The Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing—Philadelphia’s only waterfront hotel—is preparing to host the inaugural Penn’s Landing Wine Festival, a celebration of the nation’s foremost wineries paired with custom cuisine by Hilton Penn’s Landing Executive Chef George Gilfesis. To kick off the pairing series, the hotel will host vintner dinners on Friday, March 4, and Tuesday, March 22.
“In the culinary world, pairing flavorful dishes and wine is considered to be an art form,” said Chef Gilfesis. “We are honored to work with a stellar lineup of U.S.-based wineries that produce superior varietals and to create distinctive menus that elevate the pairing experience for our guests.”
The Penn’s Landing Wine Festival is modeled after the internationally acclaimed Boston Wine Festival, which, now in its 27th season, is the nation’s longest-running food and wine festival series. Following the Boston model, each dinner at the Penn’s Landing Wine Festival will be hosted by a winemaker. Tickets, limited to 55 seats per event, include a private welcome reception followed by a collaborative four-course pairing menu crafted by Chef Gilfesis and the visiting winery.
The first event, taking place on Friday, March 4, from 7–9:30 p.m., brings Elk Cove Vineyards and winemaker Adam Campbell to Penn’s Landing. Known for hand-crafted, estate-grown wines, Elk Cove—one of the oldest wineries in Oregon—is a family-owned and operated production with six vineyard sites spanning over 350 planted acres. Campbell will present an Elk Cove 2014 Estate Riesling and a trilogy of Pinot Noirs, including a rare 2005 Roosevelt Pinot Noir in 5 Liter. To accompany the wines, Chef Gilfesis will prepare grilled day boat shrimp, seared Ahi tuna with watermelon and French lamb chops. Tickets for the Elk Cove event are $95 (inclusive of tax and gratuity) and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
On Tuesday, March 22, from 7–9:30 p.m., Hilton Penn’s Landing welcomes California-based Silver Oak Cellars and its director of winemaking, Daniel Baron. Founded in 1972, Silver Oak has devoted its efforts to cultivating a single wine with a very distinct style: Cabernet Sauvignon. Dinner will feature seared duck breast and veal chops paired with vintages of Silver Oak’s Alexander and Napa Valley Cabernets, as well as Pinot Noirs and Merlots from its newer venture, Twomey Cellars. An exceptionally exclusive event for the region, this will be the first and only opportunity to meet the winemaker, as Baron will retire later this year. Tickets for this event are priced at $175 (inclusive of tax and gratuity).
Reservations for each event can be made by calling (215) 521-6555. For information on the 2016 Penn’s Landing Wine Festival dinners or hotel accommodations, visit the Hilton Philadelphia at Penns Landing website, or join the conversation on social media (Facebook and Twitter).
The Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing is located at 201 S. Columbus Blvd. in Philadelphia; phone: (215) 521-6500.
