Cleveland Wine Festival

July 6, 2011; Cleveland, Ohio – The Cleveland Wine Festival presented by Giant Eagle returns to Voinovich Bicentennial Park in downtown Cleveland.

Set for Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30, the sixth annual wine festival will offer a variety of tastings, food and wine education, and cooking demonstrations in a scenic setting on the shores of Lake Erie. Festival guests can taste from a selection of more than 270 international, domestic and Ohio wines and enjoy food from fine Northeast Ohio establishments.

Back by popular demand is the Belgian Beer Café featuring Belgian beers Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe. Featured restaurants this year include: Morton’s The Steakhouse, Zinc Bistro, Ponte Vecchio Ristorante, La Strada and La Dolce Vita.

The Lincoln Entertainment Stage will showcase live music throughout the two-day event. Lloyd Dobler Effect is bringing their multi-layered and upbeat music showcase from Washington D.C. to entertain festival guests as they indulge their palates, interact with wine experts and socialize with friends. Chicago-based Michael Heaton Band also returns as a wine festival favorite.

Adult Wine Tasting Tickets are $27 in advance and $35 at the door. There are no handling or processing fees for online orders. This ticket includes a souvenir wine glass, ten tastings, Festival Program, Food & Wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, 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, Festival Program, Food & Wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment, and a souvenir wine glass upon departure. Those under 21 admitted free when accompanied by paid adult.

The Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center is featuring an exclusive “Sip, Savor and Sleep” package (available July 29 and 30 only). Call 216-696-9200 for reservations and details.

Sponsors of this year’s festival are: Giant Eagle, Lincoln, Bright Side of the Road Foundation, Stella Artois, Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center, U.S. Bank, and Aruba Tourism, with support from the following media partners – Cleveland Magazine, Ohio Magazine, Q104, Metromix Cleveland, The Wine Buzz and Cleveland.com.

The festival’s proceeds will benefit the Bright Side of the Road Foundation. The non-profit organization was founded by Chagrin Falls resident Barry Winovich to help find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the devastating disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The 2011 Cleveland 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 3:00-9:00 p.m. For more details, visit www.clevelandwinefestival.com or call 847-382-1480. Or, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandwinefestival and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/clewinefest.