Monday, August 25, 2008

Vermont Life wine & Harvest Festival


Vermont Life Wine and Harvest Festival Celebrates Vermont Wineries, Food Producers and Artisans

August 24, 2008 – Wilmington, VT – Vermont wines, cheese, specialty foods and products will be celebrated at next month’s Vermont Life Wine and Harvest Festival in the Mount Snow area of Vermont. Hosted by the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce and Vermont Life Magazine, the weekend long festival held September 26-28, will take place in the towns of Dover, Wilmington and Whitingham.

Laura Sibilia, Executive Director of the chamber says the Mount Snow area is eagerly anticipating the festival kick-off. “We’ve spent some time creating an appealing blend of events and activities centered on traditional Vermont food and artisan favorites combined with fresh new Vermont products like our newly minted Grape and Wine Council.”
The weekend long event features authentic Vermont experiences which include a Bluegrass BBQ, farmer’s breakfast and a series of wine pairing dinners at the Mount Snow Valley’s finest eateries in addition to the daytime outdoor festival. The Vermont Life Wine and Harvest Festival is a showcase for Vermont wines, Vermont specialty foods and artisans of all types celebrating the rich uniqueness, quality and ingenuity of Vermont producers. Set in the backdrop of Vermont’s world renowned Vermont fall foliage; attendees will discover, savor and enjoy Vermont vintners, small specialty food producers, painters, publishers, cheese makers, potters, jewelers, chefs, photographers and farmers. “Culinary topics and enjoying the good life are of a major interest to Vermont Life readers,” explains Tom Kelly, Publisher of Vermont Life. “The festival provides an excellent connection between the magazine, its readers and what its readers enjoy: high quality food and the good things in life.”

The centerpiece of the weekend is the two day outdoor festival set at the intersection of Routes 9 and 100 in Wilmington, at the former site of the Southern Vermont Garlic Festival. Some highlights of the festival include:
· A wine-tasting tent featuring 10 Vermont wineries
· Sampling of Vermont cheese and specialty foods
· A panel of Vermont Life food writers including:
o Marialisa Calta, author of several books including Barbarians at the Plate,
o Melissa Pasanen, author of Cooking with Shelburne Farms and
o Ellen Ogden, author of The Vermont Cheese Book
· Entertainment by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Brass Trio Fanfare, the Will Patton Trio, the Stockwell Brothers, and the Richard Mayer Group
· Restaurant food tent featuring local Vermont specialties
· Cider press demonstration by Adam Buursma of Arboreal Habitats
· Weaving demonstration by Adams Farm
· Rock climbing wall and 100 foot inflatable – fun for all ages!
· Book signings with Vermont authors
· Presentations by the Vermont Cheese Council and Vermont Grape and Wine Council

Schedule of weekend events:
Friday, September 26: Welcome to Vermont Bluegrass Party and BBQ featuring The Stockwell Brothers at the Matterhorn Inn in West Dover. Hours: 7pm – 11pm

Saturday, September 27:
Vermont Life Wine and Harvest Festival at junction of Routes 9 and 100 in Wilmington. Hours: 10am – 5pm.

Vermont Wine and Cheese reception at the Inn at Sawmill Farm, sponsored by The Purple Chef and hosted with Shelburne Farms Vineyards and The Vermont Cheese Council. Hours: 4:30-6pm

Vermont Wine Pairing Dinners at The Doveberry Inn, Deerhill Inn, The SteakHouse Grill at the Nutmeg Country Inn and Harriman's Restaurant at the Grand Summit Resort and Conference Center featuring Vermont wines and scintillating menus. Reservations required.

Sunday, September 28:
The Indigenous Vermonter Breakfast sponsored by Vermont Smoke and Cure and hosted by the Deerfield Valley Sportsman's Club in Whitingham. Hours: 8-11 am

Vermont Life Wine and Harvest Festival at junction of Routes 9 and 100 in Wilmington. Hours: 10am – 3pm.

Sponsors for the festival include: Town of Dover, Chittenden Bank, Honora Winery and Vineyard, Vermont Public Radio, Deerfield Valley Energy, Southern Vermont Arts Guide, WKVT 92.7 Classic Hits, Mount Snow, Vermont Smoke and Cure, Vermont National Guard, Vermont Vacation (Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing) and The Purple Chef.

Tickets and more information are available from the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce either online at http://www.thevermontfestival.com/ or by calling 802-464-8092. Weekend packages at local inns available with promotions posted on http://www.visitvermont.com/.

The Mount Snow Valley is a four season resort area known for world class skiing, mountain golf courses and an abundance of hiking and biking opportunities. Centered at the southern tip of the Green Mountains along Southern Vermont’s major east-west route 9, Mount Snow is 4 hours from New York City, 2 hours from Boston, MA and 1 ½ hours from Hartford, CT.

Press Contact:
Laura Sibilia or Lisa Sullivan
Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce
(802) 464-8092
laura@visitvermont.com