Wine Tasting Weekend with Kevin Zraly
January 3 – 5, 2020
Join us for a culinary weekend as we explore food, wine, and music from France. Renowned wine expert Kevin Zraly of the Windows on the World Wine School will guide you through an exceptional tasting of some of the top wines from this beautiful region. Enjoy a culinary demonstration with Frances Largeman-Roth as we immerse ourselves in the tastes of France.
Availability is limited. For reservations, please call .
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: COMING SOON
Please check back for an updated schedule 3 months prior to the event.
Preview last year’s schedule:
FRIDAY
Live Music and Dance with Avalon Jazz Band
The music of Avalon Jazz Band is inspired by the Parisian jazz scene of the 1930s and 40s, when emblematic sound was made popular by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. Avalon Jazz Band performs the American standards popular in France during that time period, along with the songs of French composers influenced by a new sound called “jazz”, made popular by Yves Montand, Jean Sablon, and Charles Trenet, among others. In addition to these classics, Avalon Jazz Band also performs original music, offering their own vision of what contemporary swing can be, blending their francophone culture into their American experience.
SATURDAY
Culinary Demonstration Inspired by France
Join New York Times best-selling author Frances Largeman-Roth as she teaches you the basics of assembling a cheese plate. Use local cheeses, fresh fruit, artisanal crackers, honey, olives, and other sweet and savory items to pair with your next wine tasting.
Wines of France Tasting and Reception with Kevin Zraly*
Renowned wine expert Kevin Zraly leads you on a tasting journey through France. You’ll taste 8 different wines as you learn about wine styles, develop your own taste, and discover details about acidity, tannin, oak, and fruit. Kevin leads the way with stories, myths, and tantalizing tales of the wine regions of France.
After the wine tasting, join Kevin for a reception with a curated menu of French inspired hors d’oeuvres by the Mohonk culinary team. This will also be your chance to purchase a signed copy of Kevin’s bestselling wine book, Windows on the World Complete Wine Course.
*Note: Pre-registration with overnight reservation is required. There is a $60 per person program fee for admittance to the wine tasting and/or the reception which follows. Space is limited. Persons under age 21 may not attend the wine tasting.
Live Music with Sweet Megg
Sweet Megg’s music focuses on jazz from the 1920-1950s. She has put together a performance of French chanson featuring numbers from Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, Jacque Brel, Barbara, and many of her other favorite French singers.
SUNDAY
House History Tour
Join a Mohonk staff member for a tour of the Mountain House and history of Mohonk and the Smiley Family.
MEET OUR PROGRAM LEADERS
Kevin Zraly
Kevin Zraly just celebrated his 40th Anniversary as the founder and teacher of the immensely popular Windows on the World Wine School, which has graduated over 20,000 students since its inception. Creator of the famous wine list at Windows on the World (which sold more wine than any restaurant in the world), he is the author of Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, The Ultimate Wine Companion, Kevin Zraly’s Wine Journal, and his Guide to American Wine. He teaches the Sherry-Lehmann/ Kevin Zraly Master Wine Classes and selects wine for their Wine Club. In May, 2011 Kevin was honored with the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award. Kevin is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America. He has been featured in The New York Times, People magazine, The Wall Street Journal, GQ, Newsweek, and USA Today, among others. His charisma, engaging style, and love of wine captivate everyone he teaches. To learn more, please visit www.kevinzraly.com.
Avalon Jazz Band
Avalon Jazz Band is the ambassador of Parisian hot jazz in the United States and internationally. Created in New York in 2012, the band has performed at the most renowned venues in the city such as Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s, The Iridium, Joe’s Pub, The Carlyle, and The Rainbow Room. They have shared the stage with the likes of Norah Jones, Harry Connick Jr. and Stéphane Wrembel, and have toured around the world in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, French Caribbean, Porto Rico, Fiji, and more.
Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN
Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, is a New York Times best-selling author and nationally recognized health expert. Frances was the Food and Nutrition Director at Health magazine for nearly eight years. She is a contributor to Today.com and Parents magazine. Frances is the author of Feed the Belly: The Pregnant Mom’s Healthy Eating Guide and co-author of the bestselling The CarbLovers Diet and The CarbLovers Diet Cookbook. Her latest cookbook is Eating In Color: Delicious, Healthy Recipes for You and Your Family. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Access Hollywood Live, CNN, The Rachael Ray Show, and The Dr. Oz Show. She also hosts The Milk&Honey Kitchen with Frances on YouTube and provides private nutrition counseling to clients through her Healthy HouseCalls. Frances earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and completed her dietetic internship at Columbia University. Frances lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and three kids. To learn more, go to www.franceslargemanroth.com, or follow her on Instagram @FrancesLRothRD.
Megg Farrell
Megg Farrell studied jazz in a small school in Paris and is now a performer based in New York City. She cherishes Paris and her experience there continues to influence her songs focusing on jazz from the 1920s to the 1950s. She is excited to share them for this special evening.
Availability is limited. For reservations, please call .
When you visit for Wine Tasting Weekend, your overnight package includes:
- Three meals daily featuring fresh, locally sourced cuisine from our farm-to-table partners
- Guided Outdoor Activities such as Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, and Nature Hikes (weather permitting)
- Ice-skating in our open air pavilion
- Daily Guided “House History” Tours of our National Historic Landmark resort
- Guided Nature Hikes with stunning views of the Catskill Mountains
- Yoga, Meditation, and Fitness Classes
- Indoor Heated Pool with underwater music
- Afternoon tea and cookies in our historic Lake Lounge
- Nightly Evening Entertainment
- Special Events and more! See schedule of activities >
A la carte experiences available to overnight guests:
- A full menu of nature-inspired treatments at our award-winning spa
- The Carriage Lounge, featuring a full bar and handcrafted cocktails as well as hyperlocal draft beer and hard cider
- An award-winning wine list in our Main Dining Room