Winter Wine Festival grows

Restaurants rated top 20 in area offer dinner, drinks
 

NEW CASTLE — It's year No. 6 for the Winter Wine Festival at the Wentworth By the Sea Hotel and Spa, and some loyal fest fans have been coming to the annual kick-off tasting gala each and every year.

"It was pretty small at first, but we've definitely seen it change and grow," said Martin Golun of Portsmouth. "And I know people say it's bigger and better every year, and I don't care if it's bigger, but it sure is better. There are some great chefs here."

GO & DO
The Winter Wine Festival continues until Feb. 27. Visit www.winterwinefestival.com.
Golun waited for his plate of chicken and wild mushroom farinettes from Portsmouth's The 100 Club before moving on to pork belly with cider gel from Chef Ben Hasty at Exeter's Epoch Restaurant.

Over 14 restaurants, almost 80 wines to sip and, for Ben Gaherty, beverage manager for the hotel and first time Wine Festival organizer, a record turnout for the kick-off event. The festival runs until Feb. 27 with wine dinners, tastings and musical events.

"We sold out at 350 people tonight," said Gaherty. "It's been really great. A lot of work, but well worth it. We've already surpassed last year's sales in both this event and in the dinners coming up. They're all great. Cava Restaurant is here for the first time for a wine dinner; they have such a following, and the one with Jumpin' Jay's will have white burgundiess from Louis Jadot."

Back this year was music from Ben Baldwin and the Big Note in the main ballroom, where guests mingled, nibbled and later danced, and new this year was host Bill Costa from New England Cable News' "TV Diner"

Keith Lemerise, publisher of Taste Magazine, worked with festival organizers to bring in as many of his Taste Top 20 restaurants as possible. The restaurants were chosen by magazine print and online readers in a 2009 poll.

"We tried to integrate as many of the Top 20 as we could," said Lemerise. "Jonathan Cartwright from The White Barn Inn is doing a dinner, 98 Provence is here for the first time. I'm really looking forward to so many of the wine dinners. We brought Billy Costa on board. We also talked about adding a charity element, and we've done that with the Wentworth."

Five dollars for each ticket and seat sold during the six-week festival will go to Share Our Strength Seacoast, dedicated to stopping childhood hunger. Friday night's event raised $1,750 for the charity.

For Chef Pierre Gignac of 98 Provence restaurant in Ogunquit, Maine, his Valentine's Day Wine dinner will be a special one.

"We're closed in the winter, so we can do this dinner with Veuve Cliquot champagne. It's going to be a fantastic dinner with vintage wines. I'm glad to be a part of the festival for the first time this year."

And as for wine, well, it was indeed flowing.

"I get to try so many great wines I'd never get to have here and then I can go find it in the shop." said Gerry Marquette of Exeter. "This zin from Grigich Hills, I'm going to find a case of it!"

GO & DO

The Winter Wine Festival continues until Feb. 27. Visit www.winterwinefestival.com.