All Over Albany

Saratoga Wine & Food Festival 2016

The annual Saratoga Wine & Food Festival returns to SPAC September 9-11 this year. Tickets for the various events connected to the festival are now on sale.

The headlining food personalities are Food Network chefs Anne Burrell and Marc Murphy, chef and TV personality Josh Capon, and wine expert Joshua Wesson.

The event schedule is after the jump.

All blurbage via SPAC

September 9: Adirondack Road Tour & Gourmet Luncheon
This spirited 1.5 hour, professionally-led road rally for auto collectors winds through beautiful Adirondack roads to finish at the historic Lake George Club, where a gourmet lunch includes library-quality wines and imported fine foods. Tickets: $75.

September 9: Fired Up! Grill Competition
In the kick-off event to the Festival weekend, Saratoga Springs' best chefs will compete with chefs from the Capital Region's finest restaurants in a fiery grilling event presented by Stella Artois. Throughout the evening, guests will sample the inventive grill-off creations and help the judges to name the 2016 Saratoga Grill Master, all while enjoying great music, gourmet food, BBQ, and cold refreshing Stella Artois, wines, and spirits. The 2016 Fired UP! Grill Competition is hosted by SPAC's Junior Committee.

Restaurants featured in Fired Up!: 15 Church; Druthers Brewing Company; Fish at 30 Lake; Henry Street Taproom; Primal- Butcher and Delicatessen; Sperry's Restaurant; and The Wishing Well. Tickets: $85

September 10: Grand Tasting
Saturday's Grand Tasting and Concours D'Elegance event is centered on unparalleled wines, spirits, local foods, and the region's top restaurants. All guests will have the opportunity to savor exquisite foods created by more than 30 chefs in the Capital Region; a live auction, a mystery wall, and cocktails, wine and beer. The Saratoga Automobile Museum will present a show of luxury collector cars including classes of Shelby Cobra, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Lancia, Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, among others. A VIP Grant Tasting ticket, which allows earlier entry to the Grand Tasting and exclusive access to the Connoisseur's Tent, offers the ultimate Saratoga Wine and Food experience for wine enthusiasts.

During the Grand Tasting event, Marc Murphy will host a book signing and meet and greet event for the first one hundred guests to join the VIP tent. Anne Burrell will host a book signing and meet and greet event for all Grand Tasting guests.

Local restaurants featured at the Grand tasting will include: Ama Cochina; Campagna; Carney's Tavern; Comfort Kitchen; Dinosaur BBQ Troy; Druthers Brewing Company; Friends Lake Inn; Hamlet & Ghost; Harvey's; Healthy Living Market & Café; Henry Street Taproom; Marrello Restaurants & Catering Bellini's Italian Eatery; Nove Italian Restaurant; One Caroline Street; Prime at Saratoga National; Sperry's; Simpson's at The Desmond Hotel; Tavern at The Desmond Hotel; The Brook Tavern; The Hollow Bar + Kitchen; The West Side Sports Bar & Grill; The Wine Bar; Three Vines Bistro & Bar; We Do Fondue-Chocolate Fountain Rentals; Wings Over Saratoga; and Wheatfields Restaurant and Bar. Tickets: $75 | VIP tickets $175

Sunday: In the Groove Jazz Brunch
This sumptuous Sunday Brunch will feature gourmet offerings from six of Mazzone Hospitality's finest restaurants in Saratoga National's idyllic setting. Live jazz, culinary delights, delectable Mimosas, and test drives in luxury automobiles throughout the grounds make this the ultimate Sunday Brunch experience. Tickets: $75.

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Burrell photo: Ken Goodman | Murphy: Cedric Angeles | Capon: Spike TV & Matthias Calmer