wine seminars - worth it? good vs bad ones?

[newholidayx2]

Are the wine seminars worth the time? Ive read one really needs to arrive 30mins ahead of time.

 

[taylorl25]

I did 5 seminars last week and if you enjoy wine I think they are definetely worth the time.

If you go on a weekend you'd definetley need to be there 30 mins ahead, during the week people were arriving less than 15 minutes before and getting in with no problem

We did a New Zealand, Italy, Rose, Argentina and Mission Hill seminar. You don't really know ahead of time what they'll be like as it varies with the speaker and wines. My favourite was the Mission Hill one, the speaker was funny and informative, I didn't know much about canadian wines other than ice wine so learnt a lot and got to try some fabulous wine.
The Argentina seminar was also really good. We got four wines at all seminars apart from the Rose one where we got 3 glasses, and they normally were a mix of red and white so to fully enjoy the seminar you'd need to like both styles of wine.

Overall the seminars were one of the highlights of my trip.

 

[mikesmom]

The seminars are GREAT. We always find some new wine discovery. This year we tried the seminars from Argentina, Chile, Canada, the one on unoaked Chardonnay and one from Martini & Rossi that covered their Asti and Proseco.

They change the seminars every few days as new winemakers come in and the others leave, so you may have to discover your own. I did notice that the people from the Fess Parker winery will be there Oct 19 thru 21. We have caught their seminar before and the wines are fabulous - Highly recommend it for anyone traveling those dates.

 

[Teach]

Yes, the seminars are worth it-even waiting in line was enjoyable talking to people, many locals who come just for the tastings.

 

[lomillerin]

Edited

 

[cdtommie]

Are these free? It is adults only? I don't mean the wine tasting but just being there during the seminar. I realize it would ideal to be all adults and very small children would disrupt others, but I have a teenager who would just read while he waited for us to finish and then move on to other activities. Will he be allowed or will he have to wait somewhere else?

They are free but I believe you have to be 21 to enter - they were proofing some people. I think they had a waiting area in the back of the room separate from the tasting.

 

[taylorl25]

You have to be 21 to sit at the tables with wine. They had a separate table where children can sit and colour but if I was a teenager I would be embarassed having to sit there with young kids.

 

[lomillerin]

You have to be 21 to sit at the tables with wine. They had a separate table where children can sit and colour but if I was a teenager I would be embarassed having to sit there with young kids.

 

[susan137]

Are these seminars listed somewhere? Or, do you just happen upon them? It sounds like something DH and I would enjoy.

Susan

 

[mikesmom]

They are in the Festival catalog starting on page 24.

 

[susan137]

They are in the Festival catalog starting on page 24.

Where do I get a Festival Catalog? At the door or is there somewhere I can get one beforehand?

Susan

 

[mikesmom]

You can get one at the Festival Center when you get there. Also below is a link to an Orlando Sentinel article on the Fest. In the cnter of the page is a "Related Links" with a link to the Food & Wine Festival Guide. Click through there.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-chow2807sep28,0,6130563.story?coll=orl_mezz

Actually, here's the link to the Guide itself. Warning - very large PDF file.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/acrobat/2007-09/32816881.pdf

 

[susan137]

You can get one at the Festival Center when you get there. Also below is a link to an Orlando Sentinel article on the Fest. In the cnter of the page is a "Related Links" with a link to the Food & Wine Festival Guide. Click through there.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-chow2807sep28,0,6130563.story?coll=orl_mezz

Actually, here's the link to the Guide itself. Warning - very large PDF file.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/acrobat/2007-09/32816881.pdf

Thanks so much!!

Susan