Savor the flavor of the 9th annual Savor Dallas, expanding this year to include four days of festivities: Thurs., March 14-Sun., March 17th. This “celebration of wine, food, spirits and the arts”, spotlights an exciting new downtown venue for the Friday night wine stroll. The largest premium wine and food event in Texas features cuisine from over 60 of the area’s top chefs and more than 400 premium wines, spirits and beers at its events throughout the weekend.

SAVOR DALLAS THURSDAY NIGHT SNEAK PEEK OF TRINITY GROVES

An added attraction this year is a Thursday night preview taste of the exciting new restaurant and retail incubator Trinity Groves, Thursday March 14th from 6:30 to 8:30. Cross over the beautiful Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and join the party featuring food, fun, music and libations. Be among the first who’ll get to sample the cuisine from many of the dozen planned restaurants that will be opening at Trinity Groves this spring and summer. The list is so super secret, we can’t even reveal the participating restaurants yet. Celebrate with Stella Artois Beer, premium wines, and great entertainment benefiting “Hunger Busters.” Tickets are $40 per person and include all food and beverages offered. Trinity Groves is located at 3015 Gulden Lane.

SAVOR DALLAS FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE SPECTACULAR NEW PEROT MUSEUM

“As Savor Dallas continues to grow its downtown Dallas footprint and expand regionally, we are thrilled and honored to showcase the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science on Friday with our traditional “Wine Stroll” says Jim White, Savor Dallas co-founder along with his wife Vicki Briley-White. “Imagine tasting premium wines, spirits and beers, while touring all five amazing, interactive levels of Dallas’ fantastic new cultural and educational treasure!”

The event is a benefit for the Museum’s “Campaign for Excellence”. So, you’ll be having a great time and helping support the important work of the beautiful Perot Museum. It’s a place where kids get turned-on about nature and science, and where adults get to be kids again! Space at this event is limited due to Museum capacity.

SAVOR DALLAS SATURDAY EVENTS

Continuing are the popular Saturday afternoon wine panels including a 2:00-3:00 pm “Global Wine and Cheese Pairing” at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek to benefit the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food with the Mansion’s Michael Flynn and Rich Rogers from Scardello Artisan Cheese. Another Saturday afternoon Highlight is the 2:00-3:00 pm “Modern Lifestyle Wines” tasting seminar at the Warwick Melrose Hotel featuring a panel of winemakers attending Savor Dallas.The wine lover/expert favorite is the Saturday “Reserve Tasting” featuring ultra-premium wines and spirits from 5 to 6:30 pm at the Irving Convention center in Las Colinas.

SAVOR DALLAS INTERNATIONAL GRAND TASTING

The gourmet highlight of the Savor Dallas weekend–the “International Grand Tasting” (7-10 pm), showcases a sampling of signature cuisine from over 60 top Dallas/Fort Worth top chefs and hundreds of premium wines, spirits, and beers. Both The Reserve Tasting and the International Grand Tasting will be staged in the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas. The evening’s answer to responsible drinking: Savor Dallas offers a designated driver ticket and there will be a supply of Yellow Cabs available to ferry excessive revelers home. Rates will vary depending on Metroplex location destination. Presenting sponsor of Savor Dallas is Kroger. Founding sponsors for this year’s event currently include Louis M. Martini Winery, Stella Artois, Chandon, and American Airlines.

All proceeds from a fine-wine silent auction held during the International Grand Tasting are donated by Savor Dallas to the North Texas Food Bank. The beautiful new Irving Convention Center, itself a work of art, is located at 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd. between O’Connor Road and MacArthur Boulevard on Highway 114 just 10 minutes from downtown Dallas and a short ride on the new Orange Dart Line with a Convention Center stop recently opened.

SAVOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Those with a passion for food, wine, and all things green will delight in a Sunday, March 17th upscale St. Patrick’s Day Celebration presented by Savor Dallas and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Attendees will delight in the breathtaking beauty of spring while strolling through the garden sampling premium wines, beers and spirits and enjoying delectable food samplings from some of Dallas’s finest kitchens. Each guest receives a personal crystal tasting glass as a memento of this wonderful evening in the garden.

Proceeds from the St. Patrick’s Day event go to support the Education Department at the Dallas Arboretum. The March 17 event is 6pm – 8pm and costs $65 or $59 for Arboretum Members. Other ticket prices for the individual events range from $35 to $150. Weekend passes also are available at an overall cost saving. Valet Parking will be $10 per car at the Perot Museum on March 15th. Parking for March 16th will be $8 self-parking in Irving Convention Center Garage or valet parking for $15. For a complete schedule, and all details for each event, including a list of all participants, and to purchase tickets, go to www.SavorDallas.com or call 888-728-6747.

I ran into Dallas Foodie & Friend Tina at Savor Dallas 2012.

All photos provided by the promoters of Savor Dallas, except for the last one taken by the Dallas Observer. News release written by Savor Dallas PR Director Martha Tiller and adapted by ILiveInDallas.com. Savor Dallas was founded by Jim White and wife Vicki Briley-White.