Sept. 26-Nov. 9, 2008

Wine Tasting Tips Article 

Booth Menus for 2008

Take a new culinary tour around the world this year! Taste flavors from global food cities as you stroll around World Showcase. Tempt yourself at each marketplace with appetizer-sized portions averaging $3.50. Savor the flavors as you enjoy authentic dishes with recommended beverage pairings at each stop on your journey.
Experience the flavor of food, wine, and beer from the following global marketplaces. Sample these signature flavors and more:

AFRICA
Marrakesh, Morocco
Kefta, Spicy Chicken Roll

Cape Town, South Africa
Durban Spiced Chicken, Bobotie with Mango Chutney

LATIN AMERICA
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Beef & Corn Casserole,
Grilled Beef with Chimichurri

Santiago, Chile
Empanada, Dulce de Leche

Mexico City, Mexico
Chilaquiles, Quesadilla
con Chorizo

San Juan, Puerto Rico
Mofongo with Shrimp Salsa,
Brazo Gitano

ASIA
Shanghai, China Chicken Sha Cha, Ginger Ice Cream

New Delhi, India
Samosa with Tamarind Sauce, Mango Mousse

Tokyo, Japan California Sushi Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll

NORTH AMERICA
Montreal, Canada
Cheddar Cheese Soup, Maple Glazed Salmon

Louisiana United States
Crawfish Étouffée, Seafood
Gumbo and Praline Bread Pudding

San Francisco, United States
Seared Beef Medallion
with Cheese Polenta, California Strawberries

Hops & Barley
New England Lobster Roll, Boston Crab Cake

EASTERN EUROPE
Kraków, Poland
Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup, Kielbasa with Potato Pierogies

Istanbul, Turkey
Manti with Yogurt Sauce, BaklavaPACIFIC RIM
Melbourne, Australia
Barramundi Fish,
Grilled Lamb Chops

Wellington, New Zealand
Lamb Slider, Kiwi Meringue Tart

CONTINENTAL EUROPE
Lyon, France
Escargot Persillade en Brioche, Quiche Provençal, Crème Brûlée au Chocolat

Munich, Germany
Spaetzle with Creamy Mushroom Ragout, Apple Strudel

Athens, Greece
Greek Salad, Spanakopita

Cork, Ireland
Irish Cheese Selection with Apple Chutney and Irish Soda Bread

Bologna, Italy
Baked Ziti, Mascarpone Cream Puff with Gianduja Chocolate

Barcelona, Spain
Cold Tomato and Garlic Soup, Seared Tuna Loin with Roasted Red Peppers

Reims, Champagne
Selection of Moët & Chandon Champagnes, French Chocolates

Vienna, Austria
Tafelspitz, Beef Goulash

Cheese
Selection of European Cheeses

International Beers
Great Beers and Savory Snacks

For your convenience, Disney Gift Cards may be purchased at the Festival Welcome Center. Treat yourself to a Special Festival Edition of the Disney Gift Card, which provides a handy way to pay for Festival purchases. You may then use these cards as a debit card in any participating marketplace kiosks or shopping locations at the Festival or within the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Special Exhibits

Stroll along the promenade to wander through a wide array of countries and regions of the world. Learn from amazing cultural exhibits that showcase native cuisines and offer terrific demonstrations that give insights into the people, as well as the tastes of these remarkable places.

Festival Welcome Center

Visit the hub for all Festival information at the Festival Welcome Center, where you'll also find the Festival Wine Shop, the Wonders Bar for champagne and wine, and the official book-signing location for celebrity chefs and authors. Explore the Stockpot shop featuring marvelous merchandise, including the marketplace cookbook and a special festival edition of the Disney Gift Card, a handy way to pay for so much fun at the Festival! Be sure to check daily schedules posted in the Festival Center for celebrity appearances, culinary demonstrations (every day except on Mondays and Tuesdays) and daily wine tastings.

Bocuse d'Or USA Culinary Competition — Included with park admission

Four top Chefs will compete each day to win the opportunity to travel to France to compete as the US team in the famous Bocuse d'Or competition in Lyon, France. Guests can watch the LIVE competition on Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27 from 11 am to 4 pm with celebrity chef judges.

