Sponsors are important to Savor Dallas, and they are also important to you.  

Sponsor participation helps raise the quality of the event and brings more excitement to it--in the form of world-class wines, winemakers, chefs and more.   Their support allows us to stage the event in beautiful settings across the Arts District and Downtown Dallas.  Sponsor participation also helps keep the ticket prices lower.  Did you know that comparable wine and food events across the U.S. charge patrons almost twice as much to attend as Savor Dallas?  We just wanted you to know what role our sponsors play in making this a great event, and encourage you to support them by buying their products.  And, if you think about, when you taste their products at Savor Dallas or elsewhere, please let them know we were bragging about them.  Thanks.  

The 2012 Savor Dallas Sponsors

Savor Dallas is Presented by Kroger Kroger is Dallas-Fort Worth’s neighborhood grocery store for food and wine indulgences at affordable prices. Kroger operates 85 locations in North Texas and takes pride in providing an enticing selection of international, national, regional and local foods including fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables along with wine, breads, and cheeses. Kroger is the nation’s largest florist, offering a bountiful assortment of flowers and delivery to anywhere in the world. Emphasizing a customer-first approach, Kroger provides quality products, value pricing, outstanding service and an exceptional shopping experience. For more information about Kroger, visit www.kroger.com or Facebook.

MacMurray Ranch The property now known as MacMurray Ranch was originally homesteaded by Colonel George Porter, who returned to the Russian River Valley in 1846 as a hero of the Mexican wars. Porter chose his home in a meadow nestled in a bend of the little stream that became known as Porter Creek, just a short way from where the creek empties into the Russian River. There was good land. Wild oats grew in abundance and wildflowers blossomed after the winter rains.  Porter's family stayed on the land for generations, farming livestock and crops on the rich silt soils of the valley floor. In 1941, Fred MacMurray, one of Hollywood's best-loved actors, bought the ranch from the Porters. Committed to farming the land, he raised his family there and they enjoyed the natural wonders of Sonoma County and the rewarding ranch lifestyle. Today, the ranch looks much as it did a century ago, surrounded by rail fences and framed by oak and redwood groves. Only now it is also home to some of Sonoma County's finest vineyards. Click here to visit the website

Louis M. Martini We believe that Cabernet Sauvignon is the most noble of grapes. We believe that great winemaking begins with great vineyards, and we want the land to speak through our wines. Our wines express the best characteristics of Cabernet, the personality of the special places where our grapes are grown, and the vision and skill of the winemaker in blending balanced, engaging, and memorable wines. When he opened his Napa Valley winery in 1933, Louis M. Martini was a colorful, energetic young man who believed that the best wine could only be made from the best grapes. To grow those grapes, he needed the best vineyard land he could find. He found that land in Napa and Sonoma counties.  He had come to the U.S. from Italy as a boy in 1899 to join his father in San Francisco.  In 1906 Louis M. Martini made his first wine and showed great promise as a winemaker.  His father sent him back to Italy to study winemaking, and by 1911 he had returned to California to begin a long and illustrious career as a grape grower and winemaker.  Mike Martini carries on the family tradition today as winemaker of Louis M. Martini. Click here to visit the website

Bridlewood Winery Bridlewood crafts a range of premium wines that reflect the kaleidoscope of flavors found in dozens of Central Coast vineyards from Monterey to Santa Barbara. Winemaker David Hopkins spends a great deal of time in the vineyards that dot the Pacific Coastline, searching for grapes that will give him unique flavors in the glass.  In the winery, it's all about blending. David melds different vineyard lots to coax the best flavors into his Syrah, Viognier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. The result is a collection of wines that are generous of fruit and seamlessly integrated – balanced wines that speak to the flavors of the Central Coast. Click here to visit the website

