New Memphis festival will celebrate wine, food and music

Stephanie Ferreira is curating a brand new festival that she hopes will bring the world to Memphis. Vintage901 will be an intimate, three-day wine festival to celebrate wine, food and music. Each of the three days will feature a nationally recognized Grand Sommelier, the best in artisanal wines, an array of local flavors with a nod to global sensibilities, and music that blends the classic and the eclectic.

Vintage901 wine festival will offer tastings of tapas, salsa, and music ranging from  soul to jazz, coupled with the best in artisanal wines.

“Find your Vintage in the 901,” said Ferreira, who is herself a native Memphian. “We are cultivating an intentional space for people to have this Memphis experience.”

During Ferreira's travels, no matter where she ventured, she always found one thing to be true — people are curious about Memphis.

“I think that a lot of Memphians are unaware of outsiders’ views about our city,”  added Ferreira. “Even if they haven’t been here, they have a favorable impressions and always want to know more about it. People from all over love Memphis and this festival is designed to draw more people to Memphis and give them a wonderful ‘taste’ of what our city has to offer.”

According to Ferreira, the three-day festival will have different events each day, starting with Friday’s Grand Tasting celebration will feature an opening toast, salsa and Afro-Cuban music, wine and food demonstrations, food trucks, and themed giveaways.

Saturday’s Perfect Pairings will provide an intimate three-course dinner complete with intermezzo and wine pairings, plus a local opening band and national headlining musical artist for entertainment. This artist will be announced in the fall.

Sunday’s Sparkling Brunch will host a delectable four-course brunch with wine pairings, live local jazz performances, and additional themed giveaways.

“The Grand Tasting and Perfect Pairings dinner will be hosted by Vintage901’s Grand Event Sommelier: ‘The Wine Coach’ Laurie Forster,” explained Ferreira. “Forster is one of America’s leading wine experts and author of the award-winning book The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine. Laurie is a Certified Sommelier, National Speaker and TV personality who is not afraid to tell you her first wine came from a box. Her edgy approach to demystifying wine caught the eye of major networks and led her to guest appearances on Dr. Oz, FOX Morning News, Martha Stewart Living Today and ABC News at Noon.”

Vintage901 wine festival will take place the weekend of March 10-12, 2017, both in Midtown and Downtown Memphis (the actual locations will be revealed later this fall). The festival is currently looking to build a strong network of sponsorship partners and vendors, passionate about good wine, good food, and good music.

 
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Read more articles by Emily Adams Keplinger.