Epcot for Wine Lovers

Filed in archive Wine Events on October 16, 2006

Not that long ago I gave you a heads up about the 11th Annual Food and Wine Festival at Epcot in Orlando, Florida. This is one of the best times of year to go to theme parks in Florida, because while it isn't exactly cold down here yet, the humidity has eased of a good deal so it's much more comfortable to be outside all day sipping wine and enjoying good food.

Scott Joseph from The Orlando Sentinel reports on this event:

One of the surprising favorites was the sausage-and-corn-bread-stuffed pork loin with corn relish from chef Jonathon Sanders of Epcot's own Biergarten of all places. And the sweetbreads from Laurent Carillon of Chefs de France were another highlight.

From visiting chefs, the pan-roasted scallop with succotash and applewood-smoked bacon served by Celina Tio of the American Restaurant in Kansas City, Mo., was a standout. And I liked the sauteed duck breast from Jean-Robert de Cavel of Cincinnati's Pigall's.

There were some good wines, too, if you knew where to look. I followed master sommelier John blazon around, and he led me to some wonderful vintages, including a delightfully dry Riesling from Pierre Sparr. And a light and fruity pinot noir from E & J Gallo's MacMurray Ranch label (that being Fred MacMurray of My Three Sons fame).

My favorite wine, however, was the reserve cabernet from Robert Mondavi Winery. And I loved that the man who presented it to me suggested I try it with the rack of lamb served by Pascal Oudin of Pascal's on Ponce in Miami that was being offered just around the corner.