Stella Artois "She's a thing of beauty", the theme of the Stella Artois TV commercials that aired in SuperBowl XLV. See the Stella commercials here and get linked to Stella's Facebook page.   Stella Artois shines at Savor Dallas this year, with starring roles in the Arts District Wine Stroll, the "Sips and Sounds" at the Kessler Theater, and the International Grand Tasting.  Stella Artois is brewed in Belgium (both in the plants of Leuven and Jupille) and the United Kingdom.  The Anno 1366 on the Stella Artois logo refers to the origin of brewing in the city of Leuven. The city's tax records dated 1366 mention the existence of a local brewpub called Den Hoorn, ('Hoorn' in Dutch meaning 'Horn' in English, as is represented in the logo on the beer label). The name Artois was coupled to the brewery in 1708, when new owner Sebastian Artois achieved the title of master brewer. The frame that surrounds the name Stella Artois on the label refers to the traditional style of window frame found in Flemish architecture.  In Belgium, Stella Artois is promoted as Mijn thuis is waar mijn Stella staat and Chez moi, c'est près de ma Stella (My home is where my Stella is.).  In 2009, the band All Time Low released a song called Stella, and it was revealed that the song was not based on a girl but, you guessed it,  the beer brand, Stella Artois. Click here to visit the website.

Artizone.com If you're passionate about artisan food, you're going to love Artizone.com.  This new online service brings you great food products from top artisans in the Dallas area, all in the Artizone style.  Order gourmet items from the Bakery section (La Duni Latin Kitchen and Baking), The Butcher (VonGeertsem Butcher Shoppe),  artisan cheese (Scardello), Italian specialties (Flavors From Afar), Produce (Tom Spicer's Spiceman's FM 1410), Jams (JJ&B - Jellies, Jams & Butters).  Your online market lets you order the items you want and have them delivered to your home.  The delivery area will continue to grow,  and additional artisans will be added.  We are delighted to have Artizone.com introduce its wonderful service to the Savor Dallas food and wine lovers through participation in the Arts District Wine Stroll and the International Grand Tasting.  Please visit their site and shopping for delicious products today! Click here to visit the website.

FIJI WATER FIJI® Water, natural artesian water bottled at the source in Viti Levu (Fiji islands), is the number one imported bottled water in the United States. FIJI Water, known for its iconic square bottle, soft mouthfeel and unique mineral profile, is the water of choice among discerning consumers and top chefs.  Widely available at fine restaurants and hotels, all major retail channels including grocery and convenience, and through a convenient delivery service, FIJI Water has also expanded globally to more than 40 countries. Through our membership in 1% for the Planet, FIJI Water supports environmental efforts around the world and in our backyard. To learn more, please visit www.fijiwater.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Ultimat Vodka The world's most distinctive vodka.  Created in the birthplace of vodka--Poland--it is the only vodka distilled from both grains and potato, a break from the traditional process of using just one r the other.  The result is an unrivaled, truly distinct, ultra-pure spirit that sets the standard for ultra-premium vodkas.  It is the one vodka that lives up to its name.  A spirit this distinct deserves a bottle worthy of its contents.  You'll find Ultimat Vodka encased in a striking crystal decanter that shines cobalt blue.  Each skillfully crafted decanter is meticulously inspected to ensure a beautiful elegant presence, distinguished by a small bubble that floats in the heart of its thick, crystal base.  Pick up a bottle and you'll feel the weight of a vodka rich with ancestry, ripe with complexity, and full of sophistication. Click here to visit the website.

GreatBrewers.com GreatBrewers.com was created in 2008 with the mission of bridging the gap between the world’s great brewers and the consumers who enjoy their products, with a paramount focus on education and on enhancing beer distribution practices through the sharing of information. GreatBrewers.com has rapidly become a favorite source for beer information and education, joining pioneering websites as one of the internet's most popular beer destinations. Imagine a world where you could access everything that's important to you with regard to beer in one place. Save all of your favorite beers, brewers, and places to buy beer. Instantly access a beer's description with a scan of its barcode. Create and share your own custom beer lists. Map the closest retailers currently carrying one of your favorite beers. Get beer and food pairing recommendations in seconds, and submit and save your tasting notes. Click here to visit the website.

