Wine & Dine Studio Makes Its Debut at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

At the 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Marketplace Booths, guests will have a chance to sip and savor more than 300 domestic and international wines. More than 50 wineries will be featured in all, but for a glorious taste of the Golden State be sure to make your way to the new Wine & Dine Studio. If you haven't been to Food & Wine for a few years, you'll find this booth in Future World along the walkway between Imagination and World Showcase. Most of my favorite booths for both flavor and atmosphere were along this path.


Wine & Dine Studio Marketplace Booth


A truly beautiful Marketplace Booth, Wine & Dine Studio offers a fun collection of California's award-winning vineyards, and signature dishes to pair with them in a comfortable and upscale garden setting. It's worth taking your time to linger in this area and check out all of the details. Little vingettes show guests some of the fine points of viniculture within the garden. Boxes planted with culinary herbs beg to be touched and smelled, overhead pergolas provide both spots of shade and a framework for beautiful evening lighting.


Wine & Dine Studio Viniculture Display: [body]
Wine & Dine Studio Courtyard
Let's take a closer look and what's being poured.


Wine & Dine Studio Wine Menu

• Round Pond Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford
• Kurt Russell's GoGi "Goldie" Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills
• Conundrum White Blend 25th Anniversary, California
• Vinum Cellars Pinot Noir, Monterey
• Kurt Russell's GoGi "Tiger" Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills
• Michael David Winery Seven Deadly Zins Zinfandel, Lodi
• Robert Mondavi Winery Maestro Red Blend, Napa Valley

Wine & Dine Studio Courtyard Bottle Sculpture


We tried the Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese which included the Conundrum White Blend 25th Anniversary, GoGi "Goldie" Chardonnay, and Robert Mondavi Maestro Red Blend.

The GoGi "Goldie" Chardonnay is from the winery of Disney Legend Kurt Russell, who was encouraged to go into Wine Making by fellow Disney Legend and Santa Barbara Winemaker, Fess Parker. You can often find GoGi Wines in Signature Disney Restaurants on both coasts, so it's no surprise to see it at the Festival.

"Goldie" is as light-hearted as its namesake, Russell's longtime partner Goldie Hawn. An outstanding wine with vanilla and honeysuckle bouquet, and a mouthful of pear, green apple, and caramel. It's the perfect accompaniment to a fresh green salad, or the light cheeses offered in our tasting tray.


Wine & Dine Studio Artist Palatte Tasting Tray


Also close in it's relationship with the Walt Disney Company is the Mondavi Winery, which is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary. The Mondavi Mastero Red Blend was created for the Anniversary. Inspired by the life of Robert Mondavi the Napa Valley sourced Merlot leads and "orchestra of aromas, flavors, and textures" in this Bordeaux style blend. Maestro is "smooth and rich with black fruit and mocha aromas and fresh, mouth-filling cherry flavors."

Conundrum White Blend 25th Anniversary is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscat Canelli and Viognier. The scents are reminiscent of apricot, citrus, and honeysuckle. It may even remind you of a lemon meringue pie. Up front sweetness is balanced by natural acidity and a hint of oak. This versatile blend holds up to spicy Asian foods and maybe even some fajitas. For the four of us tasting, this was our favorite wine at the booth.


Wine & Dine Studio Taste Wheel


I also want to give a shout-out to a wines being served here that is one of my go-to wines year round. The Michael David Winery Seven Deadly Zins has big Blackberry and just a kiss of oak that offer bold flavor without drying out your palate.

Overall I thought that the Wine & Dine Studio was a fantastic place dip your toes into the world of wine, no matter what your level of expertise is going in. For more details and information, check out what our friends at the Disney Food Blog thought. They also have review of the hearty food items available.

Have you stopped by this Festival Booth? Leave a comment and let us know what you thought!