By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Rio Wine and Food Festival is back to Rio in its fifth edition. From this Monday, August 21st, to Sunday, August 27th, wine lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy over twenty different attractions in Barra and Zona Sul, including wine and culinary fairs, guided city tours, talks shows and master classes.
Having informally opened on August 19th, at CADEG, one of the most traditional food markets in Rio’s Zona Norte, the festival aims to promote wine as a democratic drink, that pleases every taste and fits into every budget.
“Since our first edition, our goal is to show wine’s versatility to a greater audience: from those who go to fancy restaurants to the ones who go to traditional ‘botecos'”, says Baco group, company that organized the event.
Tonight, Rio Wine and Food Festival officially opens with a guest-only gala evening, which takes place at Gávea Golf Club. There, companies and persons who have been stooding out in the wine business will receive the Vinha Velha (Old Vineyard) prize, followed by the announcement of the “Sommelier of the Year”, award promoted in partnership with the Brazilian Association of Sommeliers of Rio.
On Tuesday, August 22nd, the seminar “Wine & Business” will gather entrepreneurs from the wine sector at Fundação Getúlio Vargas, in Botafogo, from 8AM to 5PM. Later on that night, a talk show with an important representative from the industry will happen at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, from 6:30 PM, which also includes wine tasting.
On Thursday, August 24th, the event will promote seven different attractions in Zona Sul. From 4PM to 9PM, the “Show de Vinhos” (Wines Show) fair brings to Piraquê Club, in Lagoa, the best Brazilian labels. What’s more, the venue will host four different master classes: on Brazil’s and international sparkling wine, at 5PM; on the production process of Uruguayan wines, at 11:30 PM; on New Zealand labels, at 7PM; and on Italian wine producers, at 3PM.
If one is looking for an “all-in-one” attraction, the “Vinho no Mercado” (Wine in the Market) fair will gather food trucks, artisanal cheese tasting, wine tasting, panel discussions and live music at Uptown Barra, in Barra da Tijuca, which will happen from Friday, August 25th, to Sunday, August 27th.
For a more unusual activity, the “Wine Bus” will promote tours with different themes and itineraries during the weekend. At the “New Zealand Tour”, for instance, a bus departing from Ipanema’s General Osório Square takes the audience from Leblon to Morro da Urca, including wine tasting of New Zealand labels.
“We managed to have a versatile event by creating an innovative format, with diverse activities across the city that focus both in the customers and the entrepreneurs”, says Marcelo Copello, journalist and Rio Wine and Food Festival’s associate.
What: Rio Wine and Food Festival
When: August 21st – August 27th. See venue to check time details.
Where: Click here to check venue details.
Entrance: Varies according to the attraction. See venue for details.