Melbourne, Australia

Explore Melbourne icons such as Federation Square, the intriguing laneways of Melbourne and marketplace scenes from the famous Queen Victoria Market. Meet with the cultural ambassadors, enjoy daily wine seminars, taste wines by the glass at the wine bar and check out Aussie gifts at the shop. Passports are available for purchase for the Wine-Walkabout experience for a tasting tour of the key wine zones of Victoria.

Louisiana

Explore the regions of Louisiana through the flavors, sights and sounds of the Louisiana Culinary Trails. Experience the rich and unique culture of this great state at the Riverboat dock where entertainers showcase the music of their region. Visit the Cajun Creole inspired house featuring storytelling and activities for the entire family and stop by the French Market to observe local artisans. Learn about the regional cuisine through daily culinary seminars featuring Louisiana dishes featuring seafood, rice and hot sauce.

The History of Beer in America

Learn the history of beer in the New World and the awesome art and science of brewing. Seminars held daily.

The Pearville Fair

Visit this slice of Americana where pears have center stage. Like many traditional country fairs, this one celebrates one of the most important crops from the great Northwest. The variety, flavor, diversity and nutritional importance of pears is presented in a series of activities that are designed to engage and enlighten guests of all ages.

Special 10 Day Experiences
· Taste of Puglia, Italy – October 23 - November 2
· The Greek Island Wine Bar – October 16 - October 26

Special Wine & Culinary Programs

Please note all bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable. Limited availability and subject to change. Call 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378) for additional info.mation and reservations.

Sweet Sundays
The Cook, The Book and The Bottle
Kitchen Conversations
Cheese Tastings
Epcot Wine Schools
Vertical Wine Tastings
Master Class Series
French Regional Lunches
Food & Wine Pairings


At Epcot®
Sweet Sundays
Indulge your sweet tooth as a celebrity pastry chef creates three signature desserts! Enjoy a welcome continental breakfast buffet, including sparkling wine and sample desserts, throughout the sessions.
Where: Festival Welcome Center
When: Sundays 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $75 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.
Sept. 28Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, Baked, Brooklyn, NY
Oct. 5Richard Capizzi, Per Se, New York, NY
Oct. 12Alice Medrich, Author of Pure Dessert, Berkeley, CA
Oct. 19Emily Luchetti, Farallon Restaurant, San Francisco, CA
Oct. 26Geraldine Randlesome, Creative Cutters, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Nov. 2Gale Gand, Host of Sweet Dreams, Food Network®, and Gale's Coffee Bar Chicago, IL
Nov. 9Warren Brown, Sugar Rush, Food Network® and CakeLove, Washington, DC and Mary Meyers, CakeLove, Washington, DC

The Cook, The Book and The Bottle
Observe an acclaimed cookbook author prepare a delicious three-course lunch and enjoy the meal with selected wines. Take home an autographed book and a commemorative bottle of wine as a keepsake of this incredible experience. A notable wine principle presents the accompanying wine with lunch.

Where: Festival Welcome Center
When: Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $150 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.
Sept. 26Author: Chef Bob Waggoner, Charleston Grill, Charleston, SC
Cookbook:Charleston Grill at Charleston Place
Winery: Au Bon Climat Wines, Santa Barbara County, CA
Oct. 3Author: Chef John Ash, John Ash & Co. Restaurant, Santa Rosa, CA
Cookbook: : From the Earth to the Table
Winery: Bonterra Vineyards, Mendocino County, CA
Oct. 10Author:: Lori Lyn Narlock, Author of Small Plates, Perfect Wines, Napa, CA
Cookbook: Small Plates, Perfect Wines
Winery: Kendall Jackson Vineyard Estates, Sonoma County, CA
Oct. 17Author: Chef Mark Olive, The Outback Café, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Hosted by Tourism Victoria
Cookbook: The Outback Café
Winery: Yabby Lake
Vineyard: Mornington Peninsula, Australia
Oct. 24Author: Chef Efisio Farris, Gourmet Sardinia, and Arcodoro & Pomodoro Restaurants, Houston, TX
Cookbook: Sweet Myrtle and Bitter Honey
Winery: Cantina del Gigogantinu, Sardinia
Oct. 31Authors: Marimar Torres, Marimar Estate, Torres Family Vineyards, Sonoma, CA
Cookbook: The Catalan Country Kitchen
Winery: Marimar Estate, Torres Family Vineyards, Sonoma, California
Nov. 7Author: Andrea Immer Robinson, MS, Author of Everyday Dining with Wine
Cookbook: Everyday Dining with Wine
Winery: California Wines

