, DC’s premier food and wine event, The Washington, DC International Food & Wine Festivalwill take place at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center from February 5 through 9, 2013; and this year, it’s bigger and better than ever with an extended schedule and extra added attractions including Signature Events, Tasting Room Experiences, educational seminars, focused tastings, chef inspired dinners and demos, food and wine pairing, a ‘Sommelier Showdown,” and a silent auction to benefit Cohn’s Kitchen, which provides restaurant and culinary job training and workforce development to DC’s underserved and underprivileged young adults with a demonstrated passion for excellence and a commitment to employment in the restaurant industry.

From February 5-8 from 4-8 p.m., free and open to the public, guests are invited to the Wine Cooperative Wine Tasting Room where they have a unique opportunity to purchase tastes/glasses of premium wines from around the world’s premier wine regions and meet winemakers, educators and other oenophiles The Wine Cooperative will host a Silent Auction display of items benefiting Cohn’s Kitchen.

Thursday and Friday, February 7th and 8th from 6:30-9 p.m. is the International Tasting, featuring over 200 wines from 200 diverse wineries.  Winemakers and vintage professionals will answer questions and provide insight into each winery’s history and the winemaking process.

A demonstration stage will feature presentations during the evening, with live Jazz entertainment.  Light hors d’oeuvres, created to perfectly pair with the wines, will be served.

A seminar series includes IWFF Showcase Dinner – Featuring Peter Lehmann Wines on Thursday, February 7th from 7-9 p.m.–an unforgettable dining experience highlighting menus by Chefs Xavier Deshayes and Todd Gray who will prepare a menu to perfectly pair with these Australian wines. On Thursday, February 7th from 5-6 p.m., Matt Lane, 2001 South Australian Sommelier of the Year and VP of Peter Lehman Wines Americas presents World Renowned Diversity of the Barossa Valley – A Master Class—a ‘tour’ of the Barossa Valley with local guide.  On Friday, February 8th from 5-6 p.m., Matt returns to showcase Australia Cabernet vs. the World – Master Class. Matt and special guests discuss the rich history of Cabernet and how Australia’s terrain affects this richly flavored noble grape.