Whether you like merlot, chardonnay, champagne or all three, UNLVino can fulfill all of those needs during its 40th annual event, April 9-12. The original epicurean wine festival takes over four venues across Las Vegas to raise funds for UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. Last year, 39,962 bottles of wine were uncorked, and this year, Wolfgang Puck brings his celebrated Sip & Savor event to the festivities.
Forty years ago, before Las Vegas became home to what seems like a different food festival every weekend, Dr. Jerry Vallen, the founder of UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, wanted to improve wine knowledge in Las Vegas. He brainstormed with Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada vice president Larry Ruvo to come up with UNLVino. The idea started as a quaint wine tasting in a warehouse and, four decades later, has become an event that showcases some of the best culinary and wine talents in the world and is now the largest fundraiser for the university.
UNLVino kicks off at Spago at The Forum Shops at Caesars on Wednesday, April 9, with a chance to dine on dishes from all six of Wolfgang Puck’s Vegas restaurants while 20 of the chef’s favorite wines are poured. Those tickets start at $225. Puck also lands the Dom Pérignon Award of Excellence that night.
You may want to go VIP for this event, landing reserved seating and early entry. Also included are free raffle tickets for prizes such as wines and autographed chef’s jackets. VIPs also get a chance to meet Puck and his executive chefs. Tickets for VIP admission are $275.
Francesco Lafranconi
Last year introduced the BAR-b-q; it picks up again, this time at the Garden of the Gods pool complex at Caesars Palace on Thursday, April 10. Expect barbecued dishes paired with cocktails from Francesco Lafranconi, executive director of mixology for sponsor Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. The “Bar” in this event stands for the mixologists from Vegas venues who will be slinging cocktails at the bars. Tickets start at $100.
Perhaps the most anticipated event brings bubbles and small plates to The Venetian’s Doge’s Palace on Saturday, April 11. Dishes from The Venetian and The Palazzo restaurants pair with all things bubbled at Bubble-Licious. Pop artist Romero Britto features his works in a 700-square-foot pop-up shop at the event, with 20 percent of sales going to the UNLV scholarship program, and receives the Dom Pérignon Award of Excellence—coincidently, the artist’s favorite champagne. Tickets for this event start at $125.
The event ends with the Founders’ Grand Tasting on Saturday, April 12, at the Keep Memory Alive Events Center at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. This event is all about wines, champagnes, spirits, beers and sakes paired with bites from some of the city’s best restaurants. These tickets start at $125.
7 p.m. April 9-12, prices and venues vary. unlvtickets.com or 702.739.3267
