Weekend Events

Vintner Dinners

Thursday, 6:30 pm

The world’s best winemakers paired with Charlotte’s best restaurants and private clubs. During the dinner, guests learn about winemaking, viticulture and other interesting tidbits from the guest vintner. Guest hosts for 2010 include some of the top names in the wine and beverage industry. These dinners are consistent sell-outs and the single largest “dinner party” in the city.

Winery Meet & Greet

Friday, 4-6PM at Various Locations

Enjoy a new offering to Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend this year! Join us for free in-store wine tastings and your chance to mingle with participating vintners & winery representatives at wine shops throughout Charlotte. Winery Meet & Greet will be held on Friday, from 4 to 6 pm.

Sommelier, Connoisseur & Enthusiasts Tastings

Friday & Saturday (Times vary throughout the Weekend.)

Tastings are all about the wine. Swirl, sniff and sip with participating vintners, learn about wine and winemaking and taste a wide selection of wines representing an array of grape varieties. Outstanding unique tastings are a signature of the biennial Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend. The 2012 Sommelier Tasting is an Almost Perfect Tasting, featuring 10 wines that have achieved near perfection (98-100 points) by the country’s leading wine critics.

The Connoisseur & Enthusiast Tastings will feature national superstars and celebrity guest. One-of-a kind tastings are a signature of the CW&FW, covering various wine regions, grape varieties and good old winemaking stories.

Big Bottles & Blues

Friday, 7:00pm 

Party under the stars while enjoying sample selections from over 50 winemakers! Mingle with the vinters while enjoying live music and fine cuisine with a local flair. Historically one of the weekend’s most popular events, 2010’s evening was enjoyed by over 600 enthusiastic guests. All of the guest winemakers pour premium selections from large format bottles, complemented by Southern BBQ. The Live and Silent auctions will feature rare large format autographed  bottles of wine, ranging from magnums to 6L sizes, as well as one-of-a-kind trips to the wine country,  jewelry, artwork, wine dinners and an exciting selection of unique items. 

Vintner Tasting

Saturday, 11:00am-1:00pm 

What a lovely way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday afternoon! This event is the perfect way to taste a terrific selection of wines representing an array of grape varieties, winemaking styles and budget levels. Visit each of the participating vintners’ wine stations as you sample selections and pick up tips on selecting, drinking, and buying wine. This reasonably priced event is the perfect opportunity to learn about wine and beer and leave with a new appreciation of what to buy and what to drink. The tasting will be held in the heart of uptown Charlotte, with an anticipated attendance of nearly 600 wine and beer lovers. Don’t miss this chance to indulge your love of fine wines.

Grand Gala & Live Auction

Saturday, 6:00pm

Contact the Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend at info@charlottewineandfood.org or call 704-338-9463 (WINE) for more information.

Charlotte Cru Competition

Saturday

This exciting wine competition is a blind tasting, rating on the 100-point scale, of wines entered by participating wineries for the 2012 Weekend. Judges will be representatives from the media, wholesalers, restaurateurs, past major contributors and Cru members. The five recipient charities will help staff the event, including students from Johnson & Wales University. Don’t miss Charlotte’s first wine competition to raise awareness of our cause. Click here for to see photos from the 2010 event.