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Savor the Best of the Holiday Season at the 18th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival

Dianna Stampfler

Special Guest: Owner of Cheurlin Champagne and Detroit Pistons NBA Champion Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. 

The Midwest’s premier culinary celebration – the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival – returns to DeVos Place, November 21-22 just in time for the holiday season. General Admission and Pairing tickets go on sale at Noon on Friday, September 12 at GRWineFestival.com.

This annual event begins on Thursday, November 20 with the Cheers for Charity VIP night, from 6-9pm in the DeVos Place Grand Gallery, benefitting Hospice of Michigan. This elegant evening features an intimate and upscale experience featuring a dozen restaurants and specialty food producers serving mouth-watering small plates, food and beverage tastings on the Meijer Food Stage and a curated list of beverages (wine, beer, cider and spirits).  “Cheers for Charity” tickets are $150 per person (which includes 150 tasting tickets good for food and/or beverage samples) with proceeds supporting Veterans Hospice Services.

Beginning on Friday, November 21, General Admission tickets are $25 per person, per day with festival hours running from 4-9pm and Saturday, November 22, 2-9pm. Tasting tickets will be available for purchase online and at the event for 50 cents each.

Six regional restaurants are offering intimate Pairings on Friday and Saturday including a beer pairing with Archival Brewing, KNCO with Michigan Governor’s Cup award winning wines, MDRD, a brunch pairing with Mudpenny, The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck and a spirits pairing with Wonderland Distilling. These limited-seating, four- to six-course dinners are prepared by the featured chefs tableside as they talk you through the meal and the selected beverage pairing. Complete menus, along with seating times, prices and the link for reservations can be found at GRWineFestival.com.

Additionally, more than a dozen Small Plates options are offered with a wide array of dining options to satisfy all your cravings. With several of Grand Rapids’ beloved restaurants and catering companies gathered in one place, you are sure to find a new favorite. Explore dining delights throughout the Festival as part of a progressive dining experience that complements the festival’s selection of wines, beers, spirits, ciders, and specialty drinks. Look out for the yellow knife and fork signs to locate these fantastic eateries throughout the Festival.

As always, the Festival offers an unparalleled diversity of beverages available for sampling – from beer and cider to wine and spirits, as well as signature coffees and more non-alcoholic (NA) options – with over 1,200 offerings from around the world, under one roof in featured areas:

  • Wines (including The Elite Collection, a best-of-the-best offering of unique and hidden gems) in The Vineyard (Steelcase Ballroom)
  • Beer (local, domestic and international) in Beer City Station (Hall C)
  • Cider (local and national) in Cider Row (Hall C)
  • Michigan Craft spirits in The Barrel Room (Welsh Lobby)
  • Coffees & Decadent Desserts) in Rendezbrew (Grand Gallery)
  • Non-alcoholic options in a designated Grand Gallery area, as well as in The Vineyard and Beer City Station

Discover the latest and greatest specialty foods and beverages as you stroll around the Meijer Marketplace. Here, you can sample and purchase mouth-watering offerings from dozens of local and regional producers. At the north end of the Secchia Lobby you’ll find the Meijer Food Stage where you can learn from and sample recipes directly from these innovative chefs using products available in the Marketplace.

Elevate your Festival experience by taking part in one of the various wine and spirit Tasting Sessions taking place in The Vineyard, led by leaders in the beverage industry. During these sessions, you’ll have an exclusive opportunity to gain insights from skilled sommeliers and mixologists on their preferred beverages. This unique opportunity allows you to taste, inquire, and converse with professionals about a variety of drinks, broadening your palate and delving into the nuances of your favorite beverages. Beverage Tasting Sessions are limited to 24 seats per session, last around 20-30 minutes and vary in the number of required tasting tickets, depending on the quantity and type of beverages on offer.

Among featured guests is none-other than retired Detroit Pistons NBA Champion Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who will present three wine tasting sessions featuring four distinct Cheurlin Champagnes – the toast of the Champagne world since 1788 – paired with bites from the JW Marriott’s Margaux. Thomas, a bubbling entrepreneur, acquired Cheurlin in 2015 as part of his Isiah International Inc. portfolio.

Step into a global flavor experience at the World Food Lounge sponsored by Soaring Eagle Casino. Enjoy a savory bowl from our Noodle Bar, indulge in delicious Filipino bites, and taste the delicacies of Myanmar cuisine. Then sip your way through the exclusive cocktail bar featuring bold Asian-inspired flavors. Plus, join the fun with prizes, games, and a chance to win free play – a true celebration of culture, flavor and excitement, all in one place!

Since its inception in 2008, this Festival – named by Forbes.com in 2019 as one of a dozen “Fall Wine Festivals In North America You Don’t Want to Miss” and 8 Best Fall Festivals in Michigan by BestThingsMI.com – has grown into the largest and most popular of its kind in the Midwest. Admission tickets, pairing reservations, tasting sessions and other details are found at GRWineFestival.com.