The Ahwahnee Hotel Announces Lineup For 34th Annual Vintners' Holidays Event

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif., July 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ahwahnee, a AAA Four-Diamond hotel operated by Delaware North, today announces the lineup for the annual Vintners' Holidays food & wine event series showcasing some of California's best wineries. Now in its 34th year, Vintners' Holidays offers two and three-day sessions from November 8 to December 3, 2015 where park visitors and vintners celebrate the fall harvest with wine tastings and seminars, a "Meet the Vintners" wine & hors d'oeuvres reception, and a five-course gala dinner where each course is prepared by Executive Chef Percy Whatley and The Ahwahnee Culinary Team to complement the often rare or limited-release wines paired with the dinner.

"Vintners' Holidays offers the best of food and wine combined with the best of nature," said Food & Wine Series Events Manager Kathy Langley. "This year's exciting lineup of vintners includes returning favorites such as Silver Oak Cellars and Rombauer Vineyards in addition to new participants that include Dehlinger Vineyards and Verdad Wines."

Since its inception as a small gathering of vintners and hotel guests in the winter of 1982, Vintners' Holidays has become a premier California event for wine aficionados and winemakers alike. Vintners' Holidays allows vintners to relax after the busy harvest season and share the fruits of their labor with Yosemite visitors in one of California's most stunning landscapes. 

The 2015 Vintners' Holidays schedule includes the following vintners and event moderators:

Session 1: November 8-10
Moderator: Dan Berger, Wine Journalist & Judge
John Williams, Frog's Leap
Shauna Rosenblum, Rock Wall Wine Co.
Eva Dehlinger, Dehlinger Vineyards*
Cathy Corison, Corison Winery             

Session 2: November 11-12
Moderator: Dan Berger, Wine Journalist & Judge
Kathleen Inman, Inman Family Wines*
John Conover, Plumpjack Winery
Charles Heintz, Charles Heintz Vineyards & Winery*
Alan Cannon, Rombauer Vineyards

Session 3: November 15-17
Moderator: Fred Dame, Master Sommelier
Louisa Sawyer Lindquist, Verdad Wines*
Beth Milliken, Spottswoode 
Steve Dutton & Dan Goldfield, Dutton Goldfield
Bob Lindquist, Qupe

Session 4: November 18-19
Moderator: Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier
Joy Sterling, Iron Horse Vineyards
Rob McNeill, Don & Sons
Jeff Stewart, Hartford Family Winery
Justin Baldwin, Justin Winery

Session 5: November 29 - December 1
Moderator: Peter Marks, Master of Wine
Susan Lueker, Simi Winery
Robb Talbott, Talbott Vineyards
Jeff Mangahas, Williams Selyem Winery
Chris Benziger, Benziger Family Winery

Session 6: December 2-3
Moderator: Peter Marks, Master of Wine
Ted Benet & Deborah Cahn, Navarro Vineyards 
Michael McNeill, Hanzell Vineyards*
Chrissy Wittman, Wild Horse Winery
Daniel Baron, Silver Oak Cellars

*Indicates new participating winery or winemaker this year.

Special lodging packages for Vintners' Holidays are available at The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls or Curry Village, which include lodging, tickets to the Gala Vintners' Dinner, admission to the "Meet the Vintners" reception and four wine tasting seminars. Vintners' Holidays packages start at $448 per person based on double occupancy. Individual tickets for the Gala Dinner may be purchased at $199 per person. All prices include gratuity, but exclude tax. For more information on Yosemite's Vintners' Holidays at The Ahwahnee or to make reservations, call 801-559-4949 or visit www.YosemitePark.com/Vintners.

The Ahwahnee is operated by Delaware North at Yosemite, authorized National Park Service concessioner, overseeing lodging, dining, guest recreation and transportation for Yosemite National Park's four million annual visitors.

ABOUT THE AHWAHNEE
The Ahwahnee, a AAA Four-Diamond hotel featuring rustic architecture with Native American, Middle Eastern and Art and Crafts design elements, is located in scenic Yosemite National Park, which is home to stunning natural beauty, year-round activities and historic charm. The Ahwahnee was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and in 1987 it was listed as a National Historic Landmark. Conde Nast Traveler magazine recognized The Ahwahnee in the 2010 "Reader's Choice Awards" as one of the top 100 resorts in the United States. For more information, visit www.YosemitePark.com/Ahwahnee.

ABOUT DELAWARE NORTH'S PARKS AND RESORTS BUSINESS
Delaware North is a global leader in the hospitality industry, operating lodging, recreational activities, food and beverage services, retail and educational programming at destinations throughout North America, Australia and Asia. Delaware North operates in many of the country's iconic national and state parks, including Yosemite National Park and Niagara Falls State Park, as well as at cultural attractions such as Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. Its portfolio also includes five luxury resorts in Australia. To learn more about Delaware North's hospitality management expertise, visit http://www.delawarenorth.com/parks-and-resorts-home.aspx.

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SOURCE Delaware North