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Florida Winefest 2019

The 29th Florida Winefest is right around the corner! Who is excited? I know I am! Great food, amazing wine and fun times for a week straight!



There are so many exciting events to prepare for April 4th - April 7th.



Here is the line-up of events:


Thursday, April 4: Pique Nique Sur la Baie Winefest Style “Where the Guests are the Show” (11am to 3pm)

Enjoy a fabulous Thursday luncheon featuring the best flavors in town. Winefest presents Pique Nique Sur La Baie! Join them under the elegant open tent, Bayfront on the south lawn of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Sip and savor an abundance of red, white, rose and sparkling wines. New this year, sip a Tito’s Handmade Vodka “Hat-Tini” or an Azunia Tequila “Skinny-Rita” Margarita. “Pick-A-Prize” with your raffle tickets on amazing items. Take a chance and “Pluck a Duck” from the duck pond filled with opportunities to win tasty libations. Participate in the Hat Contest and win a prize. Ladies and gentlemen, dress it up and wear your most elegant and fashionable chapeaux! Purchase tickets HERE.


Thursday, April 4 – Mattison’s Forty-One – Wine Dinner

Join Jo Ann and Tony Truchard, owners of the fabulous Truchard Vineyards in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, for an exceptional wine dinner, including a 5-course gastronomic experience, prepared by Executive Chef Alex Vasquez and the Mattison’s culinary team. The cuisine will be perfectly paired with wines personally selected by the Truchards for this very special evening. Jo Ann and Tony, two entertaining and experienced wine icons, will share some of their ‘insider” stories, as well as a bit of history about beginning winemaking in the Carneros area. This is one dinner you won’t want to miss! Purchase Tickets HERE.


Thursday, April 4 – Sage SRQ – Winemaker Dinner

Join owner Sharon Carole, Executive Chef Christopher Covelli, and General Manager Cameron Hall at Sage, the state-of-the art, talk-of-the town new restaurant in the historic downtown Sarasota Times building! Chef Chris Covelli combines his passion for cooking with his creativity, producing cuisine that is both dynamic in presentation and flavor. Winemaker/Owner, Andrew Carini of Carini Wines will be showcasing his most distinct and profound wines perfectly paired with Chef’s 5-course dinner selections. Andrew and Chef Chris are fans of each other’s unique talent A night, and a dinner, to remember! Purchase Tickets HERE.


Thursday, April 4 – San Remo Private Residence – Exclusive Wine Dinner

Leslie and Jim Shortt will host this magnificent wine dinner at their beautiful home overlooking Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal for a casually elegant and unparalleled 5-course dinner created by Chef Paul Mattison and his culinary team. Special Guest, Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, with his entertaining, witty and magnetic personality will be present showcasing the finest wines from Santa Barbara, Napa and Sonoma wineries produced by Jackson Family Wines, perfectly paired with each remarkable course. Very limited seating. Purchase Tickets HERE.


Friday, April 5: Bayfront Wine Aficionados Lunch Tasting (11am to 2pm)

Enter a wine and food paradise under the elegant Winefest tent adjacent to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Excite your palate tasting fine wines from more than 70 wineries and experience taste sensations created by some of the best food purveyors in Florida. Meet and mingle with winemakers and winery representatives showcasing their most sought-after wines. Purchase Tickets HERE.


Friday, April 5: Business Trade Tasting (11am to 2pm)

By invitation only and complimentary to those members of the trade who hold licenses. Register HERE.


Friday, April 5: Master Wine & Artisan Cheese Seminar (2pm)

Take a delicious deep dive into one of the most unique wine regions in California: Santa Barbara County. Master Sommelier Michael Jordan bio, Director of Global Key Accounts for Jackson Family Wines will host this most informative seminar. Taste 6 amazing wines selected from the Jackson Family Wine Collection, perfectly paired with four 100% organic world-class cheeses. Purchase Tickets HERE.


Friday, April 5: Banquet on the Block (6:30 pm)

One elegant dining table stretches down Lemon Avenue in downtown Sarasota, perfectly dressed, seating 200 food and wine lovers. Sip and savor a stellar selection of wines from participating wineries and mingle with friends before taking your place at the longest table in Sarasota. Your taste buds will dance as you relish savory dishes created by one of our talented chefs: Executive Chef-Owner Laszlo Bevardi of Bevardi’s Salute, Chef di Cuisine Michael Freeman of Duval’s Chef Christian Hershman of The Overton, Chef–Owner Paul Mattison of Mattison’s, Chef-Owner Samuel Ray of Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi Grill, Chef Nils Tarantik of Element: Modern Mediterranean Grill, and Chef Marcos Vasquez of Siesta Key Oyster Bar.Succulent cuisine, award-winning wines and fun people will make this a night to remember. Purchase Tickets HERE.


Saturday, April 6 Master Class for Wine Experts and Novice Wine Drinkers (10am)

Join Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, Director of Global Key Accounts for Jackson Family Wines . Learn how to “blind taste” wines by using the deductive tasting process of Master Sommeliers! This session will include 4 wines; 2 reds and 2 whites. Wines poured are from the Jackson Family Wine Collection. We can’t tell you which wines as then it wouldn’t be a “blind tasting”! A must-do! This seminar promises to be educational, entertaining and fun! Purchase Tickets HERE.


Saturday, April 6: Grand Tasting, Brunch & Charity Auction (11am to 4pm)

The Grand Tasting features wine from the more than 70 wineries anxious to please your palate. Meet host vintners and knowledgeable winery representatives as they pour their best vintages and most sought-after wines. Visit the Tito’s Bloody Mary Bar and customize with your selection of spices and fixings. Savor appetizer portions of signature dishes from favorite local restaurants. Following brunch, the afternoon continues with a spirited auction of wines, lavish dinners, adventure travel and more. Purchase Tickets HERE.


Sunday, April 7: Wine on the Water (1pm to 4pm)

Sunday afternoon is the perfect time for a casual, alfresco wine tasting on the waterfront under the Winefest tent. Don’t miss this last opportunity to taste a huge selection of wines poured by our valued volunteers (who are not wine knowledgeable but merely helping). Enjoy a relaxing afternoon sipping wine, listening to music and enjoying the view. If you get hungry, Dib’s Food Truck and Mouthole BBQ will have yummy food available for purchase. Please note: No one under the age of 21, baby strollers or four-legged family members are permitted under the tasting tent. Purchase Tickets HERE.


So which of the events will you attend? I will definitely be at..at least two events this year and I hope you will join me!



One of the best parts of the Florida Winefest is proceeds from there April event and other events held during the year, will bring there grand total awarded to over $8.5 million in grants to 85 different charities since 1991! Wine and a great cause? Sign me up!


So now the big debate...White, Red or Rose'? I'll take them all! They say one glass of wine a day is good for you, they never said how many times to fill it! Cheers!



Feel free to contact Sandy@floridawinefest.org with any questions regarding the events!




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