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This weekend brings one of the most entertaining and extensive local events for any food and wine lover. The 12th Annual St. Louis Food and Wine Experience will opulently occupy the ballrooms of The Chase Park Plaza, offering attendees tastes of more than 700 wines from around the world along with an invaluable spread of gourmet dishes and specialty foods.
Billed as the largest international wine tasting in the region, this three day culinary extravaganza is more than just an indulgence of the senses, the proceeds benefit The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, our city's premier live, professional stage for over 50 years.
With so much to take in - visually and mentally, but more importantly, internally – it’s easy to get lost in the chaos and (sadly) miss out on some of the unique and remarkable treats.
We have a few insider tips to make your food and wine experience, just that--an experience.
1. Getting in the Door:
There are two levels of tickets for Saturday and Sunday, general admission and VIP. General admission tickets give you access to the lively and brimming main floor featuring almost 100 vendors. VIP status gives you the same admittance plus entry to the downstairs tasting room that features higher-end wine selections, many from smaller boutique producers.
- One-Day General Admission (Saturday or Sunday): Guests receive a souvenir wine glass, valet wine plate, and samples from vendors
$50 in advance/$60 at the door
- One-Day VIP Admission (Saturday or Sunday): General admission plus access to the VIP Reserve Room and a Riedel wine glass.
$95 in advance/$100 at the door
- One-Day General Admission (Sunday Only): Guests receive a souvenir wine glass, valet wine plate, and samples from vendors.
$40 in advance/$60 at the door
- One-Day Designated Driver Admission (Saturday or Sunday): Guests receive valet wine plate, complimentary water, and admission to the Main Floor and VIP Reserve Room.
$25, available at the door only
If you are looking at this and thinking to yourself, "I want MORE!," there is another tier of patronage for the fully committed gastronome: The Premier Tasting, held on Friday night. While designed for the connoisseur, this dazzling display in the Starlight Room on the top floor of the Chase is a thrill for any novice or experienced wine drinker.
The Premier Tasting includes:
- A selection of prestigious wines not available at any other time during weekend
- Hard-to-find wines & special magnums
- Vertical tastings
- A generous spread of hors d'oeuvres and snacks
- Riedel wine glass
$195 per person in advance, includes admission to The Premier Tasting
$250 per person in advance, includes admission to The Premier Tasting and VIP Admission on Saturday or Sunday
Take it one step further and become a Grand Cru Patron:
Enjoy a weekend of luxury and exclusive benefits including:
- Invitation for two to a private event TBA, with Steve Woolf (Artistic Director at The Rep) and a Master Sommelier (there are only 200 Master Somms in the world)
- A complimentary bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne
- Two tickets to The Premier Tasting and to the VIP Reserve Room (a $500 value)
- A complimentary room for two at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel on Friday, January 24, 2014 (a $165 value)
- Complimentary valet parking
$1,000 in advance for 2 people
2. The Lay of the Land:
Upon arrival, you will receive a booklet detailing everything the tasting has to offer. However, this year's event brings an exciting and welcome addition: CrowdCompass, a mobile app with searchable wine lists at the tasting tables and interactive maps of the event space. This app will also come in handy if you are trying to meet up with other guests or if you get separated from your party. Finding the same booth at the same time can prove difficult. This tech tool will help.
3. Give It All You've Got
The world of food and wine is vast, yet we are all guilty of getting comfortable in our choices, both when shopping and when ordering out. With such a far-reaching assortment of food and wine, take this chance to expand your horizons. There is nothing quite like discovering something new: a different wine, ingredient, or dish. And at this event, the possibilities are endless. Take the risk, reap the rewards.
4. Stock the Cellar (or at least that extra rack)
As the primary sponsor, Schnucks allows attendees to place wine orders. Discounts on case purchases are available throughout the event. And no need to worry about carting it all home that day, all orders will be filled and ready for pick-up at several Schnucks stores the following week.
5. Parking
Valet parking is available at the hotel for $13 but often fills up quickly and check-in and check-out lines can be long. Alternatives include metered street parking (free only after 8 p.m. and all day Sunday), self-parking in The Chase garage off Maryland ($5), and the Argyle garage off Euclid ($5). Both garages tend to fill to capacity at some point throughout the day so it’s best to arrive early.
12th Annual Food & Wine Experience
January 24-26
The Chase Park Plaza Hotel
212 N. Kingshighway
314-633-3000
