8th annual Cleveland Wine Festival set for June 14 & 15 at North Coast Harbor's Voinovich Park

The eighth annual Cleveland Wine Festival presented by Giant Eagle returns to Voinovich Bicentennial Park at North Coast Harbor (800 E. Ninth Street) in downtown Cleveland on Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15.

Celebrating wine, food, music and friends, the festival offers a variety of tastings, food and wine education and cooking demonstrations in a relaxed setting on the scenic shores of Lake Erie. Guests will have the opportunity to taste from more than 300 wines from around the world – including Ohio wines – and learn about new and exciting varieties, interacting first-hand with wine experts, expanding their wine knowledge and discovering blends that best suit their taste. Some of the area’s best restaurants will sell their signature dishes.

Back by popular demand is the Best of Belgium Tour presented by Stella Artois, featuring new Belgian brand – Stella Artois Cidre – along with Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Leffe Blonde and Leffe Brune. Belgian-born Master Chef Daniel Joly, owner/executive chef of Mirabelle Restaurant at Beaver Creek in Colorado, will share interactive and entertaining presentations. Daniel teaches people about beer and food pairing, proper beer pouring techniques and the importance of using the right glassware. Beer lovers can also enjoy sampling Goose Island Vintage Ales -- Sofie, Matilda, Pere Jacques and Pepe Nero, which are new to this year’s festival.

The Entertainment Stage will showcase presentations by wine experts along with live music by Lloyd Dobler Effect.

Adult Wine Tasting Tickets are $29 in advance and $35 at the door. There are no handling or processing fees for online orders. Admission tickets include a souvenir wine glass, 12 tastings, 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, food & wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment, and a souvenir wine glass upon departure. Those under 21 admitted free when accompanied by paid adult. For phone orders, call 877-772-5425. Phone center hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Central time – 7 days a week. An additional $2.00 order processing/handling fee applies for phone orders.

Sponsors of the 2013 festival are: Giant Eagle, Cadillac, U.S. Bank, Stella, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Goose Island, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, E & J Gallo Winery, Garland Jack’s and Radisson Hotel Cleveland. Media partners are: Cleveland Magazine, Cleveland.com, Cleveland Scene, Q104 and WDOK/Cleveland’s New 102.

Radisson Hotel Cleveland is offering a special "Sip, Savor & Sleep" package featuring: Overnight accommodations for two; Parking; a Bottle of wine; breakfast; and, Admittance for two to the Cleveland Wine Festival. Call 216-377-9000 for details. A portion of 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 2013 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 2:00-8:00 p.m. For more details, visit www.clevelandwinefestival.com or call 847-382-3270. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandwinefestival and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/clewinefest.