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. Among featured guests is retired Detroit Pistons NBA Champion Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who acquired Cheurlin Champagne in 2015 as part of his Isiah International Inc. portfolio.

 

“The Cheurlin Experience” affords guests the exclusive opportunity to meet Isiah and experience four of his Cheurlin vintages paired with nibbles from Margaux, the French-inspired restaurant at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids. Throughout the 30-minute tasting experience, attendees will sample Cheurlin Champagne Brut Spécial paired with a Lobster & Crab Citrus Salad; Cheurlin Champagne Rosé de Saignée paired with Ciliegline Mozzarella Tochi Cherry Mostarda; Cheurlin Thomas Célébrité paired with Shrimp, Candied Kumquats and a Vermouth Pan Sauce; and Cheurlin Thomas Le Champion paired with Sous Vide Wagyu NY Strip Steak, Comte Gougère and Root Vegetable Puree. The latter two wines are exclusive Grower Champagnes. A special area will be set up at the southern end of The Vineyard (Steelcase Ballroom) with just 30 seats available for each session with Isiah (Friday, November 21 at 4:30pm and Saturday, November 22 at 2:30pm and 4:30pm). Tickets are $50 per person and can be reserved online now on the Festival Ticket Page.

 

A special, limited seating pre-festival experience will be offered on Wednesday, November 19 at Margaux, inside the JW Marriott, beginning at 6pm. Savor a delicious 5-course dinner paired perfectly with Cheurlin Champagne and spend an intimate evening with Isiah. Executive Chef Greg Pawlowski has curated five irresistible courses including lobster citrus tart, fried sweetbreads, seabass, wagyu ribeye and brown butter cake with raspberry mousse. Just 49 seats are open for this private dinner with Isiah, at a cost of $200 per person (not including fees and taxes). Bottles of Cheurlin can be purchased separately, ranging from $45 to $250 per bottle. This is the only opportunity for attendees to purchase a bottle of Cheurlin Champagne and have it signed by Isiah Thomas (autographing of any other items, including sports memorabilia, will not be allowed at any time during the Festival). Reservations for this one-of-a-kind experience can be made online: Isiah Thomas 5-Course Cheurlin Champagne Dinner at Margaux.

 

The Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival 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 and a curated list of beverages (wine, beer 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 Hospice’s “We Honor Veterans” program. Isiah, whose father is a veteran, will offer a special welcome at the beginning of the evening.

 

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

Other festival highlights including the intimate Pairings presented by six area restaurants on Friday and Saturday; more than a dozen Small Plates options; a global flavor experience at the World Food Lounge sponsored by Soaring Eagle Casino; the latest and greatest specialty foods and beverages as you stroll around the Meijer Marketplace; entertaining and educational culinary demonstrations on the Meijer Food Stage; and various wine and spirit Tasting Sessions taking place in The Vineyard, led by experts in the beverage industry.

 

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

 

Those wishing to enhance their festival experience with an overnight stay at the Amway Grand Plaza hotel or JW Marriott Grand Rapids should check out the special Hotel Packages available November 20-22 which include overnight accommodations, two general admission tickets to the Festival, 20 tasting tickets per person, a $50 food/beverage credit per night of stay to be used in the hotel and parking.

 

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.