Columbus Wine Festival presented by Giant Eagle returns to Franklin Park Conservatory August 9 & 10

July 24, 2013 - PRLog -- The Columbus Wine Festival presented by Giant Eagle returns to Franklin Park Conservatory (1777 E. Broad Street) in Columbus on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10.

Celebrating wine, food, music and friends, the festival offers a variety of tastings and food and wine presentations in a relaxing, scenic park setting. Guests will have the opportunity to taste from more than 250 wines from around the world – including Ohio wines – and learn about new and exciting varieties, interacting first-hand with wine makers and brand experts, expanding their wine knowledge and discovering blends that best suit their taste.

Special guests will include Joseph Carr, owner and operator of Joseph Carr Wines, a Napa Valley-based producer of fine wines, who will share his expertise about winemaking. In addition, some of the area’s best food trucks will sell their signature dishes -- Hungry Monkey, Junior's Tacos, Mickey's Late Night Slice and My Place or Yours Food Truck.

New this year, a selection of more than 50 of the world’s best beers will be available for sampling in the Festival’s Worldwide Beer Garden featuring brands by AB InBev, MillerCoors and Goose Island.

The Entertainment Stage will showcase presentations by wine experts along with live music by Lloyd Dobler Effect, a Silver Spring, Maryland-based five-piece band that plays rock and roll music with Latin rhythms and go go beats. The band is named after John Cusack’s character in the Cameron Crowe film “Say Anything.”

Adult Wine Tasting Tickets are $29 in advance and $35 at the door. There are no handling or processing fees for online orders. Admission tickets include a souvenir wine glass, 10 wine tastings, 10 beer tastings, seminars, cooking demos, musical entertainment and the opportunity to purchase wine at a discount. Additional tasting coupons may be purchased at the festival. Designated Driver Tickets are $10 in advance or at the door. This ticket includes two non-alcoholic drinks, food & wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment, and a souvenir wine glass upon departure. Those under 21 admitted free when accompanied by paid adult. For phone orders, call 877-772-5425. Phone center hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Central time – 7 days a week. An additional $2.00 order processing/handling fee applies for phone orders.

Sponsors of the 2013 festival are:  Giant Eagle, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, and E & J Gallo Winery. Media partners include Columbus Alive!, The Columbus Dispatch, Mix107.9 and Rewind 103.5/104.3.

A portion of the festival’s proceeds will benefit Franklin Park Conservatory, a premier horticultural and educational institution showcasing exotic plant collections, special exhibitions, a signature collection of work by glass artist Dale Chihuly and a permanent installation by renowned light artist James Turrell.

The 2013 Columbus Wine Festival is produced and managed by inPLAY EVENTS, a corporate events and marketing consulting company known for consistent quality and exceptional creativity.

Festival hours are Friday from 4:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 2:00-8:00 p.m. For more details, visit www.columbuswinefestival.com or call 847-382-3270. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/columbuswinefestival and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/winefestivals.