After a highly successful 10th anniversary weekend in 2006, The Biltmore International Food & Wine Weekend will once again hit the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables on October 10th through the 14th. The annual event, featuring numerous activities, serves as a fund-raiser as well as a festival. Last year, proceeds from the weekend went to benefit the University of Miami Sylvestor Comprehensive Cancer Center's research efforts. Everyone who sponsored or contributed to the event received a receipt for the donation portion. Some of the events sponsors included Lexus of South Florida, The South Florida Business Journal, The Miami Herald, Tiffany& Co., and others.

Every year, the Florida festival offers nothing but the best in wine, food, and entertainment to its guests. It all started in 1994 when Yvonne Roberts' love of wine since her childhood in Chile prompted her to launch the Cellar Club. The 1200-plus member club is an ever-growing club that has become a mainstay of the South Florida social scene. It's a place for members to relax and enjoy great wine, cheese and fruit while taking in the spectacular view that Coral Gables has to offer. Roberts later decided that the club should give back to the community by founding the The Bitmore International Food & Wine Weekend. The event to date has raised over $6 million for various charities. This commitment to the community makes it a much loved member. The club is open every day on the 7th floor of the hotel from 5 PM until midnight and features a bar with more then 100 different wines from across the globe.

The weekend has received extensive coverage in publications such as Ocean Drive, USA Today, Florida Trend and more because of its top notch entertainment and events. The best wineries from all over serve their highest quality wines at the event and top notch Miami restaurants as well as some from other places provide great food to go with it. Last year's event not only featured the requisite wine tastings, but it also featured a Golf tournament, a performance by Latin artist Albita and a stand up act by Joy Behar. Behar is currently a host of the ABC talk show "The View". That was not all there was to do at the festival. It also featured a Silent Auction where guests could bid on bottles of wine, necklaces, bracelets, a decanter, Golf putter, and even a Chanel perfume gift basket. The most sought after item was a painting by Gilda Sacasa specifically for the auction. It was valued at $6,000. The auction also included a luncheon prepared by celebrity chefs Pilar Sanchez, Luke Palladino & Govind Armstrong.

The Bitmore International Food & Wine Weekend will undoubtably continue its tradition for providing sophisticated, quality food, drink and entertainment and doing a lot of good along the way once again in 2007. To keep informed about the Celler Club, plans for the 2007 weekend or to find out how to join don't forget to check out the website at http://www.biltmorewineweekend.com.