The Saratoga Wine & Food Festival, slated for September 8th and 9th, is going to be a lot bigger than initially anticipated. Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, affectionately known as “Big Papi,” will be on hand at three of the festival’s events highlighting his new line of cigars and Arias wine!
David Ortiz’ Role at the Festival
Ortiz will be headlining three events at the festival on Friday evening: a meet and greet/photo signing for 100 Fired Up! ticketholders who donate a minimum of $50 or more to the David Ortiz Children’s Fund; brief remarks to Fired Up! guests and a video presentation on the Children’s Fund; and an hour and a half long “Big Papi’s Arias Wine & Cigar Bar” experience for 100 people.
A portion of the proceeds for each event will go towards the Children’s Fund, which is a charity that provides funds for pediatric services in New England and the Dominican Republic, where Ortiz is from.
The line of wines is called “Arias Wine” after Ortiz’s mother, who passed away in 2002. The wine label has an image of two hands raised with the index fingers pointing upwards – this was his signature salute Ortiz often made to his mother after hitting a home run.
The cigar line is called “Big Papi David Ortiz Cigars” and is based out of the Dominican Republic. The band on the cigars displays a red silhouette of Ortiz pointing upward, similar to the label on the wines.
“He is not only a baseball hero, he is someone whose life and career have been an inspiration to millions of people,” Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of SPAC, said in a statement. “We are proud that such an outstanding and beloved figure and role model will play a part in this year’s festival.”
About the Saratoga Wine & Food Festival
The Saratoga Wine & Food Festival is a weekend-long event at SPAC featuring prime wines, spirits, and exhibitors from across the country in addition to the best food local restaurants have to offer.
Fired Up! is a thrilling grill-off among the top grillers in the Capital Region. Both judges and the public will judge the competition. Restaurants participating this year are 677 Prime, Ama Cocina, Druthers Brewing Company, Henry Street Taproom, Max London’s, Salt & Char, Forged, and Morrissey’s.
The other main competition at the festival is the Grand Tasting and Concours D’Elegance on Saturday, which includes a cook-off between the competition’s amateur chef finalist and BlueStar celebrity chef Melissa Doney.
There will also be culinary demonstrations, the Adirondack Road Tour and Luncheon, and more food and wine related excitement. Foodies and wine enthusiasts will not want to miss out on this year’s festival!