Kitchen Conversations
Visit with an acclaimed culinary personality and discover how he or she enjoys life both in – and outside – the kitchen! Cooking demonstration, tasting and an autographed copy of the celebrity's book are included in this delightful event.
Where: Festival Welcome Center
When: Thursdays 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $75 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.
Oct. 2Chef: Tory McPhail, Commanders Palace Restaurant, New Orleans , Louisiana
Cookbook: Commanders Wild Side
Brewery: Abita Beer, Abita Springs, Louisiana
Oct. 9Chef: Ming Tsai, Blue Ginger Restaurant and Host of Simply Ming on PBS, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Cookbook: Simply Ming
Winery: Francis Ford Coppola, Napa Valley, California
Oct. 16Chef: Robert Irvine, former host, Dinner:Impossible, Food Network®, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Cookbook: Mission: Cook!
Winery: Caymus Vineyards, Napa Valley, California
Oct. 18Chef: Jamie Deen, Road Tased, Food Network® and The Lady and Sons Restaurant, Savannah, Georgia
Cookbook: The Deen Brothers, Y'All Come Eat
Winery: Yering Station, Yarra Valley, Australia
Oct. 23Chef: Jeff Henderson, The Chef Jeff Project, Food Network®, Las Vegas, Nevada
Cookbook: Chef Jeff Cooks
Winery: Benziger Family Winery, Napa Valley, California
Nov. 6Chef:Todd English, Olives Restaurant Charlestown, Massachusetts and bluezoo, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Cookbook: The Figs Table
Winery: Figge Cellars, Monterey, CA

Cheese Tastings
Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to learn more about cheese from the expert "fromagers" from the Artisanal Premium Cheese Center in New York City and other experts in the cheese industry.
Where: Festival Welcome Center
When: Saturdays, 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Cost: : $70 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.
Sept. 27France
Fromager: Max McCalman, Artisanal Premium Cheese, New York, NY
Winery: The Bordeaux Wine Council
Oct. 4United States
Fromager: Waldemar Albrecht, Artisanal Premium Cheese, New York, NY
Brewery: Rogue Ales, Newport, Oregon
Oct. 11Italy
Fromager: Max McCalman, Artisanal Premium Cheese, New York, NY
Winery: Masi, Veneto, Italy
Oct. 18Spain
Fromager: Waldemar Albrecht, Artisanal Premium Cheese, New York, NY
Winery: Marques de Riscal, Rioja, Spain
Oct. 25English
Fromager: Erin Hedley, Artisanal Premium Cheese, New York, NY
Winery: Cockburn, Portugal
Nov. 1Italy
Fromager: Waldemar Albrecht, Artisanal Premium Cheese, New York, NY
Winery: Mezzacorona, Tuscany, Italy
Nov. 8France
Fromager: Max McCalman, Artisanal Premium Cheese, New York, NY
Winery: W.J. Deutsch & Sons, France

Epcot® Wine Schools
Enjoy this fabulous, comprehensive afternoon program facilitated by a prestigious wine authority including a celebratory reception at the completion of the school and a certificate of attendance!
Where: Festival Welcome Center
When: Saturdays, 1:00 p.m – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $125 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission not required.
Oct.4Napa Valley
Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Karen MacNeil.
Oct.11Italy
Castello Banfi, Sharron McCarthy, C.W.E
Oct. 25Spain
Wines from Spain, Steve Olson
Nov. 1South Africa
Fairview Winery, Robin Back, Proprietor

Vertical Wine Tastings
Learn about different vintage wines from exceptional worldwide vineyards through tasting.
Where: Festival Welcome Center
When: Sundays, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $155 - $195 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission not required.
Oct. 5 – $155Napa Valley
Franciscan Magnificat Eric Hemer and Tony Dalton
Oct. 12 – $155Lebanon
Château Musar Bartholomew Broadbent
Nov. 2 – $195Bordeaux
Pontet Canet Alfred Tesseron
Nov. 9 – $195California
Stags' Leap and Faye Vineyards Timothy Clark

