The 8th annual Savor Dallas celebration of fine wine and food is set for the weekend of March 30-31. And the price remains within the reach of wine aficionados and food lovers.
Food paired with wine-tasting events is popular. Wine and food lovers discover these events advertised in upscale magazines, such as Wine & Spirits and Wine Spectator. But Savor Dallas is uncommonly extraordinary in a couple of ways. For one, the gastronomic soiree is one the least expensive in the country, according to Jim White, who together with his wife, Vicki Briley-White founded the event in 2004 as a way to showcase Dallas/Fort Worth chefs, restaurants and arts culture. But while it’s been called the “best food and wine event in Texas,” White said much of the credit goes to the event’s sponsors, who help keep ticket prices lower than comparable food and wine events nationwide. “Sponsor participation helps raise the quality of the event… in the form of world-class wines, winemakers and chefs… Did you know that comparable wine and food events across the U.S. charge patrons almost twice as much to attend as Savor Dallas? We just want you to know what role our sponsors play in making this a great event.” Another reason Savor Dallas is different from similar wine and food events nationwide is that one of two venues allows attendees to indulge freely while “pairing” their experience with sightseeing through downtown Dallas. Envision strolling through the expansive Dallas Arts District, which includes the Dallas Museum of Art, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center, the Winspear Opera House and other awe-inspiring architecture. Strolling while indulging in artisanal cuisine and fine wines is unheard of in major metropolitan areas, but Savor Dallas patrons may do so unfettered by traffic and other distractions on Friday, March 30, the first day of the two-day event. The Dallas Arts District venue is the ideal place to kick off the affair because attendees can “drink in the arts,” White likes to say. More than 400 premium wines, spirits and beer will be available for the asking at individual stations. An equal number of edible creations by more than 60 chefs from dozens of Dallas/Fort Worth restaurants will also be offered at the Arts District Wine Stroll, the Reserve Tasting and International Grand Tasting events Saturday evening. A new venue this year for the Reserve Tasting and International Grand Tasting is the state of the art Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas. Although these two events were held in downtown Dallas last year, the new location is just 10 minutes north and offers generous parking options. “There were no appropriate spaces available in downtown Dallas on a good date for us to do Savor Dallas. The new facility in Las Colinas is absolutely beautiful. We were very lucky to be able to get the fabulous facility for Savor Dallas,” said White. Daytime events on Saturday include a host of wine seminars led be experienced winemakers and sponsors. They include but are not limited to: Frei Brothers Reserve, Louis M. Martini, Becker Vineyards, Bridlewood Estate Winery and Mac Murray Ranch from Sonoma. Among the newcomers at this year’s event is Spain’s Ribera del Duero wines. Wine tasting aside, those who prefer spirits or beer will find a treasure trove that includes-but is not limited to-heavy hitters such as Stella Artois, Ultimat Vodka, Glenfiddich malt liquor and Jalisco, Mexico’s 1800 Tequila. Seminars schedules will be posted after Jan. 1, 2012 at the Savor Dallas website. Worried about driving after the savory food and drinks? No worries because another sponsor is Louisiana-based Community Coffee Company. Not good enough? No problem. Savor Dallas partnered with select hotels to offer discount weekend packages. The Omni Mandalay Hotel, the Dallas Marriott Las Colinas and Holiday Inn Express at the Irving Convention Center have all agreed to offer rates that make it easier for guests to indulge in all the two-day activities. “The Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas is conveniently located… It’s also closer to Fort Worth and Collin County. Our space is much prettier than a hotel ballroom and the view is great,” said White. A CBS Dallas radio personality and media entrepreneur, White and his wife Vicki founded Savor Dallas after attending similar events across the country. She was an American Airlines flight attendant whose international assignments introduced her to fine wines from around the world. “We had both attended events like this in Aspen and other places, and we got to thinking that Dallas needed and deserved an event like Savor Dallas,” said White, whose long running KRLD restaurant radio show won a prestigious James Beard Foundation award. Today, nearly eight years later, the Dallas food and wine events draws more than 2,000 visitors from a number of states. And the success of the Whites “labor of love” has enabled the event to fund scholarships to the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association and other Dallas area schools and charities. An added bonus that’s become a tradition at this event is that all patrons get to keep the Riedel wineglass inscribed with the words Savor Dallas. Riedel is the official tasting glass at Savor Dallas events. Robert Parker, the famous wine critic, summed up use of the glass this way: “The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are made by Riedel.” As a final incentive, those who order tickets don’t have to worry about extra fees either. “We’re the only event I know of that pays the ticket fee and credit card convenience fee for its customers,” White said. For more information on this event, go to www.savordallas.com .
