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 8^th ANNUAL NANTUCKET WINE FESTIVAL MAY 19-23, 2004

BID YOUR WAY TO LUXURY AT FESTIVAL’S NEWLY EXPANDED
WINE & LIFESTYLE AUCTION 

NANTUCKET- The 8^th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival, May 19-23, 2004, celebrates world-renowned wines perfectly paired with exquisite cuisine against the backdrop of some of the island’s most beautiful and historic settings. This year’s festival, partnered with Boston Magazine and White Elephant and Garden Cottages, will entice wine enthusiasts from around the globe to gather for an event-rich week.  This year’s marquee event will be the Wine and Lifestyle Live Auction, paired for the first time with a Winemaker Dinner.  Chef Todd English and Lauren Drouhin from Maison Joseph Drouhin will be hosting this elegant dinner and the auction will include some of the most unique and exclusive rare wines, large-format bottles and luxurious lifestyle items promise an evening not soon forgotten. Also, back for the second year is the Grand Cru ticket package, offering substantial savings  (see package information below).

 Other returning favorites include the Charity Gala; Winery Lunches& Dinners; Great Wines in Grand Houses; Wine and Food Seminars; and, back for its third year, a Winemaker Symposium. Also returning to this year’s event is an expanded roster of internationally-known celebrity chefs from Nantucket, Boston, New York City, Providence, Newport and Washington D.C.  Notables from Nantucket include:  Michael LaScola, Chef, American Seasons; All Kovalencik, Chef/Proprietor, Company of the Cauldron; Russell Jaehnig, Chef, 21 Federal; John West, Proprietor, Sweet Inspirations; Jean-Charles Berruet, Chef/Owner, The Chanticleer; Michael Farrell, Chef, The Summer House; Seth & Angela Raynor, Owners, The Pearl and The Boarding House; Chris Freeman, Chef, Toppers at The Wauwinet; and Don Kolp, Chef, Brant Point Grill. Notables from Boston include: Ming Tsai, Chef/Owner, Blue Ginger; Lydia Shire, Chef/Owner, Locke-Ober and Excelsior; Chris Schlesinger, Chef/Author and Owner, East Coast Grill; Michael Schlow, Chef/Owner, Radius, Via Matta and Great Bay;  Ken Oringer, Chef/Owner, Restaurant Clio; Ian Just, Chef/Owner, Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro; Ana Sortun, Chef/Owner, Oleana; Barbara Lynch, Chef/Owner, No. 9 Park; Daniel Bruce, Chef, Boston Harbor Hotel; Mark Orfaly, Chef/Owner, Pigalle; Raymond Ost, Chef/Owner, Sandrine’s; Susan Regis & Amanda Lydon, Chefs, Upstairs on the Square; Anthony Ambrose, Chef/Owner Blackfin Chop House & Raw Bar; Richard Vellante, Executive Chef, Legal Seafoods; Antoine Camin, Chef, Brasserie Jo; Gabriel Frasca, Chef, Spire @ NINE ZERO; Frank McClelland, Chef/Owner of L’Espalier; Jay Murray, Chef, Grill 23 & Bar; Andreas Mensch, Chef, Stonehedge Inn.  Notables from New York City include: Cyril Renaud, Chef/Owner, Fleur de Sel and Howard Helmer, the Incredible Edible Egg.  Notables also include: J. Bryce Whittlesey, Chef, Wheatleigh; Mark Allen, Chef/Owner, Le Soir; Jamie  D’Oliveira, Chef, Mills Tavern and Bob Kinkead, Chef/Owner, Kinkead’s.

 The Winemaker Symposium (May 20 & 21), attended by some of the most famous winemakers in the world, is a must-see for members of the trade and for sophisticated wine consumers. This year, the Symposia will be centered on the winemaker’s philosophy and how it is expressed in his/her wines.  The discussion will be freewheeling, and audience participation encouraged.  Winemakers will describe and taste their own best entries competing in this global arena, and discuss their winemaking philosophy and address how they will compete in this changing industry, now and in the coming years.   Among the winemakers scheduled to attend are Wayne Donaldson, Winemaker at Domain Chandon; Alex Gambal, Owner and Winemaker of Maison Alex Gambal; James Allen, Owner and Winemaker of Sequoia Grove; Michel Anglada, Owner and Winemaker of Domaine Michel Anglada; Marc Cuneo, Winemaker at Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery; Howard Jelleme, Owner and Winemaker of Azienda Agraria San Lorenzo; Dean Long, Owner and Winemaker of Nantucket Vineyards; Kate MacMurray, Owner of MacMurray Ranch; Pax Mahle, Owner and Winemaker of Pax Wine Cellars; Bill Russell, Proprietor of Westport Rivers Winery; Bob Sessions, Winemaker at Hanzell Vineyard; Robert Sinskey, Owner and Vintner of Robert Sinskey Vineyards; Laura Bianchi, Owner/Winemaker, Castello di Monsanto; Robert de Leuze, Partner/Winemaker, ZD Wines; Amaury Devillard, Proprietor, Jacques Prieur/Antonin Rodet; Laurent Drouhin, Proprietor, Maison Joseph Drouhin; Tom Eddy, Owner/Winemaker, Tom Eddy Wines, Ric Forman, Owner/Winemaker Forman Vineyards; Keith Rutz, Owner/Winemaker, Rutz Vineyards. 

