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Disney Rocks with Live Entertainment During 
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

A blend of classic rock, oldies, jazz and funk pumps up the entertainment factor during the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Sept. 28-Nov. 11, at Walt Disney World Resort. Epcot evenings sizzle with the Eat to the Beat! concerts scheduled daily at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. on the America Gardens Theatre stage. Following is the tentative lineup:

• Sept. 28-29         Al Stewart ("Year of the Cat")
• Sept. 30-Oct. 1   Otis Day and the Knights ("Shout!")
• Oct. 2-3              The Beach Boys ("Good Vibrations")
• Oct. 4-6              The Original Family Stone ("Everyday People")
• Oct. 7-9              Sheena Easton ("Morning Train")
• Oct. 10-13          Starship featuring Mickey Thomas ("We Built This City")
• Oct. 14-16          David Cassidy ("I Think I Love You")
• Oct. 17-18          Little Richard ("Tutti Frutti")
• Oct. 19-21          Juice Newton ("Angel of the Morning")
• Oct. 22-25          The Four Tops ("Baby I Need Your Loving")
• Oct. 26-27          The Village People ("Y.M.C.A.")
• Oct. 28-30          The Outlaws ("There Goes Another Love Song")
• Oct. 31-Nov. 3    Jon Secada ("Just Another Day")
• Nov. 4-6             Chubby Checker & The Wildcats ("The Twist")
• Nov. 7-8             The Contours featuring Sylvester Potts ("Do You Love Me")
• Nov. 9-11           David Sanborn ("Lesley Ann")

There's additional entertainment throughout World Showcase, where performers from many countries weave music, dance, acrobatics and other acts into the festivities. Entertainment slated for the event includes:

• The 1960s British rock 'n' roll revival sound of The British Invasion (United Kingdom)
• The gravity-defying Dragon Legend Acrobats (China)
• OrisiRisi interactive drum circle and African folklore (Outpost)
• The chair-balancing, comical waiter Serveur Amusant (France)
• High-energy Celtic music of Off Kilter (Canada)
• The Arabic rhythms of Mo'Rockin (Morocco)
• Matsuriza traditional Taiko drummers (Japan)
• Voices of Liberty (American Adventure rotunda)
• Spirit of America fife and drum corps (American Adventure)
• Rhythms and harmonies of internationally acclaimed Mariachi Cobre (Mexico)
• Norwegian folk music of Spelmanns Gledje (Norway)
• Oktoberfest Musikanten dinner show (Germany)

The laser and musical fireworks finale, "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth," is a spectacular conclusion to each festival evening.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 
Showcases Latest Food and Beverage Trends

Red and white tea. Savory ethnic taste treats. Argentinian Malbec and Chilean Cabernets. Beer and ale. The hottest trends in food, wine, tea and beer from around the world are featured at the 12th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 28-Nov. 11 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Tea Talk: A "Cuppa" Red or White?

At last year's festival, Twinings celebrated three centuries in the tea sourcing and blending business. Now, guests can sample the latest tea trends at the Twinings Tea Bar at the United Kingdom pavilion. Disney guests will find that pure white and red teas are hot. One tasty brew made from the African Rooibos plant is naturally caffeine free and packed with antioxidants.

Cooking with tea is another popular trend -- it's the perfect ingredient in a marinade, tenderizer or condiment and can add new flavor to common meals. Herbal infusions and fruit teas, in particular, add zip to pastries such as the spice cake with vanilla-tea-marinated dried fruit available at the Africa international marketplace.

Foodies Find Ethnic Recipes Rule

This year's festival goes all out to please a wide variety of palates. Epcot Executive Chef Christine Weissman gives credit to a large team effort by festival sponsors and Disney cast members who hail from several continents.

"We are excited to showcase the diversity of colors, flavors and textures of this year's offerings -- all generated by our team of cast members from many different countries, as well as visiting chefs and festival sponsors," Weissman says.

New festival marketplace offerings include Boxty with bacon chips at Ireland, Spaetzle with creamy mushroom ragoût at Germany and Manti with yogurt sauce at Turkey. Samosas at the Indian marketplace are among several vegetarian tastes prepared for guests.

International marketplaces rimming World Showcase Lagoon will post pairing suggestions of a wine or beer with menu tasting items at each kiosk, Weissman says. "People are asking more and more for opportunities to be educated about how to pair food items with beverages. These tastes offer an ideal way to discover perfect pairings," she says.

Marketplaces this year also will showcase more information about the regions and countries represented at each kiosk.

