Talent will overflow at the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival

I can’t believe it’s already October. In less than a couple weeks, the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, and all the world-class talent it brings, will be upon us. The festival offers outstanding learning opportunities for the wine lover, and I’m hoping to whet your appetite by highlighting a couple events that caught my eye.

It’s amazing that organizers were able to bring so many winemaking superstars to the isles, even while it’s harvest time for most of them.

These luminaries include Mia Klein (Selene) and Mike Silacci (Opus One) from Napa Valley, Calif.; Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Rajat Parr (Domaine de la Cote) and Jim Clendenen (Au Bon Climat); Mark Tarlov (Chapter 24) from Oregon; zinfandel specialist Mike Officer (Carlisle) of Sonoma, Calif.; and Cristian Valbruzzoli of Italy’s Piemontese winery Braida, to name a few.

The events allow guests to ask winemakers directly about each wine, a fabulous way to experience and learn about wine from different perspectives.

Furthermore, besides tasting some of the very best wines produced in the world, guests also have a chance to try them with food created by some of the finest culinary talents in the world.

The big news for me are two particular tastings:

>> Masters of Meursault with Antoine Jobard (9:30 to 11 a.m. Oct. 29, Halekulani, $200): This one centers on the white wines of Meursault, a village in Burgundy, France, that happens to be home to some of the most heralded chardonnays on the planet. There is something special about the limestone-based soil, drainage, climate and more that impact the chardonnay grape vines to produce a majestic wine that’s been noteworthy for many generations. (I remember reading about how Thomas Jefferson bought the wines of Meursault back in the 1700s.)

The event features tastings from three of Meursault’s most heralded producers: Jobard, Jean-Marc Roulot and Coche- Dury (special selections).

What’s especially amazing is that Antoine Jobard will be in attendance as a commentator — that’s like having Tiger Woods commentating at the Sony Open. Over the years, Antoine and his father, Francois, have produced some of the most compelling wines in the world. This is a world-class event that’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

>> The Rarities Tasting (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 29, Halekulani, $295): I’ve never seen a lineup like this one — take advantage of the opportunity! Local master sommelier Roberto Viernes will be conducting an extraordinary tasting featuring vintage Classified Bordeaux from the 1980s, many of which we rarely see in Hawaii.

These include selections from the heralded 1989 vintage — Chateaux Tropolong Mondot, Canon La Gaffeliere, Pavie, La Mission Haut Brion, de Fieuzal, Haut Batailley and Montrose. Also, from 1982, Chateau Angelus; 1983, Chateau Margaux; and 1990, Chateau Pape Clement.

A bonus: two standout 1990 Hermitage Rouge from France’s northern Rhone Valley, Jaboulet “La Chapelle” and Chave. You’ve probably never had syrah-based red wine like these!

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For more information and updates, visit hawaiifoodand winefestival.com.

Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and a partner in the DK Restaurants group. Follow his blog at chuckfuruya.com.