[L-R] Co-Founder and Director of the 1st Annual BVI Wine & Food Festival Abby O'Neal, Managing Directof of Scotiabank BVI Jason Waters, CEO of Digicel BVI Declan Cassidy, Governor William B. McCleary and Director of Operations at the ROMASCO Group Patricia Romney. Photo: VINO

Governor William B. McCleary chats with Managing Director of Scotiabank BVI Mr Jason Waters at the Bamboushay Lounge yesterday, October 7, 2013. Photo: VINO

Co-Founder and Director of the 1st Annual BVI Wine & Food Festival Abbey O'Neal, said she was excited, overwhelmed and truly humbled to be associated with such a prestigious international brand as Scotiabank. Photo: VINO

The Wine & Food Festival will feature a series of exclusive high end wine tasting dinners and a two-day and night Grand Tasting Village to be hosted at Nanny Cay Resort and Marina. Photo: VINO

[L-R] Jason Waters, Abbey O'Neal raise a toast with David D. Archer. Photo: VINO

The festival will feature three solo dinners by the international visiting chefs, a collaborative five course dinner with all five featured chefs as well as a beachside Grand Tasting Village at Nanny Cay Resort & Marina. Photo: VINO

The Festival, which is also being sponsored by Digicel and the ROMASCO group, is expected to take place next month from November 1-3, 2013.

Co-Founder and Director of the event, Ms Abby O’Neal said she was excited, overwhelmed and truly humbled to be associated with such a prestigious international brand as Scotiabank.

The Wine & Food Festival will feature a series of exclusive high end wine tasting dinners and a two-day and night Grand Tasting Village to be hosted at Nanny Cay Resort and Marina where winemakers and merchants, distillers, restaurants and farmers will provide guests with samples of their exquisite creations. Scrub Island Resort, Marina and Spa will also be the host of the formal Wine Dinner Series.

Waters said the Festival offers several economic advantages to business on island as well as presents a unique opportunity to promote the country as a unique Caribbean destination with exquisite cuisine and an exotic culture.

“This is our opportunity to shine as we showcase our people and our exotic islands,” Waters stated while adding, “Scotiabank sees this as an excellent way to stimulate our economy and the restaurant industry in particular; as the events place centre stage the delectable delights prepared by our excellent local chefs as well as the guest international celebrity chefs.”

Some of the chefs to be featured at the event include Chef Cesare Casella; Chef François Payard; Chef Jennifer Carroll; Chef Ron Duprat; Chef Davide Pugliese; Chef Travis Philips of The Dove Restaurant as well as BVI Culinary Team gold medalist Chef/Owner Imran Ashton of Plumrose Restaurant.

The exciting culinary weekend will be hosted by Chef Davide Pugliese of Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina.

The festival will feature three solo dinners by the international visiting chefs, a collaborative five course dinner with all five featured chefs as well as a beachside Grand Tasting Village at Nanny Cay Resort & Marina where wine merchants and restaurants will offer samplings, along with entertainment and featured demonstrations.

Also on offer at the Grand Tasting Village are Wine Tasting Classes and an evening featuring rums and beers of the Caribbean.