12-Days-MAWFFOn the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me… 42 events to choose from!  Are you are still scrambling for a gift that will WOW?  If so, consider the gift of wine + food + culture and more. Gift certificates are available for the MidAtlantic Wine + Food Festival.  You don’t have to be an aficionado  to appreciate great food, wine and spirits.  The MidAtlantic Wine + Food Festival™  is the perfect idea for your foodie friends or for someone that is ready to explore the world of Gourmet Food and Wine without the intimidation.  With 42+ events to choose from you can’t go wrong.

For that extra special “friend” consider one of the packages offered by some of the local hotels, like, Dover Downs, Christiana Hilton and The Doubletree Downtown.

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The Purpose of the MAWFF

“Our purpose is to be the premier food and wine event of the MidAtlantic featuring international vintners and chefs in collaboration with our local talent, to bring tourism to Delaware and to increase awareness of our cultural assets.”

-Ajit Mathew George,  Festival Founder and Board President

WHAT MAKES MAWFF DIFFERENT

George said that what makes this Festival different from most other wine and food festivals in the United States is its international nature, featuring collaborations between over a dozen chefs from around the world and those from the MidAtlantic region. He added that visiting personalities, which include chefs, vintners, brewers, distillers and other experts, would likely come from six continents. 60+ local and regional chefs, as well as local culinary students, will share kitchens with the visiting chefs. Winemakers will be on hand at the majority of the events to talk about their wines’ unique attributes. Regional products, such as craft beer, small batch spirits, seafood and seasonal produce, will also be featured at a number of events.

Describing the variety of locations chosen for this year’s lunches, dinners, tastings and educational courses, Executive Producer Kelly-Ayn McKay said, “We have formal and casual events planned in private homes of distinction, stately hotels, historic venues, award-winning restaurants, elegant barns and dramatic public spaces rarely used for events.”

George Fiorile, Vice President and General Manager of the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino and Chairman of the Delaware Tourism Advisory Board, enthusiastically supported the idea of high-end culinary tourism. He said, “This vast array of culinary creations with some of the finest chefs in the country, including those from Delaware, is an outstanding opportunity to showcase Delaware’s finest restaurants and destinations. Marrying culinary and wine events with interesting venues creates a great opportunity to drive tourism to Delaware.”

A designated portion of the net 2014 proceeds will benefit five arts-related beneficiaries throughout Delaware. The beneficiaries are: CAMP Rehoboth, Christina Cultural Arts Center, Joshua M. Freeman Foundation (which operates the Freeman Stage in Fenwick Island), OperaDelaware, and the Smyrna-Clayton Heritage Association (which manages the historic Smyrna Opera House). Beneficiaries will also receive board governance consulting services from the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA).

Complete event descriptions can be found on www.mawff.org. For additional information about the Festival, call Laura Stimson at 302.660.2200 extension 105.

About the MidAtlantic Wine + Food Festival

The MidAtlantic Wine + Food Festival ™ began as an independent festival in 2013. The Festival’s purpose is to be the premier food and wine event of the MidAtlantic featuring international vintners and chefs in collaboration with our local talent, to bring tourism to Delaware and to increase awareness of our cultural assets. The Festival’s inaugural year included 42 events, chefs and winemakers from five continents, and attracted 4,328 ticketholders from 16 states and eight countries. The Festival is the beneficiary of a generous two-year capacity-building grant from the Longwood Foundation. MidAtlantic Wine and Food Festival, Limited, is a Delaware nonprofit.