Wine on Harvest Moon at the Deering Estate at Cutler - It's Wunderbar!
(MIAMI, September 9, 2014) — The Deering Estate Foundation’s 13th annual Wine On Harvest Moon (WOHM) presented by South BMW celebrates the fine wines, unique cuisine and vibrant culture of Germany. On Saturday, October 11, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., guests experience the best of Bavaria when the historic Estate is transformed into a castle in the Alps with the music of Beethoven and Handel filling the ballroom, wine tastings that are paired with delectable dishes created by Miami’s top chefs, and an art exhibit featuring works by contemporary artists of German heritage.
For the past seven years, Deering Estate Foundation board member Howard Tendrich has chaired this successful signature fundraiser. “The South Florida community has come to anticipate this annual fall event, and it’s always a sellout. Over the years we have highlighted domestic wines from the Pacific Northwest and California to the wine regions of Argentina, Chile, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand,” said Tendrich. “This year the team at the Foundation has worked tirelessly to create a German experience, and they have been guided by Juergen Borsch, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Miami and his staff.” Tendrich explained that all proceeds from evening benefit the Deering Estate Foundation, and help to support the Estate’s educational programs, cultural events as well as conservation programs.
One of the night’s special guests is Barbara Selbach of the Selbach-Oster Winery of Mosel, Germany, who pours her award-winning Rieslings and shares stories about the family’s 600 years in winemaking. Sommelier Veronica Litton of Crown Wine & Spirit conducts her popular wine-tasting seminars in the Stone House’s Prohibition Era wine cellar, and educates guests to discern how wines are influenced by sweet versus savory foods.
Area restaurants serving their specialties along with German-inspired cuisine include: Smith & Wollensky, Truluck’s Seafood Steak & Crab House, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Celebrity Cruises, The Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove, Crave Coral Gables, Red Fish Grill, Devon Seafood + Steak, Ana Capri and Whole Foods Market Coral Gables. A variety of prized wines have been selected, and either a German white or a domestic red is paired with each meal presented.
An evening in Germany wouldn’t be complete without a romantic Biergarten that offers traditional folk music, casual fare and range of craft beers. When it’s time for dessert, guests are invited to stroll over to the Deering Bavarian Bake Shop, aka the historic Richmond Cottage, where they will find an array of luscious, diet-breaking sweets prepared by The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.
Germany’s cultural history is experienced through musical and theatrical performances and a unique art exhibition. The Tandem Theater Company storytellers recreate vignettes based on the classic Grimm Fairy Tales. On exhibit inside each of the historic homes is the Wunderbar art show, curated by Deering’s Cultural Arts Coordinator, Kim Yantis. The exhibition brings together Miami-based, German-born or based, and German-American artists whose contemporary works show influences from the Modernist and "Dekorative" movements as well as from self-defined German cultural traditions. The exhibit is on display through November 21st and can be viewed during the estate hours.
Michael Biamonte, the Arena Voice of the Miami Heat, auctioneers high-end items during the evening’s festivities. One of the night’s most coveted prizes is a WOHM gift basket filled with a bottle of each of the featured wines, along with dinner-for-two gift certificates for all participating restaurants. Other unique auction items include: a private wine tasting and an exclusive tour of Blair and Todd Maus’ Deering Winery in Sonoma California, she is the great-great granddaughter of Charles Deering; and a “Triple Date” when two lucky couples win a tour of the WPLG-TV studios with meteorologist Trent Aric and news anchor Jacey Birch followed by a limo ride to Key Largo for a gourmet dinner for six at the elegant Ocean Reef Club. Another of the night’s big-ticket items is a custom travel adventure from Celebrity Cruises. This extraordinary travel package created just for the Deering Estate takes passengers throughout Europe and parts of Asia and retraces Charles Deering’s years in Spain, and also follows his passion for the arts across continents. All auction items can be previewed online prior to the event.
WOHM is held at the Deering Estate at Cutler, located at 16701 S.W. 72 Avenue in Palmetto Bay (Miami). Capacity is limited and tickets are: $150 General admission and $125 for Foundation members. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.deeringestate.org/pages/Wine-on-Harvest-Moon.aspx for an additional fee, or by calling 305-235-1668 ext. 263. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. To become a sponsor please call 305-235-1668 ext. 266.
About the Deering Estate Foundation, Inc.
The Deering Estate Foundation is a volunteer driven community-based charitable 501(c) 3 Florida Corporation that was founded in 1989 by members of our community for the sole purpose of preserving, protecting and enhancing the Deering Estate at Cutler for this and future generations. The mission of the Deering Estate Foundation is to raise public awareness of the Deering Estate at Cutler and to raise funds to support education, research, exhibits and collections and the conservation and restoration of the Estate’s natural and historical resources.
About the Deering Estate at Cutler
The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade County Park, is located at 16701 S.W. 72 Avenue in Miami. This 444-acre natural and archeological preserve and historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a center for education, culture and recreation. Historic house tours are offered daily at 10:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. Natural areas tours are offered daily at 12:30 p.m. (October – May). DeeringAdventure Tours are also offered throughout the year for an additional fee. For more information on the Deering Estate's educational and cultural programs, please visit www.deeringestate.org.