(Newport, RI)  Food & Wine magazine and American Public Television (APT) will sponsor the 4^th annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, taking place September 25-27, 2009.  The Festival is set in one of America's most picturesque settings—the historic mansions of the legendary Vanderbilt family, The Breakers and Marble House—in the seaside resort of Newport, Rhode Island. 

Food & Wine has become the presenting sponsor of the Festival, and two of APT's most popular celebrity chefs, Jacques Pépin and Joanne Weir, will be featured through the weekend. Public television viewers from New England and across the country will recognize Pépin and Weir --regulars on the lifestyle channel Create™ TV -- as award-winning culinary experts and program hosts.

Also appearing in the Celebrity Chef Cooking Tent over the weekend will be Chef David Burke of David Burke Prime at Foxwoods and Townhouse in New York, as well as other culinary experts.

The Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival is hosted by and benefits the historic preservation efforts of The Preservation Society of Newport County.

"Having Food & Wine and American Public Television as sponsors in just our fourth year is a testament to how quickly this Festival has grown into a nationally-recognized and anticipated event," said Trudy Coxe, CEO and Executive Director of the Preservation Society. 

Internationally-renowned chef, teacher and cookbook author Jacques Pépin, host of APT's Jacques Pépin: More Fast Food My Way, will be honored for his lifetime of culinary achievements at the Festival's Friday night gala event, A Vintage Evening at The Breakers.  The gala will feature food samplings, tastings of specialty wines, music, and a live auction of collectible wines and luxury goods, with auction services provided by Christie's.

Along with Pépin, Joanne Weir of Joanne Weir's Cooking Class will be among the celebrity chefs providing free demonstrations and booksignings during the Grand Tastings on Saturday and Sunday.

"Food & Wine is delighted to be the presenting sponsor of the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival.  The mansions provide a beautiful backdrop for a spectacular line-up of wine, food and celebrity chef demonstrations," said Christina Grdovic, vice president and publisher of Food & Wine. "We look forward to three wonderful days in Newport in September."

"American Public Television is honored to be a part of the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, and to be working closely on the event with Rhode Island PBS.  We are pleased to bring two highly-regarded chefs to the Festival to share their culinary expertise with attendees," said Jamie Haines, Director of Communications for APT.  "This Festival will provide public television viewers and lovers of wine and food the opportunity to learn from the masters, in one of the grandest settings imaginable."

The Saturday and Sunday Grand Tastings will feature more than 100 of the world's finest wineries pouring 400-plus wines for tasting.  Nearly two dozen restaurants and caterers will provide food samples, and high-end lifestyle exhibitors will also be on hand to display their latest products and services.  Both days will also include a silent auction, featuring wines, hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates, sports memorabilia and other items.

Sunday will also feature the popular Jazz Brunch on the terrace of Marble House, with a menu designed by Annie Copps of Yankee Magazine. 

In addition to Pépin, Weir and Burke, the Celebrity Chef Cooking Tent will also feature free demonstrations by Annie Copps of Yankee, Roseann Tully of Intermezzo, and noted chefs from some of the best restaurants in Newport and Providence: Walter Potenza of Walter's Ristorante d'Italia, Kyle Ketchum of The Spiced Pear, Kevin Thiele of One Bellevue, and chocolatier Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections.  Wine expert Tyler Colman, known as "Dr. Vino," will also do a special wine presentation.

Tickets and more detailed information about the Festival weekend events are available online.  Special pricing is available on tickets purchased before September 14, 2009.  The Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival is also sponsored by Clarke Luxury Showrooms, Cotes du Rhone Wines, Loire Valley Wines, Create TV, Rhode Island PBS, Dasani, Intermezzo and Yankee. 

The Festival is produced by ResourcePlus Shows & Events.

The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island is a non-profit educational organization accredited by the American Association of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts.  Its 11 historic properties—seven of them National Historic Landmarks—span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.