Master Class Series
Experience wine like a master! From the vineyard to the glass, a Master Sommelier will guide you through the rituals and fanfare of fine wine, such as the art of blending grapes and tasting wine like a master. Whether you are new to the world of wine or a seasoned connoisseur, these classes will instill in you a stronger understanding of wine theory and standards that will surely impress your friends and family!
Where: Festival Welcome Center
When: Select Sundays, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $95 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission not required.
Oct. 19A Taste of Champagne – Comparing the styles of Champagne.
Oct. 26Taste Wine Like a Master, John Blazon, M.S.
Nov. 8Francisan Magnificat and Cuvée Sauvage Blending, Fred Dame, M.S. and Tony Dalton

French Regional Lunches
Explore the rich and unique flavors that define the many world-renowned food & wine regions of France. Each event includes a three-course lunch prepared by the chefs of Bistro de Paris celebrating the local foods and drink of the featured region.
Where: Bistro de Paris at France Pavilion,
When: Select Sundays, Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Cost: $135 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.
Oct. 5Wine: The Wines of Bordeaux
Presenter: Lionel Gallula Metrowine
Oct. 12Wine: Loire Valley – Jean Sauvion Wines
Presenter: Jorge Hernadez, Director of Corporate Education and Training, W.J. Deutsch and Sons
Oct. 19Wine: Burgundy – Maison Louis Jadot
Presenter: Marc Dupin, Export Director for Maison Louis Jadot
Oct. 26Region: Alsace, France
Winery: Pierre Sparr
Presenter: Evan Goldstein, M.S
Nov. 2Wine: Beaujolais – Selection from Georges DuBoeuf
Presenter: Mike Aitken, Vice President of Sales, W.J. Deutsch and Sons

Food & Wine Pairings
Discover three exceptional wines with three tasting portions of regional food from Epcot® restaurants.
Cost: $55 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.
Where: Tutto Italia Ristorante, Italy Pavlion, Epcot®
When: Saturdays, Sept. 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, & Nov. 1, 8
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Featuring Italian cuisine and wines
Where:Tokyo Dining, Japan Pavilion, Epcot®
When: Mondays, Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 & Nov. 3
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Featuring Sake, Sushi and Sashimi
Where: Restaurant Marrakesh, Morocco Pavilion,Epcot®
When: Tuesdays, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, & Nov. 4
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Featuring Mediterranean flavors

Festival Dining Experiences
Please note all bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable. Limited availability and subject to change. Call 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378) for additional information and reservations.

Party for the Senses – Eat, Drink and Celebrate
The Bocuse d'Or Grand Gala
City Tastes
Regional Feasts – Celebrating Greece
Signature Dining

Party for the Senses – Eat, Drink and Celebrate
Where: World Showplace Pavilion at Epcot®
When: Saturday, October 4,11,18,25 and November 1 & 8 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Call 407.WDW.FEST (407.939.3378) or visit the Festival Welcome Center for additional information and reservations.
Cost: $135 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.
Feast on this tribute to the sensory arts! Begin your evening with a reserved seat at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre. Following the show, World Showplace Pavilion becomes the setting for a sensational evening showcasing the talents of more than 25 eminent chefs and the diversity of over 70 wines and beers. Wander among tempting tasting stations in the midst of imaginative décor and live entertainment.

View the list of our Guest Chefs.
The Bocuse d'Or Grand Gala
Where: World Showplace Pavilion at Epcot®
When: Saturday, September 27, 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Call 407.WDW.FEST (407.939.3378) or visit the Festival Welcome Center for additional information and reservations.
Cost: $450 per person, plus tax, gratuity included**, or $325 per person for Guests already in possession of Epcot park tickets.
**Each ticket price includes 2 Epcot theme park tickets; valid for use on 9/26 and 9/27 and 1 parking voucher.
Mix and Mingle with the who's who of the food & wine world at this grand gala and awards ceremony culminating the Bocuse d'Or USA competition at Epcot®. Enjoy a reception, dinner and dessert extravaganza with some of the most respected and high-profile chefs, personalities and professionals in the world today. Scheduled to attend: Paul Bocuse, Daniel Boulud, Jerome Bocuse, Jean Georges Vongerichten, John Besh, Jacque Pepin, Andre Soltner, Alan Sailhac and many more.
City Tastes – World Showplace Pavillion at Epcot®