The Wine Lowdown

In the past several years, wines from Argentina have gained on Chilean wines in popularity, says Jason Cha-Kim, beverage sourcing specialist for Disney Worldwide Services. Argentina is famous for its Malbec full-bodied red, a fruit-forward, affordable wine that suits the American palate. Guests can taste Bodega Norton Malbec at the Argentina marketplace in World Showcase, where it pairs well with spicy beef empanadas.

Rosé champagnes and wines have gained respect and soared in popularity, Cha-Kim says, after a "monumental" improvement in quality. Rosé colors range from salmon to bright pink to crimson, and hottest items are dry rosés imported from Provence wineries such as Mas de la Dame that use Grenache and Mourvedre grapes. California rosés like Kenwood from the Russian River in Sonoma and Etude from Napa Valley are made from pinot noir grapes. High-quality rosé champagnes shine, and festival guests can enjoy Piper Heidsieck Rosé Sauvage, Moët & Chandon Dry Rosé and Sweet Rosé Nectar from France, as well as Banfi Rosa Regale sparkling wine from Italy. With their refreshing acidity and essences of cherry, roses and berries, rosés pair well with spicy food and barbecue -- some are perfect with dark chocolate.

Ever since the hit wine film "Sideways" wowed audiences, Pinot Noirs have enjoyed the spotlight. The festival features Pinots by the bottle from Santa Barbara, Oregon, Burgundy and New Zealand. Guests also can taste a Pinot at the New Zealand marketplace in World Showcase.

Cha-Kim, who has booked winemakers from around the world for the yearly six-week fest, says the latest trends in wine and beer will be center stage. Champagne continues to make a big splash -- it's available by the glass or bottle at the Festival Welcome Center and at other park locations.

Throughout Future World and World Showcase, festival trends appear:

• The welcome center wine shop features a Bodegas Pinord wine (Moscatel, Merlot) uniquely packaged in bottles shaped like a grape cluster.
• An up-and-coming wine-producing region in western Australia, Margaret River, showcases what Cha-Kim describes as a "fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon" at the Australia, Discover Down Under experience.
• Ice wines from Canada serve up sweet refreshment, and the festival will feature Mission Hill and Chateau des Charmes Ice Wines at the Festival Welcome Center seminars and wine shop, as well as at the Party for the Senses Grand Tasting.
• The latest from Budweiser -- the Bacardi Silver Mojito, is a flavored alcoholic beverage in the tradition of the famous Mojito cocktail.
• Diverse beer flavors take center stage at the Hops and Barley Market this year. Here, guests can sample 10 types of Samuel Adams beers, including the festival's exclusively brewed 12th Anniversary Beer, plus Octoberfest, Pale Ale, Black Lager, Cherry Wheat and Light brews.

More wine buzz:

• The "wine geek" community has elevated the under-appreciated Riesling to the status of "the next Chardonnay," Cha-Kim says. "There's so much Chardonnay in the market, and much of it has been so over-oaked or is too sweet and fruity. There are many styles of Riesling, from sweet to dry, with super-quality from Germany and affordable wines from Canada or Australia. The beauty of it is that it can be grown in many different areas, including Canada and other colder regions."
• The New World Australian region, Coonawarra, is producing high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Unlike the Margaret River Cabernets that are produced in the French fashion with subtle fruits, "the Coonawarra is like a fruit bomb in the California style, fruity and full-bodied," Cha-Kim says.

Several Rieslings, the mighty Shiraz, and both Coonawarra and Margaret River Cabernets will be among hundreds of wines to strut their flavors at the 12th annual fest. More than 100 wineries offer tastings, and guests can sample the cuisine of more than 25 international marketplaces in tasting portions ranging from $1.50 to $4.50.

Entrance to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, plus wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, Eat to the Beat! concerts, culinary exhibits and all attractions and park entertainment is included with regular Epcot admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST for information or reservations for special events and programs, or visit the Web site: disneyworld.com/food, and link to Epcot for festival details.

Wine Tasting a Breeze for Beginners at 
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 28-Nov. 11

Even if you're a wine neophyte, you can cut through the mystique of wine tasting to become a savvy sipper at the 12th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 28-Nov. 11 at Walt Disney World Resort. So slather on the sunscreen, don a pair of comfortable shoes and begin the wine quest at Future World in Epcot.

As your tram glides toward the park entrance, review these simple tips for beginning tasters:

• Lift your glass by the stem to avoid warming the wine in the bowl of your glass.
• Raise your glass to check the wine's color.
• Swirl the liquid by gently rotating your wrist; as the wine leaves trails, or legs, it reveals alcohol content. A wine with high alcohol content normally will have slow-moving legs.
• Sniff deeply and try to identify the wine's traits, which could range from essence of raspberry to chocolate.
• Sip -- but don't swallow, yet. Hold the wine and swish it across your tongue and inner cheeks before exhaling slowly through both nose and mouth. The taste will be that much more vivid!

