Dates for 2009: April 24-June 7
Disney's California Food and Wine Festival returns in 2009 for a six-week run. Events will be held daily from April 24-June 7, 2009 at Disney's California Adventure park. Sponsored by Vanity Fair Premium Napkins & Plates, this year's theme is World Celebration.
Festival events include cooking schools, winemaker dinners, and over 600 complimentary cooking demonstrations and wine, beer, and spirit seminars. These events take place all over Disney's California Adventure Park, with venues at the Pacific Wharf and Golden Vine Winery areas, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and the Bountiful Valley Farm. Festival-inspired menu items will be available at a number of restaurants throughout the park. The Festival Welcome Center will be located in Sunshine Plaza where daily event schedules are available and guests may make same day reservations for Festival events, pending availability. New this year are the Festival Wine Walks, offering up to four wine tastings from around the world or a single region.
Some of the events are "ticketed" - e.g. there is a charge and reservations are required in advance - such as the winemaker dinners and wine tasting classes, but most of the cooking demonstrations and seminars take place in the park and are included with park admission.
2009 Schedule of Events
Event Schedule - List of all currently scheduled seminars as described below.
Seminars
There are multiple complimentary wine, beer, or spirit seminars each day which are conducted by a noted winemaker, Master Brewer, distiller, or Disneyland Resort Sommelier. Seminars will be held at the Pacific Wharf and Golden Vine Winery areas.
Culinary Demonstrations
These 30-minute presentations feature demonstrations by chefs from all over the Disneyland Resort, as well as visiting guest and celebrity chefs. Chefs will demonstrate cooking techniques while preparing dishes associated with the session's theme, and at the end of the presentation guests receive their own samples to taste. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Jr. Chef Program
Designed for younger guests, these 30-minute sessions take place on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Festival Dining
Special Festival menu items will be available at restaurants around the park, such as Wine Country Trattoria, Award Wieners, Pizza Oom Mow Mow, Cocina Cucamonga, Pacific Wharf Cafe, Taste Pilot's Grill, and Farmer's Market.
Festival Wine Walks
Purchase a tasting passport, and then select up to four tastes of the wines and beers of your choice from around the world or from a single region.
The Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery
Located on the Upper Terrace of the Golden Vine Winery, the Lounge offers wines from California and around the world by the glass, as well as a selection of wine country tapas.
Ticketed Events
Winemaker Dinners
The Winemaker dinners feature a multi-course meal with specially selected menu and wine pairings. They are held on select Friday evenings Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel fom 6:30-9:00 p.m. Tickets are $135 including gratuity. Guests must be at least 21 years of age.
Friday, April 24, Arrowood Vineyards, Richard Arrowood
Friday, May 1, MacMurray Ranch, Kate MacMurray
Friday, May 8, Flora Springs Winery, Nat Komes
Friday, May 15, Rudd Family Wines, Kenny Koda
Friday, May 22, Williams-Selyem, Robert Cabral
Friday, May 29, Kenwood Vineyards, Pat Henderson
World Celebration Dinners
Each World Celebration dinner will feature a menu and wines from a single country or region. They will be held on select Wednesday evenings at The Vineyard Room restaurant inside Disney's California Adventure park from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Tickets are $135 per person including gratuity. Guests must be 21 years of age to attend. Theme park admission is not required for this event.
Wednesday, April 29, World Celebration Kickoff, Lafite Wines from Around the World
Wednesday, May 6, Celebrate Spain
Wednesday, May 13, Celebrate Japan
Wednesday, May 20, Celebrate France
Wednesday, May 27, Celebrate Italy, presented by Regione Lombardia
Wednesday, June 3, Celebrate Korea, presented by Korea Tourism Organization
Behind the Scenes With...
Held in the Animation Courtyard in Disney's California Adventure park, these events feature Chef Jamie Gwen in a Q&A session with other celebrity chefs and winemakers. Enjoy appetizers that have been specially paired with wines. Reception will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Theme park admission is not required. Tickets are $185 per person, gratuity included. It is recommended that guests be at least 21 years of age.
Thursday, April 30: John Lasseter
Thursday, May 21: Tommy Lasorda
Sunday, May 31: Guy Fieri
Thursday, June 4: Keegan Gerhard
Napa Rose Cooking School
Interactive hands-on cooking school taught by Napa Rose Executive Chef Andrew Sutton. During the class attendees will participate in creating a meal and then partake of it, including appropriate wine pairings. Students receive a Napa Rose Cooking School chef's coat to take home. Classes will be held on Saturdays, April 25, and May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the show kitchen of the Napa Rose restaurant at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. Currently only May 23 is available, the other sessions are sold out. Tickets are $450 including gratuity. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Long pants and closed-toed shoes required for safety reasons.
Introduction to Wine Tasting
Introductory wine tasting class taught by Napa Rose's Master Sommelier Michael Jordan. Classes will be held on Saturdays at theGrand Californian Convention Center from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and will include basic training on the different grape varietals and a blind tasting of four different wines. Tickets are $50 including gratuity. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age.
Advanced Wine Course
This new class is also taught by Michael Jordan, and is aimed at those who wish to take their wine education to the next level. The intense six-hour class is taught in a series of three two-hour sessions, held on consecutive days. Participants must attend the three consecutive days of their session. Classes will be held at the Convention Center at the Grand Californian Hotel. Guests must be 21 years of age. Tickets are $100 including gratuity.
Session 1
Tuesday, May 5 - 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6 - 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 7 - 2:00-4:00 p.m.Session 2
Tuesday, May 12 - 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13 - 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 14 - 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Taste - Food, Wine, Life
The Taste event will be held on two evenings this year: Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. Chefs from all over the Disneyland Resort will offer samples of creatively prepared and elegantly presented foods. Specially selected beer, wine, and spirits will also be offered by a variety of vintners and brewers. The evening will feature live entertainment and all attendees will receive a memento of the evening. The event will be held at Stage 17 in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tickets are $150 including gratuity. Theme park admission is not required for this event.
Festival Wine Receptions
Festival Wine Receptions are held on select Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the Lower Patio of the Golden Vine Winery. Enjoy an evening out-of-doors while sampling wine and hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. Theme park admission is required but is not included in the event price. Tickets are $55, gratuity included. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age.
Sweet Sundays
These new sessions start with a light breakfast buffet and a glass of sparkling wine, followed by a cooking demonstration where a guest pastry chef will demonstrate how to make three different desserts. Throughout the session guests will be served their own sample of each dessert. Event will be held on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the Lower Patio of the Golden Vine Winery. Tickets are $65 including gratuity. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age. Theme park admission is required but not included in the event cost.
SSunday, May 3: Elaine Ardizzone & Donna Cellere, Sweet Cheeks Baking Company, San Diego
Sunday, May 10: Elizabeth Belkind, Cake Monkey Bakery, Los Angeles
Sunday, May 17: Bret Thompson & Dave Baker, MILK Cafe and Bakeshop, Los Angeles
Sunday, May 24: Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito, Baked, New York
Sunday, May 31: Diana Philips, Artisan Chocolatier, Los Angeles
Sunday, June 7: Keegan Gerhard, d bar desserts, Denver, Food Network Challenge