Now in its 10th year, Sun Winefest has become the premier wine and dining gathering in the Northeast. Top chefs and the finest wines have made this a "can't-miss" event.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – No matter how much they pleaded or begged, if they didn’t have an advance ticket, not one single more “lover of the grape” was allowed through the doors of Saturday’s sold-out Grand Tasting at the Mohegan Sun Casino.
Now in its 10th year, Sun Winefest has become the premier wine and dining gathering in the Northeast. Top chefs and the finest wines have made this a "can't-miss" event.
Inside the packed ballroom some 5,000 wine connoisseurs and more casual enthusiasts mingled elbow-to-elbow on Saturday sampling new wines to add to their “favorites” list. And there were plenty to choose from, over 1,000 brands of wine and beer alongside some specialty sponsor spirits. There were affordable wines priced at $10 or less, and plenty of more expensive vintages for the more discriminating palates, including a special “Elite Cru Tasting” for $200 giving ticket holders a chance to taste some of the best wines from around the world, and meet the makers behind them.
"It's our second year here. We love the food and what better place to come for food and wine. We also have tickets for tonight's Celebrity Chef Dine Around," said Ronald LeLerc of Richmond, RI at the Grand Tasting.
"We started looking to purchase tickets as far back as July because it's always a sellout," said his wife, Debra LeLerc.
Throughout the Grand Tasting, celebrity chefs took to the stage all afternoon to share tips and demonstrate their favorite dishes.
First to take the stage was Donatella Arpaia, who owns a string of successful restaruants in New York City including Donatella, Dbar and Kefi.
"I'm happy to be here. I do it every year and my husband loves the tasting," said Arpaia.
While Saturday’s Grand Tasting was sold out, tickets priced at $70 are still available for Sunday's event.
It all ends Sunday night at 6 p.m. with a special event called “Bubbles and Bon Bons” where the champagne corks will be popping for a two-hour closing party in the casino’s Cabaret Theatre. For $95, patrons can feast on the popular bubbly from Moet & Chandon and eat a variety of pastries prepared by popular pastry chefs Dorie Greenspan, Mindy Segal, Gesine Bullock-Prado, and Mohegan Sun’s own Lynn Mansel.