From New Orleans to Melbourne and Madrid, global cities inspire this all-new event for 2008! Cities have long served as beacons of local tastes and traditions, broadcasting the regional styles of native food and drink to the rest of the world. Authentic regional cuisine and beverages from the featured city will dazzle your taste buds at this walk-about reception, showcasing special guest chefs and wineries as well as live entertainment.
Where: World Showplace Pavilion
When: Select Fridays 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $95 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.

Oct. 17 Taste of Victoria, Australia
Oct. 24 Taste of Spain
Oct. 31 Taste of Italy
Nov. 7 Taste of Louisiana

A Regional Feast – Celebrating Greece
This evening includes a welcome reception, a four- course meal and Greek music to set the mood!
Where: World Showplace Pavilion
When: Wednesday October 22, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $160 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission required.

Oct. 22 Greece
Hosted by Wines from Greece
Chef Pano Karatassos, Kyma, Atlanta, GA and Chef Piero Premoli, Pricci Restaurant, Atlanta, GA

Signature Dining

Hosted in the most prestigious Walt Disney World® Resort dining venues. Walt Disney World Signature Restaurant chefs invite a celebrity chef into their kitchens to prepare a five-course meal for you. All dining events are accompanied by great wines and hosted by a renowned vintner.
When: 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $185 - $375 per person, plus tax, gratuity included; Theme Park admission not required.
Nov. 2 – $375Victoria & Albert's, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Host Chef: Scott Hunnel
Visiting Chef: Zach Bell, Café Boulud, Palm Beach, FL
Wineries: Pontet Canet, Bordeaux, France
Nov. 7 – $185Todd English's bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Host Chef: Christopher Windus
Chef: Todd English, Olives Restaurant, Charlestown, MA and bluezoo, Orlando, FL
Wineries: Ruffino Winery, Tuscany, Italy, Hosted by Fred Dame, M.S.


Fun for Families
Tantalize younger taste buds with fantastic events and exhibits that bring fun to the table. Kids of all ages will enjoy these interactive experiences that give food fans an appetite to learn.
The Pearville Fair
Visit this slice of Americana where pears have center stage. Like many traditional country fairs, this one celebrates one of the most important crops from the great Northwest. Hosted by USA Pears.
Kidcot Fun Stops
Visit over 14 locations and enjoy a special activity just for children!
Behind the Seeds Greenhouse Tour
Bring the entire family for a backstage tour of The Land greenhouses and fish farm. Sample a greenhouse vegetable, release lady bugs, and feed the fish, too! Get close-up views of giant fruits, good bugs, and alligators — and take home ideas for growing your own gardens!

Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation will show you how to save up to 40% on your next vacation at Walt Disney World®. Save on Disney hotels, dining, Theme Park tickets, and souvenirs!

690,000 Tasty Festival Treats, 33,000 Bottles of Wine and Champagne Add Up to a Fun-Fact-Filled Festival at Walt Disney World Resort

13th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World guests can sip, taste and enjoy live entertainment all day long as the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival celebrates 13 years of first-rate wine and cuisine Sept. 26-Nov. 9.

The six-week outdoor festival at Disney's Epcot theme park serves up authentic cuisine, wine, entertainment and cultures of more than 25 international regions. Exotic marketplaces from South Africa to Mexico offer exciting taste treats. The festival is the largest food and wine event of its kind in the world, beginning at the Festival Welcome Center in the Wonders of Life pavilion and fanning around the promenade encircling World Showcase Lagoon.

