
The Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival returned for its 19th year with a weekend of wine dinners, seminars, tastings and brunches on Sept. 22-24. Guests had the opportunity to taste and experience wines and spirits from every major wine region and enjoy dishes from artisanal food purveyors and top restaurants. The first day of seminars on Sept. 22 at Rosecliff gave guests more than a dozen educational opportunities to attend and enjoy, with classes on Pinot Noirs from around the world, Northern California wines, an exploration of Port, a cocktail master class featuring spirits from Rémy Cointreau and a sake tasting paired with cuisine prepared by James Beard Award Semifinalist Chef Basil Yu. Festival sponsors poured brands at locations in between seminars, giving guests an extra chance to enjoy offerings. All proceeds from the multiday event benefited the historic preservation efforts of The Preservation Society of Newport County, a nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts, including its host property, Rosecliff.
- The Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival returned for its 19th year with a weekend of wine dinners, seminars, tastings and brunches on Sept. 22-24.
- Set at historic Newport mansion Rosecliff, guests enjoyed more than a dozen educational opportunities and tasting events.
- Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon during the first seminar of the day.
- Katie Griesbeck, National Sales and Marketing Director, Cakebread Cellars and Sarah Iwanski, Director of Institutional Advancement, The Preservation Society of Newport County.
- Guests enjoyed Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Suscol Springs Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Benchland Select Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 and Dancing Bear Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2021.
- Cam Dauterive, Regional Manager – CT/ME/RI, Empson USA led the seminar A Pinot Noir Grand Tour.
- A Pinot Noir Grand Tour featured Ferghettina Franciacorta Rosé Eronero, Franz Haas Pinot Nero, Marchesi Pancrazi Pinot Noir Villa di Bagnolo, Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir and Paul O’Brien Pinot Noir Umpqua Valley.
- A tasting of Knights Bridge wines showcased the iconic Northern California estate wines: Pont de Chevalier Sauvignon Blanc, West Block Chardonnay, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Haggerty Road Red Blend and Linville Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Presenters Anne Burgio, Wine Educator/North Region Manager, Knights Bridge Winery; John Bailey, Brand Manager/Family Ambassador, Knights Bridge Winery; and Tara Flynn, Senior Advancement Officer, The Preservation Society of Newport County.
- Knights Bridge Linville Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Spirits showcased in the Rémy Cointreau Cocktail Master Class: Bruichladdich Distillery Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Westland American Single Malt Whiskey, Port Charlotte 10 Year Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Cointreau.
- Michael Loudon, Regional Field Marketing Manager – New England, Rémy Cointreau and Jason Cousins, U.S. National Brand Ambassador (East), Bruichladdich Distillery and Westland Distillery.
- Ed Sherman Jr., Market Manager CT & RI, Rémy Cointreau and Jason F. Cousins, U.S. National Brand Ambassador (East), Bruichladdich Distillery and Westland Distillery during the Rémy Cointreau Cocktail Master Class.
- Ingredients for the Rémy Cointreau Cocktail Master Class included Bruichladdich Distillery Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Westland American Single Malt Whiskey.
- A pour of Westland American Single Malt Whiskey.
- Justin Bothur, Assistant Food and Beverage Director, Ocean House.
- The Port & Prestige: A Journey of History and Style seminar showcased Taylor Fladgate Chip Dry Port, Late Bottled Vintage Port, 2003 Classic Vintage Port, 10 Year Old Tawny Port and 20 Year Old Tawny Port.
- Presenter Steve Remming, Category Specialist, Port Portfolio, Kobrand Corporation.
- A tasting array of Port wines ready for guests.
- The Experience Organic Wine seminar showcased Bonterra Estate Collection Sauvignon Blanc, Single Vineyard The Roost Chardonnay, Estate Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard The Butler Red Blend and Single Vineyard The McNab Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Presenter Mikaela Mikolaities, Regional Manager, Bonterra Organic Estates/Viña Concha y Toro.
- Presenter Mikaela Mikolaities, Regional Manager, Bonterra Organic Estates/Viña Concha y Toro.
- The Sake Tasting and Chef-Inspired Pairing Plate session featured sakes from Kawatsuru, Fukucho, Konteki and Tozai was presented by James Beard Award Semifinalist Chef Basil Yu and Sake Educator Dila Lee.
- James Beard Award Semifinalist Basil Yu, Chef/Owner, Yagi Noodles and Dila Lee, Educator, Komé Collective.
- Cuisine by James Beard Award Semifinalist Basil Yu, Chef/Owner, Yagi Noodles was paired with the selections during the sake tasting.
- Dila Lee, Educator, Komé Collective, importers of curated craft Japanese sake.
Photos by Laura Widness.