The New Jersey Wine & Food Festival at Crystal Springs Resort is taking taking place March 28th thru 30th this year with New York chef David Bouley as the Guest of Honor.  The event is a celebration of the world’s best wines and renowned local and national chefs, benefiting the James Beard Foundation. The weekend’s events (see full list below) are designed to allow food and wine lovers to meet and mingle with chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and fellow wine aficionados.

Tickets are now available at http://www.njwinefoodfest.com

New Jersey Wine & Food Festival on March 28, 2014 thru March 30, 2014 at Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, NJ Website

Friday March 28th
7pm – Champagne Reception where guests will meet Chef Bouley ($50; included with Wine Cellar Dinner), enjoy Krug Champagne and hors d’oeuvres

8pm – Wine Cellar Dinner prepared by Chef Bouley paired with wines from winemaker Axel Heinz of the celebrated Tuscan winery Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia. Held in the stunning award-winning Crystal Springs wine cellar, limited to 28 guests. ($375)
8pm – Top Chefs & Top Wines is a five course dinner paired with boutique wines featuring highly regarded guest chefs from around the U.S. ($225)

Saturday March 29th
11:30am–2:30pm – Marketplace Lunch with local New Jersey wines and products served. ($35)

12pm – Battle of the NJ Sous Chefs – six sous chefs from New Jersey restaurants will each prepare a dish to pair with a wine in this Top Chef-like challenge. Chef David Bouley, James Beard Foundation President Susan Ungaro and Eric Levin, Senior Editor of New Jersey Monthly, will judge. ($45)

1pm – Eat! Drink! Italy! Restaurateur and Host of PBS’ Eat! Drink! Italy! Vic Rallo demonstrates how to make wild boar ragu while Anthony Verdoni and Axel Heinz introduce wines from Bruno Giacosa and Ornellaia. ($65)

2pm – Secrets of the Crystal Springs Wine Cellar A look inside Crystal Springs’ 135,000 bottle wine collection, holder of Wine Spectator’s Grand Award since 2006, with Wine Director Robby Younes. A tasting of rare and highly rated wines from the cellar for connoisseurs. ($150)

2pm – Classic vs. Contemporary Napa Styles Winemakers Christophe Paubert (Stag’s Leap) and Josh Phelps (Taken) will discuss their wines and lead a tasting. ($40)

3pm – The Art of Blending Bourbon Distiller Wes Henderson will lead a tasting where attendees will be able to make their own Angel’s Envy bourbon blend. ($40)

3pm – The Ornellaia Vertical Experience Winemaker Axel Heinz guides a unique vertical tasting of vintage Ornellaia wines. Eight wines from 2002 to 2010 will be tasted. ($75)

4pm – Local Craft Cocktails features some of the Northeast’s best small batch spirits including Laird’s Apple Jack (NJ), Brooklyn Gin (NY), Bootlegger Vodka (NY) and Widow Jane Bourbon (NY) showcased in creative cocktails by mixologist Christopher James (The Ryland Inn). ($40)

4pm – Bubble-Q In the spirit of spring, James Beard Award-winning Sommelier Belinda Chang will lead a seminar pairing Champagnes with barbecue. ($45).

6:30/7pm-10pm The Grand Tasting is the Festival’s signature event featuring more than 100 wines from over thirty wineries and 25 top restaurants from New York City and New Jersey ($125, VIP $250; VIP admission 6:30pm).
10pm–1am Meet the Chefs and Winemakers After Party Guests will mingle with the chefs and winemakers ($140).

Sunday March 30th
11am–2pm – Champagne Brunch A lavish, decadent brunch buffet accompanied by Ruinart Champagnes ($60).