I have written often about the need for wine education. People walk into wine shops or go online and they are offered an ever-growing list of kosher wine options. The dream is for those organizations to have local tastings, helpful employees, and wine managers. Some do, but then you are always left with the nagging question of whether that person is biased or if they are looking out for the customer? I am not talking of any one wine store, this exists in the world of kosher and non-kosher. Ultimately, the customer is best suited to find the wine that they want. The issue is how they can learn that without tasting the wines?
So, for the longest time, I have been telling folks to go to the larger wine tastings, like the ones that occurred earlier in the year. In the post wrapping up the week of wine tastings on the East Coast, I stated what was needed was a return of KFWE to LA, more akin to its early days, when it was called the IFWF (International Food and Wine Festival).
Some 12 years ago, Herzog Wine Cellars put on an event to commemorate their 25 years in the wine business, It was the IFWF but in August! Then they did it again in 2014, !! This year, Herzog is pulling out all stops, and once again, the IFWF (now called KFWE VIP Experience) is returning to Oxnard CA! I have always said, KFWE belongs at the winery. It is the best way to show off the wines, the winery, and the people so deeply connected with the wines that are produced!
From what I have read so far this is a limited event, much like the one in 2012, with just One Hundred and Fifty tickets, which are selling fast, and a lineup that will feel like KFWE, just in LA! The wines are all Royal Wine offerings. This VIP event will feature wines from the most prestigious areas around the globe, featuring Old World wines from Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal as well as New World favorites like Israel, Australia, South America, and The United States. Your ticket includes access to all the wines, spirits, and all-you-can-eat from a wide variety of treats prepared exclusively by Chef Austin and the Tierra Sur team.
Those wines will be paired with the wonderful food from the Tierra Sur restaurant, which will be producing dishes to pair with the wines. There will also be a long list of spirits to enjoy.
The event is taking place at the Herzog Winery (3201 Camino Del Sol Oxnard, CA 93030) on September 10th starting at 6 PM.