UNLVino continued its line up of tastings with the Grand Tasting at Paris Las Vegas’ Champagne Ballroom. Restaurateur Elizabeth Blau, who has played an integral role in Las Vegas’ transformation to the world-class culinary destination it is today, was honored with the Dom Pérignon Award of Excellence, presented by Larry Ruvo and Michael Severino of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada. Among thousands of guests, Blau’s husband chef Kim Canteenwalla and parents Lynn and Jeffrey Blau were in attendance to watch her accept the prestigious award.
Highlights of the night include:
Guests sampled more than 500 wines including international wine selections such as Stemmari Arancio’s Nero D’Avola (Sicily, Italy), Joseph Drouhin’s Pouilly Fuisse (Burgundy, France), Flagstone Longitude’s Malbec (South Africa), Giesen’s Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand); and domestic favorites including Wolfgang Puck Wine’s Master Lot Reserve Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon, Justin Vineyard’s Blanc & Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grgich Hills Estate’s Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon, among many others.
Guests enjoyed signature dishes prepared by UNLV’s talented culinary students throughout the venue including delicious antipastos, a seafood station with freshly shucked oysters and shrimp cocktail chilled around an ice sculpture of the Eiffel Tower, a slider station with unique offerings such as crab cakes and pulled pork, Asian cuisine including the standout sweet and spicy “Bang Bang Shrimp,” and innovative passed hors d’oeuvres such as the sweet and savory french toast with pork belly and maple syrup.
The Live Auction featured extravagant offerings ranging from a World Whiskey Tour for 10 people with Master Mixologist Francesco Lafranconi and a three-day VIP Napa Valley wine tasting, to luxurious staycations at Bellagio, MGM Grand and more. The two biggest-ticket items were a Romero Britto original painting, created for UNLVino, which sold for $15,500; and a five-course meal with wine and cocktail pairings for 15 people prepared by talented culinary students from UNLV’s Hotel College (three packages sold for $3,000 each).
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