Lagasse, Pépin Team Part of the Newport Food & Wine Fest

Emeril Lagasse

By Naomi Kooker

Emeril Lagasse and father-daughter duo, Jacques and Claudine Pépin, will be featured food stars at the 7th annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, which takes place September 21-23.

These renowned chefs and others will be presenting seminars and cooking demos as part of the weekend-long celebration of fine food and wine in the seaside city of Newport, just a scant hour and a half drive from Boston. Immerse yourself in daily seminars, food tours, tastings and special dinners, such as the Collectible Wine Dinner at The Elms with the festival’s wine director, Michael Greenlee (7 PM; $450 per person). Sandy Block, a Master of Wine and vice president of beverage operations for Legal Sea Foods, will offer a seminar on "Vinho Verde: Portugal's Rising Star White Wine" on Saturday, September 22 (noon-1 PM).

The tickets are $110 for the Grand Tasting, either Saturday or Sunday. There are also bundled offerings such as the Connoisseur’s Package, which includes the Wine & Rosecliff Gala Friday night and the Grand Tasting Sunday at Marble House, featuring chef Lagasse. It also includes a tour of one of the Newport Mansions and costs $265 in advance and $300 at the door.

All proceeds from the festival benefit The Preservation Society of Newport County, a nonprofit that’s dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts. (For more information and to purchase tickets for the 2012 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, click here or call 401-847-1000).