Fine Food And International Wines At The Pensacola Wine Festival

Pensacola, Fla. – Jan. 27, 2009 – Fine Spanish wines, elegant tapas, savory paella, jazz music and bay breezes are just a few things visitors can expect during Pensacola’s four-day wine festival, April 2-5. To commemorate the city’s 450th anniversary and Spanish heritage, this year’s wine festival will incorporate a Spanish theme, with special guests including winemaker Jorge Ordoñez, food critic John T. Edge and the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs.

Thursday, April 2, 6-9 p.m.: Wine classes every 15 minutes at Distinctive Kitchens Culinary Arts Center in Downtown Pensacola during Gallery Night. Downtown galleries stay open late in a street party atmosphere. Free admission.

Friday, April 3, 6-8 p.m.: Mingle with Jorge Ordoñez and the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs during an evening of fine food and Spanish wine at Distinctive Kitchens in Downtown Pensacola. Ordoñez is one of largest importers of Spanish wines in the United States representing 130 wines from 40 wineries. He and his winemakers will lead a discussion with tastings of his reserve collection. Jim Shirley of the Fish House, Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steakhouse, Gus Silivos of Skopelos on the Bay, Frank Taylor of Global Grill and Dan Dunn of the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front will prepare a variety of Spanish tapas to complement the wines. Tickets are $75.

Saturday, April 4, 3-6 p.m.: Sip and savor from a selection of 100 international wines in an open-air setting with views of Pensacola Bay while learning from industry leaders. The Pensacola Celebrity Chefs will test their skills in a paella-cooking contest, hosted and judged by John T. Edge. Tickets are $40. Sunday, April 5, 4-7 p.m.: The Children’s Home Society hosts a wine and tapas tasting along the waterfront at Portofino Island Resort & Spa. Guests will be treated to fine food by the Pensacola Celebrity Chefs and served hand-selected Spanish wines presented by docents. Tickets are $100.

Saturday and Sunday, April 4-5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Sit under grand oaks in historic Seville Square while enjoying an impressive repertoire of music at Pensacola Jazz Fest presented by the Jazz Society of Pensacola. Free admission.

Wine Festival Deals-from $55 per night

· Quality Inn Pensacola, $55, (850) 477-0711.

· Comfort Inn Pensacola Beach, $70 (50 percent off the regular rate of $139). (850) 934-5400.

· Comfort Inn Pensacola-Pine Forest, $71.99 with full hot breakfast. (850) 476-8989, www.comfortinn.com/hotel/fl588.

· Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach, $109 Sound side, $129 Gulf Front. (WNE). (850) 932-6800, www.hamptoninn.com.

Other events planned throughout the year for Pensacola’s 450th anniversary include the Miguel Zapata art exhibit, Battle of Pensacola reenactment, Heritage Festival, a visit from the tallship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, a landing celebration, parades, concerts and more.

Spanish sailor Don Tristan de Luna arrived in Pensacola on August 15, 1559 with a contingent of more than 1,500 soldiers, servants, settlers, priests and Mexican Indians. Shortly after establishing the settlement, a hurricane destroyed supplies, eventually causing the Spanish to flee the area and not return until the late 1600s. In 1698, Presidio Santa María de Galve became the first permanent settlement in Northwest Florida. Remains of the fort can be found at Naval Air Station Pensacola. The city is proud of its Spanish heritage, historically significant events and landmarks.

For more information about the wine festival events, call Laura Lee at (850) 434-1234 or go online to www.VisitPensacola.com.