Tourisme Dordogne Hosts a Two-Day Food and Wine Tasting Event in Chicago

CHICAGO, IL, April 17, 2013 (Press-News.org) More than 100 travel industry professionals, media, and food & wine specialists gathered at the French inspired Sofitel Chicago Water Tower Hotel this week to experience "A Taste of La Dordogne," hosted by Perigord Tourisme Dordogne. With efforts to showcase the exquisite tourism and gastronomy offerings from the region, guests were able to learn about the destination while savouring some of its best wines and food products.

Monday evening was dedicated to travel trade professionals and the media who had the opportunity to meet with Tourisme Dordogne representatives, including Press and Promotion Manager for the Dordogne Tourism Board, Micheline Morissonneau. Attendees began with a wine reception as they watched a short presentation showcasing the region's picturesque scenery, historical features and fine gastronomy. Afterwards, guests enjoyed a "Walk in Perigord" dinner and regional wine pairing featuring a special menu prepared by award-winning regional Chef Vincent Arnould from the luxury Relais & Chateaux hotel Vieux Logis. The menu showcased Dordogne's best delicacies and fare including duck Foie Gras, chestnuts, black truffle, smoked duck, Crème Brûlee and wine infused strawberry dessert. All the products featured came directly from the region courtesy of local producers including Bergerac, Rougie, Bovetti Artisian Chocolatier, Inovfruit and Picandine.

On Tuesday evening the Hotel's ballroom transformed into a charming French marketplace where the same local producers had the opportunity to showcase their products to Chicago's wine and food importers, sommeliers, restaurant managers, and other food and wine professionals. Among the products showcased including regional wine, Foie Gras, chestnuts, chocolate and cheese. Once again, Chef Vincent Arnould prepared tasting menus featuring food & wine parings, which guests enjoyed while networking with exhibitors.

Director of the Dordogne Tourism Board, Christophe Gravier said: "On behalf of Tourisme Dordogne, I am delighted with how successful our workshops at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower Hotel turned out. The Dordogne is a beautiful destination with a multitude of recreational and cultural activities on offer and is very accessible for the US market. With our latest sales manual designed to help tourism professionals put together tailor-made holidays and our 84 page luxury magazine, we hope to continue to educate travel trade and convert interest into sales. Tourisme Dordogne will focus on six key themes for 2013: special events, adventure, culture, heritage and local delicacies, which our guests have experienced this evening. We look forward to welcoming more and more UK visitors to the region."

The Dordogne in south-west France attracts more than three million visitors annually and offers a wide range of activities for adults, children and sport enthusiasts. The green hills, lakes and rivers provide the perfect natural landscape for outdoor adventures including mountain biking, horseback riding, canoeing and fishing. The Dordogne also boasts the largest number of eco-certified campsites in France, an award that recognizes campsites committed to environmentally friendly principles.

The Dordogne's rich history compliments the natural beauty of its landscape with fascinating architecture, history. With a year-round calendar of colourful events, the Dordogne is a vibrant, welcoming region offering a stunning backdrop for visitors of all ages to enjoy their favourite outdoor activities and cultural experiences.

For more information on the Dordogne region, please visit http://www.dordogne-perigord-tourisme.fr
For the latest Tourisme Dordogne sales agent pack please contact: sla24groupe@wanadoo.fr