West Michigan is located in the lower region of the peninsula.
Western Michigan, also referred to as West Michigan, is located in the lower region of the peninsula. This part of the state plays host to wine festivals in the fall and winter. The festivals feature a variety of activities beyond wine tasting, including food sampling, parades, markets and craft breweries.
The Great Wine & Food Symposium
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is the site for the Great Wine & Food Symposium.
The Great Wine & Food Symposium takes place in winter at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The symposium offers more than 300 wine and beer selections and a 20-40 percent discount on wine orders. Local grocer D&W Fresh Market serves hors d'oeuvres to complement the wine served at the event. The event tends to sell out in advance, so purchasing tickets ahead of time is recommended. Overnight lodging discounts are available at the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids with the purchase of a ticket.
Wine and Harvest Festival
The Wine and Harvest Festival includes a contest called Grape Stomp, in which contestants stomp on grapes for two minutes to determine who can squeeze out the most juice.
The Wine and Harvest Festival is celebrated annually in the small town of Paw Paw after Labor Day. The harvest festival provides tours to local wineries, such as St. Julian Winery, and wine sampling in tasting rooms. There are also activities for the whole family, including carnival rides, fireworks and a parade. A popular contest held during the festival is the Grape Stomp, which consists of teams of five people stomping in a vat of grapes for two minutes. The juice is then measured and recorded to determine a winner.
Grand Rapids International Wine & Food Festival
The Grand Rapids International Wine and Food Festival offers seminars that explain all the different types of wines and which wines pair best with which foods.
The Grand Rapids International Wine and Food Festival is held every November in Grand Rapids. The festival features wine tasting and food sampling from local restaurants, as well as seminars that discuss different types of wines and which ones pair best with which foods. Other attractions include the Riverfront Market, which features a variety of gourmet and specialty items for cash and carry, as well as the Michigan Craft Brew Hall, which offers samples from local craft brewers.
Tags: Grand Rapids, Wine Food, Food Festival, Food Symposium, Grand Rapids International, Great Wine, Great Wine Food