Drink Ribera.  Drink Spain Savor Dallas is pleased to welcome the wonderful wines from Ribera del Duero to our tasting events at the Arts District Wine Stroll, the Wine Panel--featuring brand ambassador April Cullom, the Reserve Tasting, and the International Grand Tasting.  Wine Enthusiast's Michael Schachner on Ribera del Duero: “…the Tempranillo in this area makes the best red wine in the world.”  Officially, the Denominación de Origen (D.O.) of Ribera del Duero was founded on July 21, 1982 by an organization of wine producers and growers who were determined to promote the quality of their wines and enforce regulatory standards.  In practice, winemaking in Ribera dates back over 2,000 years to the Roman era, as evidenced by a recent find, a 66-meter mosaic of Bacchus, the god of wine, unearthed at Baños de Valdearados.  Wine became an essential aspect of Ribera’s cultural and economic development facilitating trade with other areas of Spain and resulting in the first quality regulations, the “Ordinances of Castilla y León,” in the fifteenth century.  Ribera wines were highly regarded for export at the height of the Spanish Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries, and in more recent times the founding of Bodega Vega Sicilia in 1864 heralded the quality credentials of the region prior to the formal establishment of the D.O.  Today, new technology and modern techniques as well as a respect for tradition have driven the quality of Ribera del Duero to its highest accomplishments in over two millennia of winemaking history. Ribera wines have received international acclaim and enjoy widespread distribution. Click here to visit the website.

1800 - "Change the Game" Blue agave plants are grown high above the sea in mineral-rich volcanic soil in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico.  It takes eight years for the agave plants to ripen, and they can only be harvested once.  The Jimador, the worker who harvests the agave plants, uses tools such as a coa, a steel-tipped hoe, to unroot the agave plant from the iron rich soil, and a machete to cut the spiny leaves from the body of the plant.  This reveals a large pineapple-shaped heart of the plant called a piña. The piñas, which can weigh over 100 lbs. are then transported to the distillery to begin the Tequila making process. he piñas are steamed in large stone ovens for up to 48 hours to enhance the flavor.  The cooked piñas are then pressed in mills in order to extract the agave juice.  The resulting juice is fermented and double-distilled.  The distillate is then ready to be aged in oak barrels.  Depending on the Tequila product, various aging techniques may be applied.  Silver tequilas, also referred to as white or blanco, are typically unaged, but may rest up to 59 days in wood.  Reposado or "rested" tequilas are aged for 2 to 11 months in French or American oak barrels.  Finaly, Añejo, or "Aged" tequilas are aged for 1 year or more in French or American oak barrels.   Click here to visit the website.

Becker Vineyards Located in the Texas Hill Country between Fredericksburg and Stonewall, Becker Vineyards was established in 1992 by Richard and Bunny Becker.  The vineyard was planted on a site of native Mustang grapes much prized for winemaking by German neighbors and their ancestors. Also planted on site is a three acre lavender field reminiscent of the wine country of Provence, France.  The 46 acres of French Vinifera vines generate 8 different available varietals, including Syrah, Petite Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.  The vines are planted in a mixture of deep sand and Precambrian granitic soils at 1,500 feet above sea level. The vines are watered with water welled from limestone formations 300 feet beneath the surface. A drip irrigation system is employed throughout the vineyard.  Becker Vineyard’s first harvest was in 1995. Most vintages are aged in new French oak, others in new American oak, and stored in the largest underground wine cellar in Texas.  Becker Vineyards is open for tasting, tours, wine gift purchases, and picnics. We invite you to join us on the porch during spring and summer or by the hearth of an open fire during the winter in the tasting room. We also host many events throughout the year that we encourage you to attend. Click here to visit the website

Community Coffee Taste delicious Community Coffee at the International Grand Tasting.  For four generations, the Saurage family of Louisiana has owned and operated Community Coffee Company. In 1919, Henry Norman "Cap" Saurage discovered the secret of making this great-tasting coffee in his country store in Dixie, Louisiana, near Baton Rouge. He named his coffee "Community" in honor of his community of friends. In 1924, he closed the store and converted his backyard barn into a coffee mill, using coffee beans purchased from a local roaster. In 1941, Cap's son H. Norman Saurage Jr. purchased the company's first coffee roaster, having decided that Community should roast its own coffee to ensure quality at every step. A roasting plant was built in Baton Rouge in 1946. Over the years, Community Coffee Company would take countless steps to ensure the quality of its product. In 1955, the company began importing green coffee beans directly from coffee plantations in Brazil. In 1970, a new plant was built on the Mississippi River in Port Allen, Louisiana. In 1980, Community introduced the nation's first vacuum-sealed coffee package.  The first CC's Community Coffee House opened on the corner of Jefferson and Magazine Street in New Orleans in 1995. Dozens more opened during the 10 years that followed.  It's been more than 90 years since Cap Saurage founded Community Coffee Company, but our mission has never changed – to share our passion for great coffee with our customers.  Click here to visit the website.