Here are a few remarkable facts about the 13th annual event:
· More than 300 national and international wines
· 45 favulous days long
· More than 76 kinds of international foods, each appetizer-sized portion priced $2-$5
· More than 160 of America's most celebrated chefs and Walt Disney World chefs
· 1,200 wine and beer seminars featuring more than 100 topics
· More than 1,200 fireworks rockets exploding each night over World Showcase Lagoon in "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" grand finale to the festival
· 135 Eat to the Beat! concerts performed
· 33,000 bottles of wine and champagne
· 1.2 million hors d'oeuvre plates
· 2.1 million Vanity Fair napkins
· 750,000 beer cups
· 690,000 sumptuous samplings
· 600,000 forks
· 338,000 wine glasses
· 100,000 miniature desserts including creme brulee, traditional apple strudel, baklava and more
· 3,000 gallons of soup, including cheddar cheese soup (Montreal marketplace), seafood gumbo (New Orleans marketplace), and chilled tomato and garlic soup (Barcelona marketplace)
· 1,500 pounds fresh strawberries

Wine Tasting a Breeze for Beginners at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 26-Nov. 9

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – If you’re a wine neophyte, you can cut through the mystique of wine tasting to become a savvy sipper at the 13th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 26-Nov. 9, 2008, at Walt Disney World Resort. So slather on the sunscreen, don comfortable shoes and begin the wine quest in Future World at Epcot.

As your tram glides toward the park entrance, review these simple tips for beginning tasters:

· Lift your glass by the stem to avoid warming the wine in the bowl of your glass.
· Raise your glass to check the wine’s color.
· Swirl the liquid by gently rotating your wrist; as the wine leaves trails, or legs, it reveals alcohol content. A wine with high alcohol content normally will have slow-moving legs.
· Sniff deeply and try to identify the wine’s traits, which could range from essence of raspberry to chocolate.
· Sip – but don’t swallow yet. Hold the wine and swish it across your tongue and inner cheeks before exhaling slowly through both nose and mouth. The taste will be that much more vivid!
First stop, Festival Welcome Center in East Future World. Celebrate the start of your grape expedition with a glass of bubbly at the center’s champagne and wine bar. There, Epcot cast members can fill you in on the day’s wine-tasting schedule and on details of special events such as Food and Wine Pairings or the Party for the Senses grand tasting.
Before heading outside, catch a complimentary wine seminar and visit the Stockpot Shop for festival gifts and the Inspired Vines shop for more than 300 wine selections from prestigious vineyards showcased at the festival’s seminars and private events, including Antinori, Caymus Vineyards, Château Cos d’Estournel, Silver Oak and Piper Heidsieck. You also can meet representatives from more than 100 wineries and purchase a signed bottle at the Bottle Signing location.

Complimentary wine seminars are scheduled daily, and you can explore more than 25 international marketplaces around World Showcase where ethnic cuisine and wine-pairing tastes range from just $2-$5. (Marketplace wines are available by the bottle at Inspired Vines). There are also some great ways to try new levels of tasting experiences: at one of the daily Food and Wine Pairings, or at a weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting.

Food and Wine Pairings ($55 per person, park admission required) are scheduled throughout the week at several popular Epcot restaurants including Tutto Italia Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh and Mitsukoshi Restaurant. There, winery principals lead you through a tasting of three wines that are paired precisely with complementary foods.

At Party for the Senses each Saturday night in the grand World ShowPlace ($135 per person, park admission required), you’ll taste some of the finest cuisine by more than 25 eminent chefs and sample from more than 70 wines and beers as you chat with the winemakers and enjoy first-rate live entertainment.

Afternoon Epcot Wine Schools ($125 or $135) including France, Italy, Spain and South Africa wine schools, take place Saturdays during the six-week fest.

As you complete your trip around the world’s longest, largest wine fest, favorite wines will be available for purchase at the Festival Welcome Center, says Jason Cha-Kim, beverage sourcing specialist for Disney Worldwide Services.

“You’ll have the opportunity to wine and dine around World Showcase and learn about the basics of wine from the very best vineyards in the world,” says Cha-Kim. “You’ll come away from the festival with an understanding of the major wine-growing regions, how to taste wine correctly and really enjoy it, what wines to look for at home, and how to pair food and wine. It’s a great way to explore and learn about wines from around the world.”

Entrance to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, plus wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, Eat to the Beat! concerts, culinary exhibits and all attractions and park entertainment, is included with regular Epcot admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information or reservations for special events and programs, or visit the Web site: www.disneyworld.com/food.

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