Wine on Harvest Moon 2013

The 12th annual Wine on Harvest Moon at Deering Estate was once again a smashing success. Saturday night’s sold out event (450 tickets sold) took place under a full moon and the colorful tree canopy of Deering.

This year’s theme was “Aussies, Kiwis and Didgeridoos” and the party had just about everything Australia and New Zealand. Laura Lagomasino, Deering’s Director of Development explained, “ This is one of our big fundraisers for the year. We will raise over $25,000 for the Deering Foundation tonight and that helps support our programs throughout the year.”

As you entered and received your tasting glass, you could pet both a kangaroo and a dingo.

Performance artists roamed the grounds doing various dances involving fire sticks.

Indigenous flowers from Australia were provided by Blooming Gardens. Stage performances of didgeridoo music and auctions rounded out the theme.

But the main event was the wine. “All our wines are paired with the nearby food stations and come from regions of Australia and New Zealand. We have nearly two dozen to sample this year,” said 4-year event chairman Howard Tendrich.

The food was also impressive with a chocolate fountain and distinctive Aussie and Kiwi cuisine prepared by Smith and Wollensky, Shula’s 347, Morton’s Steakhouse Coral Gables, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Devon Seafood and Steak, George’s South Miami, Whole Foods Market Coral Gables, Paella Party, Red Fish Grill, The Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove, Ana Capri, Chef David Schwadron Catering & Events Design, and Trulucks Seafood Steak and Crab House.

About the only thing that was shy during the evening was the moon. The cloud cover only allowed it to join the festivities a few times. Coconut Grove Bank President and CEO Rick Kuci Jr., sponsor to the event, said, “This is always a great event and this evening was quite a lot of fun.”