Feasts And Celebrations At 34th Kapalua Wine & Food Festival

The 34th Annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival kicked off with an afternoon introduction to wine tasting seminar followed by a welcome reception at Maui's Merriman's restaurant on Thursday, June 11.

Friday began with the annual Festival Golf Tournament followed by a wine seminar and tasting focusing on new pinot noir varieties from Oregon.  Wines from Adelsheim Vineyard, Gran Moraine, Chapter 24, Methven Family Vineyards, and Argyle Wineries were featured.

Women winemakers were the focus of Friday's afternoon seminar featuring a variety of wines from Peju, MacRostie, Selene, Bridesmaid, and Crocker & Starr wineries.  The evening's Grand Tasting, hosted by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and HILuxury magazine, was held at The Montage Kapalua Bay and featured island dishes from The Plantation House, Pineapple Grill, Merriman's, The Banyan Tree, Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Cane & Canoe, and the Maui Culinary Academy.

On Saturday, two more wine tastings were hosted at The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua.  Pours from Scherrer, Hartford Family, Carlisle, and Linne Calodo wineries were featured at the morning "America's Grape Variety" seminar on zinfandels. The afternoon's "Game Changers" seminar offered tastings of pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and syrah from Carneros Hills, Domaine de la Cote, Chanin, and Jonata wineries.

There were also several cooking demos including Chef Charlie Palmer serving chermoula grilled salmon and duck with citrus couscous and Chef Michael Mina serving cocoa dusted Big Eye tuna and chilled squid salad.  Saturday night included two dinners.  Chef Michael Mina, David Arthur Vineyard, and Kosta Browne hosted a dinner at the Montage Kapalua, and La Crema Winery hosted a dinner at The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Banyon Tree Restaurant.

Finally, Sunday night's sold out seafood festival on the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua oceanfront beach house lawn showcasing Maui's top chefs and local fish concluded the festival.