First stop, Festival Welcome Center at Wonders of Life pavilion in East Future World. Celebrate the start of your grape expedition with a glass of bubbly at the center's champagne and wine bar. There, Epcot cast members can fill you in on the day's wine-tasting schedule and on details of special events such as Food and Wine Pairings or the weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting.

Before heading outside, catch a complimentary wine seminar and visit the Festival Wine Shop offering more than 300 wine selections from the cellars of the prestigious wineries showcased at the festival's seminars and dinners. You can also meet representatives from more than 100 wineries around the world and purchase their wines by the glass at the Meet the Winemaker location. At the center, winemakers such as Antinori, Caymus Vineyards, Château Cos d'Estournel, Silver Oak or Piper Heidsieck showcase wines ranging from Cabernets and Chardonnays to Rieslings and Champagnes.

Don't miss the American Wine Adventure near Canada featuring the Napa Valley and New York wine regions. An Australian passport tasting experience, Australia: Discover Down Under, is featured at the Aussie Walkabout near the Japan pavilion.

Complimentary wine seminars are scheduled daily, and you can explore more than 25 international marketplaces around World Showcase, where ethnic cuisine and wine samples range from just $1.50-$4.50. There are also some great ways to try new levels of tasting experiences: at one of the daily Food and Wine Pairings, or at a weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting.

Food and Wine Pairings ($45 per person, park admission required) are scheduled throughout the week at several popular Epcot restaurants including Coral Reef Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh and Le Cellier Steakhouse. There, winery principals lead you through a tasting of three wines that are paired precisely with complementary foods.

At Party for the Senses each Saturday night in the grand World ShowPlace ($135 per person, park admission required), you'll taste some of the finest cuisine by more than 25 eminent chefs and sample from more than 70 wines and beers as you chat with the winemakers and enjoy the first-rate entertainment of Cirque du Soleil.

Day-long Epcot Wine Schools ($150 or $160, breakfast, lunch and certificate included) including the new Champagne and Greece wine schools, take place Saturdays during the six-week fest.

As you complete your trip around the world's longest, largest wine fest, favorite wines will be available for purchase at the Festival Welcome Center, says Jason Cha-Kim, beverage sourcing specialist for Disney Worldwide Services.

"You'll have the opportunity to wine and dine around World Showcase and learn about the basics of wine from the very best vineyards in the world," says Cha-Kim, who traveled to several wine regions that will be represented at the festival. "You'll come away from the festival with an understanding of the major wine-growing regions, how to taste wine correctly and really enjoy it, what wines to look for at home, and how to pair food and wine. It's a great way to explore and learn about wines from around the world."

Entrance to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, plus wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, Eat to the Beat! concerts, culinary exhibits and all attractions and park entertainment, is included with regular Epcot admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information or reservations for special events and programs, or visit the Web site: disneyworld.com/food.

Kids Sample Culinary Fun at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Disney's 12th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival isn't just for grownups who like to sip wine and savor international cuisine at World Showcase marketplaces. Kids can join in the culinary fun with plenty of pint-sized activities Sept. 28-Nov. 11 at Walt Disney World Resort.

• Pearville Fair -- In the tradition of the quintessential country fair, this American Adventure Courtyard experience is a slice of Americana brimming with old-fashioned fun, games and a big-top coloring tent for kids. Guests will celebrate the pear, one of the Northwest's key crops, while enjoying new activities for the family. A chef will demonstrate quick, easy tips on cooking with pears and blending batches of pear smoothies.
• Oklahoma 1907-2007 -- Step right up and join the celebration of Oklahoma's centennial. Native American storytellers weave intriguing tales against the backdrop of an authentic tipi. Children can enjoy varied activities and families can belly up to chuck wagon and Native American cooking demonstrations. Hosted by the state of Oklahoma and located between the Morocco and France pavilions.
• Epcot Junior Chef Program, Making Toll House Cookies. Kids ages 4 to 10 can get in on the action and make their own cookies at The Land pavilion in Future World daily from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Behind the Seeds Greenhouse Tour. The whole family can take a tour of The Land greenhouses and fish farm where there's gigantic fruit, good bugs, fish, gators and more. Do the herb-and-spice challenge, taste a greenhouse veggie and sprout a seed in your pocket. Call 407/WDW-TOUR for reservations.
• Kidcot. Who doesn't love a scavenger hunt? This fun activity gives kids clues at pavilions around the World Showcase promenade. Once the hunt is complete, children get a special treat.

Entrance to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, plus select wine and beer seminars and cooking demonstrations, is included with regular Epcot admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information or to make reservations for special events and programs. Festival details are available on the Web site disneyworld.com/food.

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