Aureole Las Vegas Wine Weekend

Most wine events come in basically two flavors: sit down, and stand up. Sit down at a six or eight-course dinner, get a different wine with each course, and have the sales person from that one winery tell you what your wine tastes like. Or stand up, and walk from table to table at a tasting, sampling from several different wineries, which blur into each other (in your brain and your mouth) by the fourth glass. Maybe it’s a fun time, but you don’t learn much.

The Aureole Las Vegas Wine Weekend is different. In fact, for food and wine lovers, it’s possibly the best annual wine event in the country. Now in its third year, the weekend is held at star chef Charlie Palmer’s legendary Aureole at the Mandalay Bay Las Vegas resort (you know, the place with the famous “wine angels?”), designed not to promote any particular winery, or even make profit, but really just to share the love and knowledge of wine and food.

What’s different? Over three days, nationally famous Master Sommelier William Sherer leads an intimate group (barely more than 100 participants) through deep tastings, lavish dinners and fun breakfast sessions each aiming to entertain and enlighten equally. Executive Chef Vincent Pouessel and Pastry Chef Megan Romano are also intimately involved, teaching pairing and cooking techniques at the same time.

I’ve attended the Aureole Wine Weekend for the past two years, and I can’t wait for the third. Every year it’s unique and unforgettable. This year’s schedule includes a global blind tasting, a White Burgundies dinner, a Mexican breakfast in the kitchen, a Rioja and Catalan wine blending session, a Spanish wine dinner, a Riesling tasting, and a Swiss wine tasting with chocolate and cheese fondues. All in three days!

And in fact, this year, for the first time, Chef Palmer himself will be participating, along with winemaker Rob Mondavi and other special guests. The price ($1700 per couple/$1050 if solo) isn’t exactly Groupon-level, but considering that it includes your room, seven events and literally dozens of excellent wines—including true rarities—you absolutely get your money’s worth. And you’ll also make friends.

Aureole Las Vegas Wine Weekend
August 5-7, 2011
Mandalaybay.com/wineweekend
You can also call Mandalay Bay Reservations at (877) 632.7800. Specify offer code PAMB2

What You can Expect at Aureole Wine Weekend at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas:

Friday, August 5
2 p.m. – 4p.m. Welcome Reception and Blind Tasting: The Art of Identifying
7:30p.m. – 10:30p.m. Liquid White Gold: Classic White Burgundy Dinner with Seafood and Shellfish.

Saturday, August 6
9a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Mexican Ranchero Breakfast
1p.m. – 3p.m. Making Rioja and Catalan Wines: Who can blend the best?
7:30p.m.– 10:30p.m. Spanish Alta Cocina Dinner:

Sunday, August 7
9a.m. – 10:30a.m. Bouillabaisse Breakfast: Riesling Goes With Everything?!
Noon – 2p.m. Swiss Fondue Party: Not Since the ‘70s has Food Been This Fun.