WineQuest 2011

Join us for a fun Friday night of wine and food exploration at the 15th annual WineQuest Grand Tasting & Auction! Travel the greatest wine-growing regions in the world with nearly 200 wines from around the globe. Sip on your favorites and sample new selections as wine experts and purveyors guide you in your journey. Select wines will be paired with eight eclectic food-tasting stations celebrating the diverse cultural backgrounds of the Grande Lakes culinary team. Savor the exotic flavors of Peru, Turkey, Vietnam, Morocco, Japan, America, Jamaica and Puerto Rico and discover how wine can be enjoyed with many styles of cuisine! Finish this exciting evening on a high note with impressive live and silent auctions, offering something for all tastes.

Indulge in a true gourmet farm-to-table dinner starring locally sourced foods at the WineQuest Premier Dining Experience. Following a sparkling wine and hors d'oeuvres reception, the award-winning Grande Lakes Orlando chefs will orchestrate a sophisticated rustic menu inspired by new American cuisine. The five-course meal will be expertly paired with fine wine and studded with only seasonal ingredients from regional farms and artisans. This limited-seating, intimate dining event includes an exclusive presentation of each chef’s custom creation for guests to learn about the wine pairings and where their food comes from. Conclude this unforgettably delicious meal with a decadent dessert reception and discover the excitement of the live and silent auctions, featuring a variety of wine collections, getaways, entertainment experiences and more!

Top off your WineQuest weekend with a sumptuous al fresco brunch in the Primo garden. Filled with seasonal summer favorites, the menu will highlight Primo’s “homegrown concept” through local farm-fresh fare and organic ingredients harvested right on site. Enjoy both traditional staples and contemporary offerings with food stations serving locally raised carved meats, crisp side dishes, regional fruits and juices, and light desserts from the Grande Lakes Orlando pastry team. Along with plenty of refreshing wines and a mimosa bar, you won’t want to miss this first-time garden brunch event available at Melissa Kelly’s Primo only during WineQuest.

Kick off this year’s WineQuest series with the Golf Classic at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes. Designed by two-time British Open Champion Greg Norman, this luxury course provides golfers with an unprecedented experience not typically found in Florida. The practice range opens at 7am with coffee and breakfast, followed by a 7:45am shotgun start. Enjoy four food and beverage stations strategically placed throughout the course as you enhance your golf game with The Ritz-Carlton’s innovative Caddie Concierge Program. As the first of its kind in the region, this unique service pairs a knowledgeable attendant with each group to provide accurate yardage, bunker raking, tips for playing the course and more. Following the conclusion of play will be a cookout featuring classic favorites with an upscale twist. End the afternoon with an awards ceremony and a scotch and cigar smoker to celebrate your tournament victories!

Kick off this year’s WineQuest series with the Golf Classic at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes. Designed by two-time British Open Champion Greg Norman, this luxury course provides golfers with an unprecedented experience not typically found in Florida. The practice range opens at 7am with coffee and breakfast, followed by a 7:45am shotgun start. Enjoy four food and beverage stations strategically placed throughout the course as you enhance your golf game with The Ritz-Carlton’s innovative Caddie Concierge Program. As the first of its kind in the region, this unique service pairs a knowledgeable attendant with each group to provide accurate yardage, bunker raking, tips for playing the course and more. Following the conclusion of play will be a cookout featuring classic favorites with an upscale twist. End the afternoon with an awards ceremony and a scotch and cigar smoker to celebrate your tournament victories!