Escape to Maui for the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival

Along with veteran restaurateur, Homegrown Host Master Sommelier Michael A. Jordan, MS, CWE and co-host Chuck Furuya, MS, and partner in DK Restaurants, renowned wine-makers, star-power celebrity chefs and Maui's own celebrated contingent of Culinary stars will lead panels and journey guests with world-class varietals and fine cuisine over the weekend.

‘The Kapalua Resort is once again proud to offer a stunning backdrop for such a high-caliber connoisseur's event,' stated Tom Donovan, vice president and general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, host hotel property of the event. ‘This year's unique collaboration of a Kapalua-centric chef showcase on Friday night is going to be an outstanding demonstration of innovative talent within Kapalua Resort.'

Featuring Maui's impressive farm-to-table movement and globe-trotting gastronomy, gourmet demonstrations, festive functions and impressive, interactive seminars will tempt discerning palates. New headlining events not to be missed this year include The Grand Tasting- Kapalua Style where the Kapalua family of restaurants – The Banyan Tree, Kai Sushi, Merriman's, Pineapple Grill, The Plantation House and Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar – will pull out all the stops to showcase Kapalua's premier culinary venues.

Throughout the weekend, participants can also select from an impressive list of interactive wine seminars including a highly anticipated tasting of the wines:

Sparkling Wines & Cheese Tasting Seminar
Hawaii boys Michael Jordan, MS, Chuck Furuya, MS, Roberto Viernes, MS and Patrick Okubo, MS, welcome home former resident Kent Torrey of The Cheese Shop of Carmel for a “sparkling” start to the weekend with vintages of sparkling wines and cheeses from around the globe.

In Pursuit of Balance Wine Tasting Seminar (IPOB):
IPOB seeks to promote dialogue around the meaning and relevance of balance in California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay featuring the wines of:
Rajat Parr of Michael Mina Restaurants and Sandhi Wines
Pax Mahle - Wind Gap
Jamie Kutch -Kutch
Gavin Chanin - Chanin

Heroes of Pinot & Chardonnay Wine Tasting Seminar featuring:
Top winemakers feature their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay favorites.
Geoff Labitzke, MW - Kistler
Michael Browne - Kosta Browne
Gary Pisoni -Pisoni Vineyards
Fred Scherrer - Scherrer Winery

Pritchard Hill Gang Rides at Kapalua Tasting Seminar:
The most exclusive growing region in Napa that you've never heard of! A hot-bed for ‘cultish' California Cabernets!
Cyril Chapellet – Chapellet Vineyards
Andy Erickson -Ovid
Philippe Melka – BRAND Napa valley
David Long -David Arthur
Stu Harrison – Continuum

Napa Cabernet Brain Trust Wine Tasting Seminar:
Not-to-be-missed sampling from three of Napa's most revered winemakers
Philippe Melka – Melka Wines
Mia Klein – Selene Wines
Andy Erickson – Leviathan and favia Wines

Que Sera Syrah Sera (What will be Syrah, will be) Tasting Seminar featuring:
A comparative tasting of highly acclaimed, world class California Syrah & Australian Shiraz. Here is your chance to get the insider's scoop on this truly noble grape variety.
Matt Trevisan – Linne Calodo
Sparky Marquis – Mollydooker
James Ontiveros – Autonom
Sergio Carlei – Carlei Wines

Celebrity Chef Cooking Demonstration/Lunches
Highly touted celebrity chefs, Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary Danko in San Francisco, Nancy Oakes of Boulevard in San Francisco and Michele Mazza of Il Mulino/NYC lead interactive cooking demonstrations of their specialty cuisines. Cooking demonstrations include full menu sampling and wine pairings.

Perennial favorites such as the Festival Golf Tournament, Festival Winemakers' Dinners and the signature finishing event, the Kapalua Seafood Festival featuring 15 of Maui's finest restaurants and more will make an encore appearance and will not disappoint.

Highly-coveted tickets to the 32nd Annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival will be on sale after February 15th – with a limited number of Kama'aina tickets also be offered through May 31 -- both of which may be purchased online at www.kapaluawineandfoodfestival.com. For information on accommodations packages at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, please call 800.262.8440 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/kapalua.

About: The Ritz Carlton Kapalua