2006 South Beach Wine and Food Festival

The 2006 South Beach Wine & Food Festival, presented by Food & Wine magazine, entertained more than 24,000 people and raised approximately $825,000. Produced by Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida and Florida International University, proceeds from the Festival support programs to benefit the industry’s future leaders.

On Thursday Hotel Victor’s “Bubble Bath” kicked off the weekend with guests indulging in Champagne Veuve Clicquot. Next day, more bubbly. This time, Moet & Chandon accompanied Bobby Flay’s finger-licking-good barbeque at the Delano Hotel’s BubbleQ. Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best at the Fontainebleau Resort showcased 17 of our country’s top chefs with fine wines poured from 30 top wineries. On Saturday, at the Loews Miami Beach, the host hotel, 600 guests enjoyed a historic dinner in honor of chef Ferran Adrià, followed by the greatest dessert party ever seen, Sweet Deco-Dence, where guests devoured a specially created anniversary cake. Sunday, back to the Loews for the Tribute Brunch where homage was paid to industry leaders Baron Eric de Rothschild, Regynald Washington and Maida Heatter.

The American Express Grand Tasting saw more than 15,000 people sampling foods provided by 100 restaurants and caterers and tasting fine wines from over 250 wineries. Food Network’s Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, Cat Cora, David Lieberman, George Duran and Paula Deen with her boys Jamie and Bobby entertained thousands of festival guests at Culinary Seminars. Emeril Lagasse, Rachael Ray, Alton Brown and Giada De Laurentiis launched the Festival’s first ever Kidz Kitchen, geared towards young aspiring chefs.

The 6th Annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival is scheduled for February 23-25, 2007. For more information, visit the Festival website at www.sobewineandfoodfest.com or call 877-762-3933. For more information about FIU, visit www.fiu.edu, and for more information about Southern Wine & Spirits visit www.southernwine.com.