The Cincinnati International Wine Festival has announced that it has canceled portions of its annual event as a preventative measure in response to COVID-19 updates.
“In accordance with updated recommendations at the state and local level today regarding preparedness and response to COVID-19, the Cincinnati International Wine Festival is now cancelling the Grand Tastings, Education Sessions and Collectors Tasting Room events that were planned as part of 2020 Cincinnati International Wine Festival,” reads a press release.
The event is still planning to go ahead with their winery dinners on March 12, which are held at various restaurants throughout Cincinnati, as well as the charity auction and luncheon from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on March 14 at the Hilton Netherland Plaza.
“The festival is dedicated to working with its venues to ensure proper procedures and protocols are in place to limit the spread of illness. Festival leadership is taking the proper steps to mitigate risk at the smaller-scale dinners and luncheon to ensure they will be safe and sanitary for all attendees,” the press release continues.
The festival hosts have asked that if any guests are experiencing flu-like symptoms to please stay home from the more intimate events to prevent the spread to other attendees.
For those who have already purchased their tickets, the festival is offering three options: consider the purchased ticket as a donation which will go toward the 35 charities the festival raises funds for; request the ticket transfer to the 2021 festival; or request a refund for the ticket (which will not include processing fees).
In order to transfer the ticket or request a refund, reach out to ciwf@bigtickets.com.
For more information, visit winefestival.com.
This article appears in Mar 4-17, 2020.