16th Annual Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival

The Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer, and Food Festival is back at the Devos Place in Grand Rapids, November 16-18! And we could not be more excited! This festival offers over 1,200 beverages to sample, small plate food tasting options, pairing dinners, stage presentations, beverage tasting sessions, live music and so much more. Plus, new this year, grab your tickets to the VIP Preview Night!

We are breaking it all down in this blog post. The Wine. The Beer. The Food. We’ve got all the details!

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VIP Preview Night

The festival starts on Thursday, November 16th with a special VIP Preview Night! The VIP Preview Ticket offers a delightful experience, including a diverse range of dishes from small plate restaurants, a wine-tasting session, a distilled spirit tasting session, and a beer-tasting session. Attendees can also enjoy a demonstration on the Meijer Food Stage, a Meet the Maker presentation, and a chance to savor the “best of the best” samples from the 100 carefully selected new releases, special vintage options, and exclusive beverages chosen by sommeliers, restaurateurs, and other industry leaders.

For those looking for an enhanced experience, a limited number of VIP Preview Plus tickets offer a special one-hour multi-course meal and beverage pairing from Four Rose’s Cafe, One.Twenty.Three, or Monsoon Vietnamese Cuisine (Festival Pairing Restaurants).

Friday + Saturday

Starting Friday, November 17th, General Admission tickets are priced at $20 per person daily. The festival’s operating hours are 4-9 p.m. on Friday, November 17th, and 2-9 p.m. on Saturday, November 18th. Tasting tickets can be obtained online or at the event for 50 cents each, which can be used for food and beverages. Now, let’s break down the highlights and all the fun you can expect at the festival!

And don’t forget to check out the floorplan before you go!

Wine + Beer + More

The Festival is host to a wide array of beverages for sampling, including beer, cider, wine, spirits, signature coffees, and teas, totaling over 1,200 selections from around the world, all conveniently located under one roof in dedicated areas within the Devos Place:

• Wines, including The Elite Collection, can be found in The Vineyard (Steelcase Ballroom).
• Beer, including local, domestic, and international varieties, is available in Beer City Station (Hall C).
• Cider, both local and national, is showcased in Cider Row (Hall C).
• Michigan Craft spirits are presented in The Barrel Room (Welsh Lobby).
• Coffees & Cordials, along with decadent desserts, are featured in Rendezbrew (Grand Gallery).
• Non-alcoholic options are also available in both The Vineyard and Beer City Station.

Food

Come hungry to the Festival, as they’ve got your culinary cravings covered! Whether you’re in the mood for a variety of dishes, you’re sure to find satisfaction with numerous beloved Grand Rapids restaurants gathered in one place. These local eateries are located throughout the Vineyard, Beer City Station, The Barrel Room, and the RendezBREW Café, providing an exceptional progressive dining experience that pairs perfectly with the wide range of wines, beers, spirits, ciders, and specialty beverages available at the festival. Find the menu options offered at each location —here.

On both Friday and Saturday, six regional restaurants are presenting pairing experiences sponsored by Bekins, a locally renowned appliance and electronics company founded in West Michigan in 1975. The restaurants include Archival Brewing, Four Roses Café, Monsoon, One.Twenty.Three, Redwater Restaurant Group and The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck. Check out the menu items offered by each restaurant- here!

Meijer Marketplace and Food Stage

You can explore the latest and finest specialty foods and beverages as you wander through the Meijer Marketplace! You can purchase and sample various products, all of which are available at various Meijer stores and markets. At one end of the Marketplace, you’ll discover the Meijer Food Stage, where you can learn and taste recipes created by innovative food creators using products from the Marketplace. On the other end, the Meet the Maker Stage sponsored by Fresh Thyme Market offers the opportunity to hear the stories of talented entrepreneurs in product development and business success.

Enhance Your Festival Experience

Enhance your Festival experience by participating in one of the wine, beer, and spirit Tasting Sessions, which take place in The Vineyard and Beer City Station. These sessions are led by industry experts who not only discuss the featured beverages but also provide tips on how to properly appreciate them. A limited number of tasting tickets are required for participation.

Music

Live music will also be featured in various halls to enhance the event’s atmosphere each evening. Check out the full lineup below:

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Sponsors

The festival has a number of local sponsors that help make this festival special and unique. Check them all out –-here!

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