That’s what we did this weekend at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival… a food and wine lover’s extravaganza, this year celebrating its 15th Anniversary! Where else can you go for a weekend to enjoy the tastes of over 25 countries while feeling like your visiting the country?

On any given day at Epcot you can explore the World Showcase featuring replicas of 12 country’s highlights like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Then for this annual 6 week festival each autumn, the countries double in number with designed kiosks across the showcase serving up tapas-sized portions of regional food and beverage specialities (my favorites: Signapore’s Shrimp Cake with Signapore Noodle Salad and new beverage discoveries from Morocco, Ireland and France).  Each kiosk also provides a great information about the food and beverage you’re tasting.

In addition to eating and drinking your way around the world (don’t forget to pick up your special passport to get stamped at each stop), there are culinary events like cheese seminars, parties, live music, beverage seminars facilitated by winemrkers and sommeliers, book signings and bottle signings. The nightly Eat to the Beat! Concert series this year featured acts from Boyz II Men to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Epcot admission gets you into the festival but tastes and many seminars are extra. Over the next few days I’ll share with you some of the great experiences I had on my first year at the event…Sparkler Sampler, Boisset Family Estates in Burgundy Wine Seminar and Ireland and Morocco Wine Discoveries.

Mark your calendar for next year and check out the program in advance to see if there are great events you’d like to attend![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]