Wine and Food Festival at Meadow Brook to feature 150 wines

One of summer’s more relaxing and informative traditions is the Wine and Food Festival at Meadow Brook Music Festival, which runs Saturday (Aug. 25) and Sunday (Aug. 26) in Rochester Hills.

The 12th annual event includes 15 Michigan wineries and their winemakers or reps, along with major global wine companies such as Treasury Wine Estates and The Wine Group pouring from their vast collection of brands.

In addition, National Wine and Spirits, a large local distributor, will pour from their lineup, along with Eagle Eye Imports in Bloomfield Hills.

Organizers say there will be more than 150 wines to try, plus a sales tent at the exit offering case discounts, and lots of new food purveyors.

“There are more food vendors than ever before,” says Jeff Corey, vice-president of public relations at Palace Sports & Entertainment. They run the gamut from Max & Erma’s to Noodles & Company, and Alfoccino, plus gourmet food producers such as Old World Olive Press in Rockford, Mich., and Thyme and a Bottle, which sells its products at the Clarkston Farmer’s Market.

The Michigan wine roster includes Chateau Chantal, which is sending tasting room manager Bill Autenreith, who will lead a seminar on cool-climate reds, the style of dry red wines we can grow up north.

Also pouring are the new Verterra in Leland, along with Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay and the boutique vintner in Haslett that is pulling down big awards — Burgdorf Winery.

Burgdorf, with its seventh anniversary celebration coming up Sept. 8, submitted 16 wines to added this summer’s the Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition and 14 medaled, including three golds. At Meadow Brook, you can taste two of them — the juicy Red Raspberry and refreshing Cayuga White. Also sample their dry Vidal Blanc, semi-sweet Niagara, Merlot and sweet Concord called Morado.

“We’re on a high here,” Deb Burgdorf said this week. “You have to enjoy the fun times because it’s a lot of hard work.”

The Wine and Food Festival is presented by Kroger and sponsored by Palace Sports & Entertainment and the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council.

12th ANNUAL MEADOW BROOK WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL

Meadow Brook Music Festival

3554 E. Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills

1-9 p.m. Saturday; 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday

$25 adults (includes free wine and food tastings, seminars, etc.); free for younger than 21; designated driver $10 (includes 2 soft drinks)

Parking is $10

Tickets on sale at Palacenet.com and Meadow Brook box office; or call (800) 745-3000

BURGDORF WINERY SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Noon-6 p.m. Sept. 8

$10 includes tastings, cheese, wine glass

5635 Shoeman Road, Haslett, MI 48840

(517) 655-2883

http://www.burgdorfwinery.com/