Heads up, wine lovers. Two star-studded events are in the works on Maui in the next couple of months. The first, "Vintage Wine Weekend" (May 24-26, Four Seasons Wailea), is a three-day wine-and-food event featuring an impressive list of star winemakers: Gary Burk (Costa de Oro), Donald Patz (Patz & Hall), Steve Clifton (Brewer Clifton), Dan Kosta (Kosta Browne), Van Williamson (Witching Stick) and French star Laurent Martelet (Domaine Comtesse Bernard de Cherisey from Burgundy, France).
These are some of my favorite pinot noir makers, and I am thrilled they will all be in one place in Hawaii at one time. And because the event will be intimate in size, it’s a great opportunity to talk to winemakers face to face and get better acquainted with their wines.
Here’s a chance to try and compare pinots from different areas, such as California’s Santa Maria Valley, Santa Rita Hills, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Anderson Valley, as well as some from Burgundy. There will be new releases as well as stashed, "library" wines.
I am also looking forward to experiencing how the hotel’s culinary team, led by executive chef Roger Stettler, will pair their top-notch cuisine with the wines.
The headliner event features an ultimate BYOB (bring your own bottle) dinner, which will have winemakers and guest sharing the best from their cellars. I know which three wines my wife and I will be taking, and we’re excited to see what others (such as master sommelier Roberto Viernes) will be sharing as well. I heard talk that the hotel has dug deep into its cellar and found a bottle each of such legendary wines as the 2009 Raveneau Chablis Grand Cru "Les Clos," 2007 Coche Dury Corton Charlemagne, 2005 Perrot Minot Chambertin "Clos de Beze" and even a 1964 DRC La Tache.
I believe this incredible lineup sets the bar for the caliber of wines to be passed around that evening.
The second Maui event, the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival (June 6-9, Ritz Carlton Kapalua), is in its 32nd year. Master sommelier Michael Jordan, who serves as host, has put together a comprehensive schedule of events and an equally impressive list of winemakers.
Highlights include:
» "Napa Cabernet Brain Trust" (3 p.m. June 7), profiling three superstar Napa winemakers — Mia Klein, Philippe Melka and Andy Erickson — and their wines.
» "In Pursuit of Balance" (11 a.m. June 8), focusing on California pinot noir and chardonnay with the wines of Rajat Parr of Michael Mina and Sandhi Wines, Pax Mahle of Wind Gap, Gavin Chanin of Chanin and Jamie Kutch of Kutch.
» "Heroes of Chardonnay & Pinot Noir" (3:30 p.m. June 8), spotlighting a quartet of the finest pinot noir specialists out of California today: Kistler, Scherrer, Pisoni and Kosta Browne.
» "Que Sera Syrah Sera" (11 a.m. June 9), featuring the highly acclaimed shiraz/syrah-based wines and highly revered winemakers of Mollydooker, Carlei, Autonom and Linne Calodo.
» "Pritchard Hill Gang" (3:30 p.m. June 9), showcasing some exclusive cabernet collectibles out of Napa Valley that are difficult to find. Winemakers from Ovid, Brand, Continuum, Chappellet and David Arthur will be on hand.
» Cooking demos featuring superstar chefs Nancy Oaks of Boulevard (1 p.m. June 8) and Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary Danko (1 p.m. June 9).
It is a great thing to have such experts come to the islands to share their expertise, passion and wine.
How often do golden learning opportunities like this happen?
Hope to see you there.
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Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and a partner in the DK Restaurants group.
