The 19th annual Sun Wine & Food Fest returned to Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort in Uncasville, with four days of events from Jan. 26-29. On Jan. 27, the Beam & Burgers event in the Earth Ballroom hosted by Beam Suntory warmed up guests, followed by the signature Grand Tasting Preview also on Jan. 27. The Grand Tasting Event on Jan. 28 in the casino’s Earth Expo & Convention Center featured more than 1,000 brands of beer, wine and spirits coupled with local food offerings from area restaurants with center-stage demonstrations and special guests. More fine wines and spirits were offered through a separate tasting during the Vintage Cru event in the casino’s Earth Ballroom during the afternoon. The Celebrity Chef Dine-Around capped Saturday evening with gourmet cuisine prepared by each of the 20 featured chefs, paired with a select fine wine, spirit or beer, with live music spun by DJ Irie. The weekend concluded with Bloodys & Brunch at novelle hosted by Buddy Valastro. Proceeds benefited the Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation; $8,800 was donated to the nonprofit. Across the four-day festival, 10,000 guests visited the casino.
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- Allan S. Goodman’s Tyler Prochnik showcasing Benziger Sauvignon Blanc and Kurt Graf highlighting Imagery Pinot Noir.
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- All Brescome Barton Account Development Managers: Megan Litke, Jillian Carey and Veronica Saurett.
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- All of Connecticut Distributors, Inc. (CDI): Nadine Gengras, Field Sales Manager; Sandra Terenzio-Brickley, On Premise Division Manager; Dell Pannier, On Premise Sales Representative; Dana Badway, Account Development Specialist – Casinos; and Kelly Miller, On Premise Sales Representative.
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- All of CDI, Anchor Division: Joe Verrilli, District Manager Fairfield County; Nicole LaBella, Sales Representative; Ben Ravizzi, Sales Representative; Kassandra Bayles McCarthy, Sales Representative; and Brie Cassidy, Sales Representative.
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- All of Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc.: Stefan Wich, Account Consultant; Faith Ames, Sales; Doug Preston Jr., Sales; and Kristy Romano, Associate Sales Representative.
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- All of Highland Imports: James Gillies, Sales; Jamie Clemente, Sales Manager; and Jennifer Galletti, Sales.
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- All of Mancini Beverage: (Front) Cody Olson, Sales Representative; Todd Murphy, Sales Representative; Eric Levine, Merchandiser; and Travis Pihlman, High-End Manager. Back: Kip Taylor, Sales Representative and Josh Martellotta, Sales Representative.
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- Slocum & Sons’ Jonathan Edwards, Account Development Manager showcasing Decoy Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc and Alicia Boncimino, Sales Consultant highlighting Luc Belaire Bleu.
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- Mike Pulvertaft, Co-founder, Wild Arbor plant-based cream liqueur and Marcia Passavant, Spirits Manager, Monsieur Touton Selection, Ltd.
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- All of Worldwide Wines: Mollie Merecicky, Sales Representative; Ryan Robinson, Director of Education; and Vanessa Neves, Regional Sales Manager.
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- Hartley & Parker staff at the Baileys Hot Cocoa bar.
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- Valerie Syme and Gabriele Ogoley, Wormtown Brewery.
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- Brand Ambassadors Alexa Holmes and Pierina Lecaros, Maker’s Mark.
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- Brand Ambassadors Bernadine Provost and Sue Daddio with batched cocktails featuring Hendrick’s Gin.
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- Stephanie Smith and Francesca Bustamante showcasing Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum.
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- Josh Brock, Basil Haden.
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- Lanie Renfer, Mary Zalewa and Brent Muoio, Regional Sales Manager, Milam & Greene.
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- Brett Calkins, New England Manager, Bronco Wine Company.
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- Joe Orsini, Connecticut State Manager, Lawson’s Finest Liquids.
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- John Abercrombie, Regional Market Manager, Founder’s Brewing Co. and Jon Ladd, Back East Brewing Company.
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- Neil White, Hartford Distributing and John Abercrombie, Regional Market Manager, Founder’s Brewing Co.
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- Jon Ladd, Sales Representative and Becca Ladd, Back East Brewing Company.
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- Brand Ambassadors Carol Joyce and Dylan Galvis, Heineken Silver.
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- Brett Calkins, New England Manager, Bronco Wine Co. and Phil Long, Founder and Winemaker, Longevity Wines.
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- Dimitrios Zahariadis, Founder, The Cocktail Chemist with his ready-to-drink canned cocktails.
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- Austin Harris and Natasha Witik, Co-owner, Whimsically Tipsy.
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- Lindsey Gulics, Sr. Brand Development Manager and John Preston Bundy, Brand Development Manager, Barrel Craft Spirits showcasing Stellum Rye and Barrell Seagrass Whiskey.
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- Lauren McKenney, CT Sales Representative and a Sales Representative.
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- John Stack and Chris Putorti, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.
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- Debbie Licho and C.J. Baranowksi, Waypoint Spirits and Up in Smoke.
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- Donna Taylor showcasing William Grant & Sons’ Batch & Bottle Premium Pre-Batched Cocktails in Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan.
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- Sarah Gabbs, Brand Ambassador; Michael Loudon, State Manager, Rémy Cointreau; and Karissa Diaz, Brand Ambassador.
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- Juan Rivas, U.S. Marines Operation Eduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom and Member, Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund; Jairus Domenech, Member, Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund; and David Vieira, U.S. Army OEF and Chairman, Afghanistan Iraq Veterans Memorial Fund. Brewed in collaboration with Stony Creek Brewery. Proceeds from sales of Area of Operations Lager benefit the Afghanistan Iraq Veterans War Memorial Fund.
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- Doug Meaney, State Manager CT/RI and Brand Ambassador Lori Chapman, Clonakilty Distillery showcasing Clonakilty Single Malt Irish Whiskey and Cigar Blend Irish Whiskey.
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- Brand Ambassador Jen Arnaboldi showcasing Glenville Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah and Chris Chichester, Glenville Wines, MD&S Distributors highlighting Bedford Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.
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- Dan Pelzar, Marketing Coordinator, Fishers Island Lemonade.
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- Amy Lynn Axelrod, Chatham Imports showcasing Siete Misterios Mezcal Artesanal.
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- Tara Brunelle, Brand Ambassador; Rachel Landau, Sales Coordinator; and Tre Kehoe, Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
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- Ted Satinsky, CT State Manager highlighting Saracina Unoaked Chardonnay and Polina Burns, Senior Portfolio Manager, Taub Family Selections showcasing Invivo Sauvignon Blanc.
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- Eleni Medici, Brand Ambassador and Sarah Hadir, Area Manager CT, Mast-Jägermeister US showcasing Teremana Tequila.
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- Joe Darigan, CT Sales Manager, Two Roads Brewing Company.
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- Melissa Westover and Ashley Buczko, Allan S. Goodman showcasing Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey and Bushmills Single Malt Irish Whiskey in the Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey Bar.
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- Bill DiRienzo, Account Manager and Louis Veras, CT Account Manager, Latitude Beverage Co.
