Moët & Chandon has joined Bowen’s Wharf Company as presenting sponsor of the Newport Oyster Festival, Newport Wooden Boat Show and Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival. The partnership will feature the world’s most beloved champagne and celebrate Rhode Island’s marine community at these lively waterfront events in downtown Newport.
Oysters lovingly cultivated in the Ocean State will be paired with the world’s most beloved champagne May 19th -21st at the Newport Oyster Festival. The event offers unique ways for attendees to share a #MoetMoment at historic Bowen’s Wharf on the waterfront in the City by the Sea.
Bowen’s Wharf Company founded the Newport Oyster Festival, and the Rhode Island Oyster Trail, in 2016 to celebrate Rhode Island aquaculture. Together with Moët & Chandon, and other supporting sponsors, the event showcases over 20 growers, eateries and non-profit exhibitors during this two-day waterfront event, rain or shine. “We created the festival to focus on Rhode Island’s growers and their oysters since they are such an integral part of Rhode Island’s economy,” says Bart Dunbar, president of Bowen’s Wharf Co.
“With culinary tourism on the rise in the Ocean State, Moët & Chandon joined us at the perfect time to make life on the waterfront that much tastier,” says Trixie Wadson, Marketing Director for Bowen’s Wharf Company. “We are thrilled to offer oyster and seafood-lovers local, sustainable, delicacies at the heart of the Newport waterfront. At this year’s events attendees will enjoy unique beverages and bar service that will reflect the sponsor’s brands.”
Café-style seating is set up throughout the Wharf around the live music stage. Participating restaurants such as The Wharf Pub, The Landing, Speakeasy Bar & Grill and Matunuck Oyster Bar will serve their most celebrated dishes, which will be available for purchase. Chilled champagne at a specialty Moët bar, specialty cocktails including an Ardbeg Bloody Mary Seafood Bar, spirits, wine, beer, and soft drinks will also be available. Bowen’s Wharf will again incorporate total trash, recycling and compostable receptacles plus the support necessary to accomplish proper separation in conjunction with Island Rubbish and The Compost Plant. Additionally, The Nature Conservancy of RI is working with Bowen’s Wharf Co. to ensure that the oyster shells from the festival are collected and incorporated into their ongoing reef-building projects. In 2016 the festival produced more than two tons of oyster shells that went back in the water to build new reefs in South County.
Tickets and additional information
Friday, May 19th – A night of oysters & champagne on the waterfront : Mingle with eight different growers shucking under the lights and festival tents. Moet Mini’s will create the sparkle for a memorable and informational marriage of “merroir” and tasting notes. Featured oyster growers are: 401 Oyster Co., Aquidneck Oyster Co., Cedar Island Oyster Co, East Beach Farm, Jonathan Island Oyster Co, Venus Oyster Co, Salt Pond Oyster Co, Block Island’s Sun Farm Oysters, and Walrus & Carpenter Oysters.
With live, acoustic Caribbean music throughout the evening, the Newport Oyster Festival Opening Night Party will again benefit the Ocean State Aquaculture Association and SSV Oliver Hazard Perry. Tickets are $150 and are limited to 200 people.
Tickets include all-you- can-eat, freshly shucked oysters, open bar. Scott and Adrienne Kirmil, owners of popular local restaurants Diego’s and The Wharf Pub, will manage the décor and catering, including their signature blood-orange mignonette. Curated cocktails will feature Ardbeg, Belvedere, Don Julio, Bulleit, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan in collaboration with Rhode Island Distributing & Hospitality Solutions. With a true ocean (or pond)-to- table experience, guests will be served signature Oyster Festival drinks and a variety of catered delicacies.
Saturday, May 20th and Sunday, May 21st – Bivalves by the water: The Bowen’s Wharf Newport Oyster Festival, presented by Moët & Chandon, will feature Rhode Island aquaculture.
Taste your way around Rhode Island with oysters from 12 different growers and four restaurants featuring flavors unique to the Ocean State.
Tickets are $27 in advance for each day. Two time slots are available daily, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and advance purchase tickets include four fresh, Rhode Island oysters and a beverage, live music, event program & tasting notes, contests and more. Tickets for additional oysters will be sold on site, in addition to a full bar and food provided by local restaurants, which will also be available for purchase. Tickets at the door are $35 and may not include free oysters or beverage. Admission is based on available space under the tents. Children 12 and under are free.
Prizes from sponsors as well as Kiel James Patrick, Grace Windsor, Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina and others will be awarded.
The Newport Oyster Festival is a rain or shine event with six bands and live music, a shucking contest and aquaculture educators on site in a family-friendly, historic waterfront shopping and dining district. Sponsors include, Moët & Chandon, Ardbeg, Belvedere, The Diageo Brand (Bulleit, Don Julio, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray), Whaler’s Brewing Company & Coole Swan.
Tickets for both events can be purchased through the Bowen’s Wharf website at: https://bowenswharf.worldsecuresystems.com/newport-oyster-festival
Since 1990, Bowen’s Wharf Co. has been successfully organizing the Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival (October 14 & 15) to connect shell fishermen, lobstermen and fishermen with the local restaurants and with the public. The Newport Wooden Boat Show, September 14-17, runs concurrent with the Newport International Boat Show and the Newport Brokerage Boat Show. The historic property features over 30 shops, galleries, restaurants and a full-service marina.
Founded in 1743, for nearly 275 years, Moët & Chandon, has passed down unequaled winemaking savoir-faire from generation to generation, sharing the magic of champagne with the world. The world’s most beloved champagne, Moët has the largest estate in the champagne region (1,190 Hectares of vineyards), the most extensive underground cellars (18 miles) and the largest grand vintage collection in the world.
Driven by its spirit of innovation, the house has created a wide range of unique wines which are renowned for their bright fruitiness, seductive palate and elegant maturity and new categories such as Moët Ice Imperial, the first champagne ever created to be enjoyed on ice.
