If fall in Rome is ushered in by the annual Chili Cook-off and the Chiaha Harvest Fair, then another event is hoping to take its place among the festivities Romans can look forward to in autumn each year.

The 2012 Fine Wine Festival returns Nov. 4 and brings with it a special Patron’s Party on Oct. 25 — both events will offer Rome residents a chance to sample some of the best of high-end wines from around the world as well as gourmet appetizers.

The festival is a benefit for the Rome Symphony Orchestra, an organization dedicated to enriching the cultural life of Northwest Georgia by providing quality musical programs and by cultivating and expanding musical appreciation.

“We hope people will realize the importance our placement in the community,” said symphony president Barbara Beninato. “All the money we get from fundraisers like this go to programming — concert costs.”

Beninato said Rome residents may not realize how much money it takes to put on the concerts and other programs the symphony provides to community members.

Patron’s Party

The festival kicks off Oct. 25 with an event designed around the area’s discriminating wine aficionados. A Patron’s Party will be held at the Woodlee Culinary Arts Center, a part of Georgia Northwestern Technical College. This year’s theme is “Classic Wines from Around the World.” Two white wines and six reds representing eight countries will be featured at the Patron Party. All the wines are high end selections to properly showcase the finest attributes of the grape and style unique to each region.

Those wines include a Gunderloch Riesling Spatlese from the Rheinhessen region of Germany. The late harvest Riesling is described as opulent and concentrated, exhibiting mango, passion fruit and herbal aromas and flavors.

Another wine available at the Patron’s Party will be Don Nicanor Nieto Senetiner Malbec, from the Mendoza region of Argentina. The full bodied wine is described as robust and jammy with flavors of plums and dark red fruits.

Throughout the evening, patrons will be able to sample all the fine wines as well as an array of food offerings including beef tenderloin, stuffed shrimp, international cheeses, hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Chef Greg Paulson and students of the culinary program at GNTC will be preparing and serving most of the culinary offerings along with Chef Matthew Wood of Coosa Country Club.

Wine tasting and silent auction

The main event of the festival takes place Nov. 4 from 3-6 p.m. at the Forrest Place Ballrooms on Broad Street. Rome residents will be able to sample from a variety of more than 70 wines from around the world as well as a variety of food from local restaurants and caterers. Each guest will receive a complimentary wine glass.

Guests can also browse a wide selection of items in the silent auction — from original oil paintings to jewelry and even vacations.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Rome Symphony Orchestra.

“This is just a great event,” Beninato said. “We’re lucky and pleased that we’re the beneficiary of it. There’s great wine and food and it’s a fun social event. We’re happy to partner with the Woodlee culinary students who get the chance to combine their coursework with this event. It benefits both of us. And of course our distributors really enjoy coming to Rome. They say the caliber of our festival is some of the best they’ve seen.”

Festival tickets are $95 for the Patron’s Party on Oct. 25 and $50 in advance for the main wine tasting event on Nov. 4 at the Forrest Place Ballrooms. At-door tickets for the tasting are $60.

Advance tickets for the Patron’s Party and the tasting are available online at romesymphony.org under Special Events or by calling 706-291-7967. Patron Party tickets are limited.

Wine List

Patron’s Party

Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m.

Woodlee Bldg.

842 Cedar St.

$95 per person

Whites:

Gunderloch Riesling Spatlese - Rheinhessen, 2010

(Germany)

Omaka Springs Sauvignon Blanc - Marloborough, 2011

(New Zealand)

Reds:

Cristom “Sommers Reserve” Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley, 2008

(United States, Oregon)

Fincas de Ganuza Rioja -

Reserva, 2005

(Spain)

Il Veltro Brunello di Montalcino -

Tuscany, 2005

(Italy)

Don Nicanor Nieto Senetiner Malbec - Mendoza, 2009

(Argentina)

Chateau Gazin Pomerol -

Bordeaux, 2004

(France)

Kaesler “Stonehorse” Shiraz -

Barossa Valley, 2009

(Australia)

Wine tasting and silent auction

Nov. 4, 3-6 p.m.

Forrest Place Ballrooms

436 Broad Street

$50 per person

Over 75 wine selections from the around the world including:

2011 Greystack Sauvignon Blanc

Chocolatrouge Sweet Red

Fetzer Crimson

Noble 181 Merlot

Rombauer Chardonnay

Chianti Classico

Duque de Medina Reserve

Franciscan Cabernet

Concannon Crimson and Clover