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International Wine Festival: The Reds And Whites Flow Freely

Tanaya Ghosh |
January 31, 2012 | 5:58 p.m. PST

Food Editor

Drink Eat Play's International Wine Festival featured an array of global wines and cheeses (Tanaya Ghosh / Neon Tommy)
Drink Eat Play's International Wine Festival featured an array of global wines and cheeses (Tanaya Ghosh / Neon Tommy)
Wine enthusiasts, from connoisseurs to winos had the privilege of sipping on a worldly collection of wines on Saturday night at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood.

The wine-centric event, hosted by Drink Eat Play, featured dozens of wines from around the world, including Italian, German, Mexican, Israeli, Brazilian, South African, and French pours.

During the course of the night, the medium- to full-bodied reds seemed to be especially popular. Although some tasty snacks as well as the reds such as the Pinot Noirs, Malbecs, Merlots, and Cabernets were running out towards the end of the three-hour event, there were plenty of Pinot Grigios, Pinot Biancos, chardonnays, and even sangria to tide thirsty guests over.

Any heart-healthy benefits of drinking red wine were promptly undone by the decadent assortment of cheeses and desserts, complete with creamy brie and chocolatey brownies. There was also an array of crackers, fruit, spreads, and candied peanuts. It was interesting to see how different wines complemented the different foods, as guests experimented with their own pairings.

There were also merchants giving samples of their specialty foods, such as an olive oil merchant sampling flavored olive oils such as an earthy white truffle olive oil and a strong, tangy heirloom balsamic blend that was aged 18 years.

The DJ played all kinds of tunes, and by the end of the night there were a few people who drank enough glasses to be dancing around the event hall freely.

It was a night to drink, eat and play, and therefore it lived up to the excitement that Drink Eat Play's events induce. Although the headaches may kick in the next morning due to the unlimited libations, guests seemed to be in agreement that it was well worth it, and will be looking forward to more good times at the next event.

 

You can reach reporter Tanaya Ghosh here or follow her on Twitter.



 

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