Westchester Magazine is joining forces with Westchester County Office of Economic Development to give a much-needed boost to restaurants and food trucks with an expanded 2021 Wine & Food Festival. The festival is a not-to-be missed experience recognizing the culinary spirit of Westchester County with 100+ top local restaurants and a selection of world-class wines. The one-week wine and food extravaganza will take place September 21-25 and serve as a salute to the finest food, exceptional spirits, and award-winning chefs from throughout the county. The festival will require all attendees to be fully vaccinated and show the New York Excelsior Pass or vaccination card & ID upon entry.
“Westchester has come back stronger than ever from the pandemic, so this is our salute to all chefs and restaurants who persevered and found ways to stay open during the pandemic,” said Sam Wender, publisher of Westchester Magazine. “We look forward to celebrating all our favorite dining establishments this Fall.”
Adding to the popular Burger & Beer Blast and the iconic Grand Tasting Village is the new Party on the Pier at Rye Playland, celebrating the best bartenders in the county!
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “We are thrilled to welcome back Westchester Magazine’s Wine and Food Festival this year, and what better place to kick off the celebration than at Party on the Pier at Rye Playland. Our County’s eateries struggled through the pandemic, and we want this week-long festival to symbolize the return of the finest foods, spirits, and award-winning establishments that Westchester County has to offer.”
Bridget Gibbons, Director of the Westchester County Office of Economic Development said: “This year’s Wine & Food Festival is a very positive sign the County is bouncing back. We welcome our neighbors and new visitors to see the beauty of Playland, the County’s historic gem while sampling new flavors including from our food trucks, an industry on the rise of re-emerging from this pandemic, like so many other local businesses.”
Guests will sip, savor, and enjoy the county’s finest plates and pours while mingling with Westchester’s top chefs, sommeliers, and specialty food purveyors as they attend exclusive dinners, tastings, and demos. The full lineup includes:
Italian Wine Experience with Kevin Zraly *NEW LOCATION
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with special dinner at 8:00 p.m.
Location: Kanopi, 1 Renaissance Square, White Plains, NY 10601
Price: $95 per ticket; With dinner $150
Experience a wine tour of Italy up on the 42nd floor of Opus Hotel at Kanopi restaurant and event space, with tastings provided by Chef/Owner Anthony Goncalves. In addition to sampling fine wines highlighting different regions of Italy, renowned author and wine educator, Kevin Zraly will hold condensed wine seminars throughout the event. Stay after the event for a special dinner offered by Chef Anthony.
Party on the Pier & Bartender Shake-Off at Rye Playland *NEW EVENT
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 | 6-9 p.m.
Location: Playland Park Pier, 1 Playland Parkway, Rye
Price: $50 per ticket
The brand-new Party on the Pier at Rye Playland will salute our County and the restaurants who made it through the pandemic. Get ready to savor the end of the summer at the Playland Pier. Sample flavorful favorites, sip delicious cocktails and cheer on your favorite bartender during the third-annual Bartender Shake-Off.
Burger & Beer Blast
Thursday, September 23, 2021 | 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla
Price: $75 per ticket
Burgers, beer, music, wine, spirits, food trucks and the best grilling on this side of the Hudson River come together at Westchester’s ultimate block party! Top local chefs present their unique take on the all-American burger as they compete for the Best Burger Award. Piccinini Bros is the official beef sponsor.
First Annual Wine Collector’s Dinner – Finally Open That Bottle *NEW EVENT
Friday, September 24, 2021 | 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: X20 Xaviars on the Hudson, 71 Water Grant Street, Yonkers
Price: $185
The first annual Wine Collectors’ Dinner – Finally Open that Bottle is an ultra-exclusive event where guests are asked to bring that best bottle of wine they have been saving to present and share with other guests. Renowned Chef Peter Kelly will serve an extraordinary four-course dinner and awards will be given for wine “superlatives.” (i.e., Most Expensive, Oldest Bottle, Best Story related to the Bottle, Cheapest Bottle, etc.) The event is a tribute to Ralph Martinelli, founder, and publisher of Westchester Magazine, and is sponsored by Carl Petrillo. A special live Wine Auction will be held. This memorable event is not to be missed!
Grand Tasting Village
Saturday, September 25, 2021 | Noon- 4:00 p.m.
Location: Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla
Price: $85 per ticket; $125 Connoisseurs Tent
The signature event of the Wine & Food Festival, the Grand Tasting Village features live Chef demos, tastings from 40+ local restaurants and more than 200 wines and spirits. Chef demonstrations and a variety of food trucks create a gastronomic delight for food and wine lovers.
For those looking for something a little more personal, there is the Connoisseurs Tent. The private area features an exclusive lounge for relaxing while you sample the event’s highest quality wines along with dishes from the area’s top restaurants. Wine expert, author and educator Kevin Zraly will be leading Wine Seminars throughout the day focusing on the vintages being served in the Connoisseurs Tent. Entrance to this exclusive area and the wine seminars are only for guests purchasing Connoisseurs Tent tickets, which includes access to all Grand Tasting Village events. *Limited tickets available. First come, first serve *
**No one under 21 will be admitted.
No Infants, Children, Strollers, or Pets are allowed. **
Each of the events will adhere to the current state and local guidelines, with the safety of each guest being a top priority.
Traditionally held each year in June, the festival was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Organizers continued to support restaurants struggling during the pandemic by launching an awareness campaign that helped highlight local business owners throughout the year on their digital platforms.
Stew Leonard’s Wines & Spirits of Yonkers, one of the region’s largest purveyors of wine and spirits, will be the official wine and spirits retailer for the festival. Additional sponsors include Westchester County, All Star Imports, E&J Gallo Winery, Leros Point to Point, Manhattan Beer, MAZE, Mercedes-Benz of White Plains, Montefiore, Party Line Tent Rentals, Piccinini Bros, Robison Oil, Westchester County Office of Tourism, MTA, The Westchester Bank, and Pamal Broadcasting. Westchester Parks Foundation, which provides private support to preserve the County’s Park system and improve the quality of life in our communities, is the official charity for the event.
Special hotel packages will be available for those coming in from out of town that include passes and free shuttles. Participating hotels include:
Sonesta White Plains, Sleepy Hollow Hotel & Conference, Westchester Marriott, Cambria Suites, Courtyard & Residence Inn by Marriott, Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers-Westchester, and more.
The event draws more than 7,000 people from across the New York Metro area including New York City, Westchester County, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
For additional information or to purchase tickets visit westchestermagazine.com/winefood
