Newport Beach Wine Festival at Balboa Bay Resort

Newport Beach Waterfront Resort Offers the Ultimate Wine and Food Experience

By Lauren Crowley

Balboa Bay Resort will host the eleventh annual Newport Beach Wine Festival® May 23 to May 25, 2014. This celebration will showcase Balboa Bay Resort and its exceptional food and beverage offerings through creative wine tasting experiences, seminars, a cooking class, a wine maker dinner, a seafood festival and more. Join Balboa Bay Resort’s Executive Chef, Vincent Lesage, along with his exceptional culinary team, and some of the best and most well-known wine makers and chefs in the region for this annual event.

“We are looking forward to this eleventh annual event and welcoming resort guests, Balboa Bay Club members and our local community, to the resort to experience an extraordinary wine and food experience,” said Sam El-Rabaa, general manager of Balboa Bay Resort. “This is a truly unique weekend filled with exceptional wines and culinary talent.”

Newport Beach Wine Festival® begins Friday, May 23 with the intimate Master Sommelier Coasting Through California Wine Dinner. Kick the holiday weekend off in style and embark on an evening of exceptional wine and extraordinaire culinary creations. Guests will enjoy an exquisite six-course dinner that will take them on a food and wine journey throughout California. Each course will represent a specific area in California and will incorporate locally grown ingredients from that region. Fine wines will be selected for each course by Master Sommeliers Ira Harmon M.S. and Ron Mumford M.S.

On Saturday, May 24, guests are invited to attend a cooking class and two wine seminars during the day and the Grand Tasting in the evening.

The majestic Grand Tasting on Saturday evening will transform The Grand Ballroom at Balboa Bay Resort into a beautiful tasting room with over 90 wineries from around the world. Alongside the wines will be endless culinary creations from the chefs at Balboa Bay Resort, including a selection of seafood, caviars, cheeses, meats and decadent desserts. Live music will be played to set the relaxed atmosphere for the evening.

Newport Beach Wine Festival® will close on Sunday, May 25, with a farewell Beer for Breakfast, an afternoon All-American Seafood Festival and Cigar “On the Rocks” to end the evening.

Start the day in European style with scrumptious breakfast faire and renowned beers from around the world at Beer for Breakfast.

Next, take in the gorgeous Southern California outdoors amidst the yachts at the All-American Seafood Festival. Delight in great wine, beer and magnificent cuisine from the sea. Sample and savor wines from over 30 wineries, including winery partner Trinitas Cellars, as you stroll through the waterfront lawn filled with rows of interactive culinary stations.

Finish off the evening with Cigar “On the Rocks”, where you will delight in specialty cocktails, top flight cognacs, scotches, ports, decadent desserts and of course, cigars.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, May 23

Master Sommelier Coasting Through California Wine Dinner, 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Intimate six-course dinner with wine pairings selected by guest sommeliers Ira Harmon M.S. and Ron Mumford M.S.

This intimate event is limited to 70 seats. $195 per person, includes taxes and gratuities.

Saturday, May 24

Cook to This! Cooking Class and Wine Pairing, 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Chef Vincent Lesage will lead guests in creating their own three-course lunch using wine as the central ingredient. Sip wine as you help create each course. 

$90 per person, includes taxes and gratuities.

Seminar #1, 3:00 p.m.

Quintessa Wine Tasting

Napa Valley vertical wine tasting consisting of eight wines.

$75 per person, includes taxes and gratuities.

Seminar #2, 5:00 p.m.

Coastal California Appellation Experience

California wine tasting and engagement with guest sommeliers that will educate guests on a variety of great wines from the different regions of California.

$65 per person, includes taxes and gratuities.

Grand Tasting, 7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Experience tastings from over 90 wineries from around the world with delectable food pairings from the resort’s culinary team.

$135 per person, includes taxes and gratuities.

Sunday, May 25

Beer for Breakfast, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Take part in a European tradition and enjoy beer for breakfast. Join the resort’s very own brewer, JC Converse, CSW and Certified Cicerone, as you delight in a variety of JC’s favorite brews from renowned beer capitals of the world − all perfectly accompanied with delicious and hearty rustic breakfast faire.

$45 per person, includes taxes and gratuities.

All-American Seafood Festival, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Delight in great wine, beer and magnificent cuisine from the sea at this outdoor seafood festival. Sample and savor wines from over 30 wineries, including our winery partner Trinitas Cellars, as you enjoy an incredible selection of the finest seafood.

$99 per person, includes taxes and gratuities.

Cigar “On the Rocks”, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

An evening of top flight cognacs, scotches, ports, tequilas, specialty cocktails, fine artisan cheeses, decadent desserts and of course, cigars.

$60 per person, includes taxes and gratuities.

To purchase tickets, please call Balboa Bay Resort at 949.630.4145.

For additional information on the Newport Beach Wine Festival®, please visit http://balboabayresort.com/newport-beach-vacations/newport-beach-wine-festival/.

About Balboa Bay Resort

Balboa Bay Resort, the only waterfront resort in Newport Beach, offers stunning bay views and sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. The resort’s newest restaurant, Waterline, a refined waterfront spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner, will open in March. The cuisine will be nautical in theme, emphasizing local seafood. The property also has a waterfront bar and lounge feature a wide variety of cocktails, beverages and casual fare. Other resort amenities include a full-service 10,000-square-foot spa; a wealth of outdoor recreation, including a year-round heated swimming pool and whirlpool, water activities, and for guests to rent from the private dock: electric boats, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks; and more than 18,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. For information and reservations, please contact Balboa Bay Resort at 949.645.5000; or visit the website at www.balboabayresort.com.

About Meritage Collection

Meritage Collection is a new life and style collection from Pacific Hospitality Group, which includes independent hotels, resorts, wineries, and golf courses. Meritage Collection offers exceptional travel and one-of-a-kind experiences in four of California’s most spectacular locations—La Jolla, Napa Valley, Newport Beach, and Santa Barbara. Blending the best in leisure and group travel, Meritage Collection débuted in 2013 and includes The Meritage Resort and Spa, Bacara Resort & Spa, Balboa Bay Resort, and Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa. For more information about Meritage Collection, please visit www.meritagecollection.com.