D Magazine D Magazine was founded in 1974 by two University of Texas graduates, Wick Allison and Jim Atkinson. Both had a vision of giving Dallas an independent city magazine with an impact that would serve readers' interests. They developed their concept after-hours while Allison, a Dallas native, attended graduate school at Southern Methodist University and Atkinson reported on KERA's daily Newsroom program. Their vision was backed financially by young Dallas business people who shared their belief in the need for a strong city magazine. What was merely an idea, however, became a reality when Stanley Marcus, the legendary retailer, sent a letter to his 200,000 Neiman Marcus cardholders in the Dallas area recommending they subscribe to the as-yet-unpublished new magazine. D Magazine is the official Texas magazine media partner for Savor Dallas. We are pleased to have been associated with D Magazine since our inception.   Click here to visit the website.

American Airlines American Airlines is the official airline of Savor Dallas. We are proud to have been associated with the Fort Worth based carrier since the beginning of our event. It was American Airline's support and belief in our dream of creating an upscale wine and food event for North Texas that helped launch Savor Dallas in 2005. America's leading airline has built a solid reputation as a strong, competitive leader in the airline industry.   Click here to visit the website.

Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) represents the $1.5 billion dollar hospitality industry in Irving.  Funded solely by hotel tax collections, the ICVB targets corporate, convention and leisure visitors to our hospitality industry partners - the city's hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops, as well as attractions throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. The strength of the visitor industry and the city's hotel tax collections also provide the funding resources for the city's vibrant Irving Arts Center and preservation and redevelopment programs. Click here to visit the website.

Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas The Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas represents the innovative future of meetings and events. With almost 100,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, the building’s unique architecture, vertical design, and interior finishes create a new niche in the marketplace. And the opportunities don’t stop at the building’s walls. Ideally situated on 40 acres in the heart of Irving’s Las Colinas Urban Center, the convention center is just the first phase of a mixed-use entertainment district that will include a convention center hotel, a 6,000-person capacity performance venue, and unique options for dining and shopping. Click here to visit the website.

Travelocity Be on the lookout for the Travelocity.com "Gnome" at Savor Dallas.  You'll have a chance to have your picture made with the star of stage, screen and television.  You'll be the envy of all your friends on Facebook!  Clue:  Be sure to attend the Arts District Wine Stroll on Friday March 30th, and the International Grand Tasting on Saturday March 31st, for your chance to meet the handsome Gnome.   We here at Travelocity believe that you deserve great travel experiences. That's why we created our own Travelocity Customer Bill of Rights and realigned our entire organization so that our products, policies and employees protect them. It's on the foundation of this work, strengthened by our commitment to continually get better at what we do, that we offer the Travelocity Guarantee.  The Travelocity Guarantee is our seal on your traveler rights, a promise to our customers that we'll do our utmost to take care of you - that when you book with Travelocity, 'you'll never roam alone.' This promise extends to your entire trip experience; it even includes a low price guarantee to assure that you're getting a great deal for the travel you want. Click here to visit the website.

Riedel Crystal North America From its beginnings in northern Bohemia in 1756, down to this day, and across 11 generations under the ownership of the same family, Riedel Glass has stood for the high art of glassmaking.  A Bohemian glass merchant, Johann Christoph Riedel was the starting point for a direct line through several generations down to today's corporate head Georg J. Riedel and his son Maximilian.  Each Riedel in this long chain has been able to contribute his personal skills and views to expand the company's success and make it what it is today.   Robert M. Parker from The Wine Advocate puts it succinctly:  "The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make."  Riedel is the official tasting glass at all Savor Dallas events.   Click here to visit the website.

Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau Dallas' new slogan "Live Large. Think Big." describes the essence and vitality of a city built on big dreams, freshly blazed trails and an attitude that all things are possible. This richly diverse city offers a thriving culinary scene, leading arts district, countless luxury accommodations, professional sports, trendy entertainment districts and endless shopping opportunities. The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau has supported Savor Dallas from its inception with marketing and public relations support.   Click here to visit the website.

CBS Radio, Dallas Savor Dallas salutes our official radio media partners and invites you to tune to any of these fine CBS radio stations for more information about our event and to stay in-touch with our community. Historical footnote: It was Savor Dallas founder, and 2010 inductee into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, Jim White's association with "The KRLD Restaurant Show with Jim White" and "KRLD Restaurant Week" that provided the impetus to start Savor Dallas. For real history buffs: Jim was afternoon drive host on 98.7 KLUV from 1989 to 1990, and before that, in the early 70's, as part of a team assembled for the legendary Gordon McLendon's station (then called "KNUS 99"), by Ken Dowe and Michael Spears. White also rode the airwaves back in the late 60's on 103.7, then called KVIL, with radio legend Ron Chapman.  Click on the logos below to visit the station's website.

Nasher Sculpture Center The beautiful Renzo Piano designed Nasher Sculpture Center has lived up to the dream legendary Raymond Nasher and his wife Patsy had when plans were made to open the world-class facility in the heart of the Dallas Arts District: to be an international focal point and catalyst for the study, installation, conservation, and appreciation of modern and contemporary sculpture. Mr. Nasher was recognized by Savor Dallas in 2006 with the "Lone Star Award" for outstanding contribution to the Arts in Dallas.   Click here to visit the website.

AT&T Performing Arts Center The grand opening ceremonies of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, held in October 2009, marked the long-anticipated completion of the Dallas Arts District, an idea first conceived more than 25 years ago. In the late 1970s, visionary Dallas leaders foresaw the growing need for new cultural facilities in Dallas. They identified the clear advantage of clustering these venues within a tight geographic area in order to reap maximum economic, educational and cultural benefits for each arts entity and for the city of Dallas. The mission of the AT&T Performing Arts Center is to raise funds to build a premier performing arts center consistent with Dallas' longstanding tradition of achieving greatness by blending the city's powerful entrepreneurial spirit with the community's generosity and commitment to volunteerism. Savor Dallas is thrilled to include the AT&T Performing Arts Center's magnificent facilities in the Arts District Wine Stroll.      Click here to visit the website.

Uptown Jazz Dallas, LLC Thanks to Uptown Jazz Dallas, LLC founder Keith Hill, Savor Dallas has had great video coverage over the last 5 years. Keith's team has tirelessly shot video of all of the major Savor Dallas events since 2006. His production innovation has also made some beautiful animation possible for our events at Victory Park from 2007 through 2009. Uptown Jazz Dallas, LLC specializes in 24p video production, editing and finishing, motion graphics and design, DVD design and sound design. Later this year Uptown Jazz Dallas will roll-out the event production side of our vision by introducing 'signature' special events and productions. " Click here to visit the website.

Pegasus News Pegasus News is an online media partner of Savor Dallas. Their expert coverage of the local scene in DFW has made them an invaluable participant in our event for the last three years. Pegasus News produces the official tasting guide of the Savor Dallas International Grand Tasting, which helps guide food and wine lovers through our largest event of the weekend. Thanks, Pegasus News for your support and coverage of Savor Dallas and the local restaurant scene.   Click here to visit the website.

Best of Guide.com Best of Guide.com is an online media partner and promotional partner of Savor Dallas. BestOfGuide.com is an exclusive database driven direct response marketing company. BestOfGuide.com pioneered the process of connecting high-income consumers with the finest merchants using a proprietary demographic database. Thanks for the continuing support! tabase.  Click here to visit the website.

One of the top restaurant and wine events in Texas, Savor Dallas presents 60 of the top chefs in Dallas-Fort Worth and over 400 premium wines, spirits, and imported beers.