Coeur d’Alene Food and Wine Festival returns for a second year

The Coeur d’Alene Food and Wine Festival returns for a second year with three days of wine tasting, cooking classes, workshops, art and meals from regional chefs.

“We have some of the best wineries and chefs in our region sharing their masterpieces for our guests to enjoy at this year’s festival,” said Danielle Beaudine, director of marketing at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in a news release. “There’s a natural connection between enjoying great food and wine and appreciating incredible art and writing. We believe adding talented local artists and a nationally acclaimed writer to the weekend activities will enhance an already memorable festival.”

The Coeur d’Alene Food and Wine Festival kicks off Friday with a Taste at Twilight opening reception at the Bayview Cocktail Lounge, where attendees can sample several of the region’s finest wines while watching a cocktail competition or enjoying live music. While this event is sold out, tickets are still available for several festival events.

A Doubleback Wine Dinner is also scheduled for Friday evening featuring a meal by Beverly’s executive chef, Jim Barrett, paired with award-winning wines from Doubleback Winery, owned by former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

Saturday events begin with a brunch bar, yoga or a guided hike of Tubbs Hill, followed by wine tasting classes, a cocktail class and a choice of lunch at Cedars Floating Restaurant; a Barrister Winemaker lunch at Beverly’s; a Amavi Cellars Walla Walla Wine lunch or a Townshend Cellars Lunch on the Green at the Floating Green Restaurant.

Attendees can sample several of Idaho’s finest wines at the Artist Den and Idaho Wine Tasting event Saturday afternoon from 1 to 6 p.m. while viewing work by three regional artists: Ben Joyce, Melissa Cole and Jesse Pierpoint.

Sunday festival events feature a signature brunch at Dockside and a “sip and signing” with New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Debbie Macomber, who’s sold more than 200 million books with six novels adapted into made-for-TV movies. Macomber is introducing her newest book, “Be a Blessing, A Journal for Cultivating Kindness, Joy and Inspiration,” at the event.

A grand wine tasting event will follow from 2 to 5 p.m. with demonstrations on preparing ceviche and lobster rolls from Spokane chef Chad White, who competed in season 13 of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.”

The festival is held in partnership with the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association’s Wine Extravaganza on Saturday.

Individual festival events range from $10 to $225.

The Grand Grenache Pass is available for $409 per person and includes Friday wine tasting, Sunday brunch, choice of wine classes, a three-course lunch, Saturday dinner and the Sunday grand tasting event. Pass holders receive a 15 percent discount on lodging at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

The Coeur d’Alene Resort will be donating more than $5,000 from festival sales to the Community Cancer Fund.