SAVOR DALLAS
© The Flash List | March 8, 2010
SOOO many wines; so little time …
The first time we traveled to Manhattan, we thought, “Can it really be that big?” It was. And the first time we attended Savor Dallas, we thought, “Can there really be that much wine?” And oh, without a doubt, there was! [Continued below.]
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Savor Dallas founders Vicki Briley-White & Jim White |
Review: Savor Dallas
Background
The Vibe
How It Works
The Food
How to Navigate
Highlights: 2010
Highlights: 2011
Photos: 2011
Featuring more than 400 wines and over 60 top chefs from the area, Savor Dallas is a premiere wine festival and is considered to be one of the best reserve tastings in the country. Founded by former KRLD restaurant talk show host Jim White along with Vicki Briley-White as a means of showcasing star chefs and premium wines while raising funds for area arts and culinary programs, the Savor Dallas weekend typically consists of an Arts District Wine Stroll, wine and food seminars, a Reserve Tasting, and the International Grand Tasting.
This absolutely fantastic event, which quickly took its place as one of our favorite festivals, is extremely well organized and not pretentious by any stretch of the imagination. OK, maybe you can find a few pretentious people, but you don’t have to be a wine geek to attend. As a matter of fact, you really don’t have to know much about wines at all. That’s the beauty of Savor Dallas (and the point entirely) - it’s a completely comfortable environment for learning and a great opportunity to experience a wide variety of foods and flavors.
Navigating Savor Dallas is simple - just walk right in, collect your entrance badge, pick up a wine glass, and head on over to the tasting tables. The winemakers and vendors are generally extremely friendly, very knowledgeable, and not condescending or pushy in any way. When we inquired about offerings and recommendations, representatives delivered an abundance of information; and since most stations offered at least four different types of wine, we were invited to taste one or all of them.
Don't expect the food samples at Savor Dallas to be little chicken nuggets on decorative toothpicks. That would be to think way too small. As a matter of fact, one year as we were enjoying Chef Blythe Beck's short ribs with accompanying cheesy, naughty grits, two women walked up near Blythe’s table and were eyeing the selections. There was some quiet debate, and then they started to walk away. We urged them, “If you’re thinking about tasting that, you should; it’s so good.” Their reply: “I don’t know if you work for the restaurant, but that sample is too big!” No, we don’t work for the restaurant; we just loved the dish and encouraged them to split it, which they did.
MORE INFORMATION
For additional information, see http://www.savordallas.com or:
FlashPoints HOW TO
How To: Navigate a Wine Tasting Festival
Breeze through like a pro when you learn what to do, how to prepare, when to arrive, what to wear, how to take risks, and even how to gracefully ditch wines you don't care for.
FlashPoints HOW TO
Wine: The Very Basic Basics
Wine is like art. It has a little to do with what's pleasing to most, but everything to do with what pleases you. And with these few tips, you'll be well on your way to becoming an oenophile.
FlashPoints Review
Highlights: Savor Dallas 2012
There are so many chapters in the Savor Dallas book, some of which we love to reread over and over and some of which we've yet to even begin.
FLASHPHOTOS
Photos: Savor Dallas 2012
Guests sampled gourmet foods by top chefs as well as a variety of wines and spirits in the Dallas Arts District and the Irving Convention Center.
FlashPoints Review
Highlights: Savor Dallas 2011
Trying to get a taste of every offering at Savor Dallas would be something like attempting to ride all the rides at Six Flags in one day. Hmm, maybe you could do it, but you'd certainly ...
FLASHPHOTOS
Photos: Savor Dallas 2011
Wine Stroll and Grand Tasting party and event photos of guests, celebrity chefs, wine distributors, Lone Star Award winners, entertainment, and more.
