Miami International Wine Fair To Take Over Miami Beach This Weekend
The 6th Annual Miami International Wine Fair is coming to the Miami Beach Convention Center this weekend, expected to bring in 5,000 visitors. It's basically a big trade show, which we generally tend to find a bit dull if one is just visiting and isn't actually involved in the business. This one, however, features some interesting seminars on Saturday and Sunday on topics like climate change, finding good French wines under $20, and mastering the art of blind tasting. They don't come cheap though; each seminar will cost $15-75, although you can buy a one-day seminar pass for $100 to save money if you plan to sit in on multiple ones. And there's a basic Introduction to Wine Appreciation on Sunday at 4 p.m. that is completely free.
The public won't be allowed on the main floor of the trade show during the morning and early afternoon, but you can purchase tickets for the Grand Tasting on both Saturday and Sunday evenings for $75 or $120 (VIP — you get an extra hour and a few special wines). If you do splurge for the Grand Tasting, we suggest doing it on Sunday, when a bunch of local restaurants will participate in a wine and food pairing competition. It's kind of like a Top Chef Quickfire challenge: chefs get 30 minutes to prepare their signature dishes, while their sommeliers scour the main floor of the trade show to find wines to pair with each course. We'd keep an eye on Cacao, Talula and Johnny V.
Miami International Wine Fair [Official Site]
