Historic California Wine Estate and Celebrated Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten will come together in Las Vegas at Bellagio’s Tuscany Kitchen Saturday, January 26

Is that time of year again and the place to experience one of the most unique events in Las Vegas is at the Bellagio. Renown as the home of a wide range of award-winning dining experiences including two AAA Five Diamond restaurants, Julian Serrano’s Picasso and Le Cirque from the renowned Maccioni family, Bellagio’s 2013 Epicurean Epicenter series continues its tradition of innovative and immersive experiences.

On Saturday, Jan. 26, guests can taste five wines from the legendary Inglenook estate, paired with the critically acclaimed cuisine of James Beard award-winning chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Bellagio’s Prime Steakhouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tickets priced at $350 per person, all-inclusive, and available for purchase online at Bellagio’s Epicurean Epicenter webpage or by calling Bellagio Concierge at 866-406-7117.

Guests will enjoy the cuisine of Chef Vongerichten as he will prepare a four-course masterpiece in Tuscany Kitchen, a signature element to all Epicurean Epicenter events. This 1,170-square-foot Tuscany Kitchen is outfitted with top-of-the-line Viking equipment and the latest technology.  Three cameras, positioned above the prep stations and stove tops, capture shots of the chefs at work and broadcast them over 60-inch plasma screens mounted above the cooking area for easy viewing.

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Moments after watching each course prepared right before their eyes, guests will savor Vongerichten’s menu along with Inglenook wines, as paired by Managing Director Philippe Bascaules, Owner Francis Ford Coppola and Bellagio’s Director of Wine Jason Smith MS.

“For Bellagio’s Epicurean Epicenter, we strive to deliver extraordinary culinary experiences pairing our world-renowned chefs with the world’s finest winemakers,” said Ana Marie Mormando, vice president of Food & Beverage at Bellagio. “At our inaugural event for the 2013 season, we’re proud to offer our guests the unique opportunity to savor the wines of Inglenook, one of America’s pioneering great wines estates.”

Celebrity Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten added , “Opening the 2013 Epicurean Epicenter at Bellagio is a privilege and the exclusive menu that I create will be truly memorable. The flavor profiles will pair eloquently with the Inglenook wines, an estate I am honored to partner with for this event. I am confident this will be one unforgettable evening and once again, only an experience Bellagio can provide its guests.”

 

Inglenook estate

Any oenophile  understands the importance of  the 133-year history of the  Inglenook estate. Inglenook has made is reputation   under the ownership of three important custodians: Gustave Niebaum, John Daniel Junior and Francis Ford Coppola. Niebaum laid the ambitious and insightful foundations for the estate, claiming that no expense would be spared in his quest to produce wines that would “equal of any in the world.” His successor, John Daniel Junior, achieved just that and his 1941 Inglenook is still considered one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons ever produced. In 1975, the Coppola family was able to buy their first part of the Inglenook estate, which had fallen into a decade of decline. This was the beginning of a 38-year project that would see them tirelessly piece together and restore the historical estate to its former glory.

Bellagio Director of Wine and Master Sommelier Jason Smith said, “The 2009 wines we will serve at the Inglenook dinner are the first wines to be released from the property under the Inglenook name since 1964. As Bellagio continues to be the industry leader in wine education, it is essential that we provide our guests with a platform to further their knowledge through these rare and exclusive moments; the exact foundation on which Epicurean Epicenter is structured.”

The Bellagio Resort has long been known for excellence. The Epicurean Epicenter series brings that excellence to the forefront. Where else should anyone be on January 26th than at the Bellagio in Las Vegas to enjoy this very intimate dinner with a Celebrity Chef, a Master Sommelier and a legendary winery.