Great Wines in Grand Houses (consult website for complete list of offerings and dates) offers an exclusive opportunity to experience fabulous wines while gaining unique insight into Nantucket’s rich maritime history. Set in some of the island’s most beautiful homes, these intimate sit-down tastings (limited to twelve people) will feature such spectacular selections as:  an extraordinary opportunity to taste the great Le Montrachet from six different producers, moderated by Michel Anglada; a tasting of Burgundy’s legendary Maison Drouhin, moderated by Laurent Drouhin; a gourmet meal prepared by culinary icon Lydia Shire of Locke-Ober and Excelsior fame featuring premier grand cru wines from the 1966 Bordeaux vintage, including Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lafite, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild and Chateau Haut-Brion; and many more.

 The Charity Gala (May 20), takes place at the White Elephant, Nantucket’s landmark harborside hotel.  The Gala will feature up to 25 tables, each with a winemaker or winery representative and a distinguished restaurant chef, from either on-or off-island, whose signature cuisine is chosen to match the wines. Peruse and bid on luxury lifestyle items including restaurant gift certificates, autographed memorabilia and hotel stays while drinking and dining under the Nantucket evening sky. Both the Gala and the Silent Auction benefit the Nantucket Historical Association.

 The Auction (May 22), is the marquee event of this year’s Festival. A spectacular dinner at the White Elephant, prepared by Todd English Chef/Owner, Olives Restaurant and television personality and Laurent Drouhin, Proprietor, Maison Joseph Drouhin, will collaborate with executive chef Don Kolp of the Brant Point Grill to produce a culinary extravaganza.  The dinner will be followed by a live auction featuring rare wines, winemaker-autographed large-format bottles, small lots of vintage collectibles, unique lifestyle packages, and much more. Auction to benefit the Nantucket Historical Association. 

The Grand Tasting (May 22 & 23), the festival’s signature event, offers a unique sensory experience as more than 150 of the world’s most celebrated wineries pour their wines. Samplings of sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, including artisan breads and cheeses, smoked meats and seafood, Nantucket shellfish, and innovative tapas and delicacies, will emphasize the important relationship between food and wine. In addition, specialty items from many of Nantucket’s finest purveyors and restaurateurs will be available. Other highlights include hourly cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs sharing their secret techniques, stunning wine-related art and glasswork, and fascinating exhibits.  Again the Grand Tasting will be held right outside of downtown Nantucket, this year the Grand Tasting will be under two large tents located at the Jetties Pavillion.  There will be several busses to help people go the short distance to and from the event or you can just walk.

Wine and Food Seminars (consult website for complete listing of seminars and dates), led by the industries’ leading experts, are educational yet in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. Seminar topics include Artisanal Cheese Seminar, led by fromage savant and author Max McCalman of Picholine restaurant in New York; From Wine Geek to Guru, led by a panel of sommeliers led by wine writer Anthony Giglio; Nantucket Lobster Tales, led by Jelle Atema, Professor of Biology and Director of Boston University Marine Program in Woods Hole.

Winery Lunches & Dinners (consult website for complete listing of offerings and dates) During the festival, some of the world’s finest vintners join forces with Nantucket’s distinctive restaurants to create exquisite dinners, showcasing wines from the prized bins deftly paired with gourmet cuisine. Guests at the prix-fixe lunches and dinners will discover the nuances of wine production and explore the marriage of wine and food as experts from the wineries discuss the merits of each selection and answer questions.

One Ticket Package is  available this year:
Grand Cru Package (a $720 value for $345)

Includes:           Access to all four Grand Tasting sessions
                            Access to Saturday morning Early-Admission VIP Reception at the Grand Tasting 
                            (available to package purchasers only)
                            Access to one of the two Winemaker Symposia
                            Meet the Winemakers Reception (available to package purchasers only)
                            Tickets to two additional Wine and Food Seminars (based on availability)
                            Laminated personalized NWF entry pass
                            2004 NWF poster signed by artist Kerry Hallam
                            NWF hat

The 8^th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival takes place May 19-23, 2004 and is partnered with Boston Magazine, White Elephant and Garden Cottages and sponsored by many nationally and internationally renowned operations.

Tickets to the Grand Tasting are sold in two-hour increments, from 12-2 or 3-5 on both Saturday and Sunday.  Advance tickets are $65 per session or $100 for two sessions (sessions may be either on the same day or separate days); one ticket package is also available. Ticket prices increase as of May 1, 2004.  Proper ID required. For a complete listing and price information for all events contact the Nantucket Wine Festival at (508) 228-1128 or visit us on-line at www.nantucketwinefestival.com for constant updates.

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 The 8^th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival is proud to announce their partners for the third year: Boston Magazine and White Elephant, in addition to many new and past sponsors: Viking, Baume & Mercier, Boston Symphony Orchestra/Tanglewood; Moet & Chandon; The Hinckley Company, SAAB, Marquis Jet, Nantucket Bank, Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines, Hy-line Cruises, Nantucket Windmill Auto Rental, S. Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, All-Clad, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Wine Cellar Concepts, CM Communications, Inquirer & Mirror, Nantucket Today, Nantucket Television, Great Cheeses of New England, Yachting Magazine, WNAN 91.1, WGBH Radio 89.7, Sheila Marie Imports, HomeGoods, Samuel Adams Beer, Kinnealey Meats, Vineyard Vines, Terry Pommett Photography, Commonwealth Wine & Spirits, United Liquors, Nantucket Restaurant Association, D’Artagnan, Sperry Tents of Nantucket, iGourmet, Sweet Inspirations Chocolatier, Kerry Hallam, Dane Gallery, Brigham Gallery.