We are so excited to kick off our 38th year of fundraising this fall with a bang!
Join Charlotte Wine + Food’s Connoisseurs for a Cause for our 12TH ANNUAL WELLS FARGO KICKOFF dinner and LIVE AUCTION to raise money for Charlotte-area children's charities as we proudly host a powerhouse wine industry professional, Stefano Benini, Vice President & Export Director of Frescobaldi. This experience is sure to be a remarkably special occasion for all and a chance to taste an array of Frescobaldi wines (including a featured taste of Ornellaia) from one of the oldest and most prestigious winemaking dynasties in Italy.
With over 700 years of winemaking heritage in Tuscany, the Frescobaldi name is synonymous with excellence, tradition, and innovation. Dating back to the early 1300s, the Frescobaldi family has cultivated deep roots in both agriculture and the arts. Today, they continue to craft world-class wines across some of Tuscany’s most prized estates, including names like CastelGiocondo, Nipozzano, and Ammiraglia, each reflecting the unique terroir and character of the region.
Whether you're a seasoned wine lover or simply curious about the legacy behind the label, this is a rare opportunity to taste the wines and hear the stories behind one of the most iconic families in Italian winemaking.
Thursday, October 23 | 6:15 p.m.
The cocktail reception featuring an open bar and music by Gio Dynamics begins at 6:15 p.m.,
followed by a four-course wine-pairing dinner, live auction and dessert reception.
The cocktail reception will feature Mixologist Mike Guzmán from Blue Door.
Menu* created by Porcupine Provisions
See the featured wines below.
Foundation For The Carolinas
220 N Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Attire: Cocktail, no ties required
Tickets are $500/seat with $250 of each ticket being tax-deductible.
Tables of 8 are available for $4000 with $2000 of each ticket being tax-deductible.
All seating is at round tables of 8.
*NOTE: dietary restrictions can be accommodated if indicated at the time of registration.
If buying a table, please notify us of as many guests’ names and their emails at the time of registration.
Extra-Pour Package Option
Anyone purchasing a full table will have the option to take advantage of our extra-pour package. The extra-pour package will provide table hosts with two bottles of a special feature wine - the 2021 Tenuta Luce | Toscana IGT - to be dropped at the table during the second course to be enjoyed the rest of the dinner and through the live auction which will start with the 4th course. The cost is $250/table with $50 tax-deductible. Purchase must be completed by October 15.
***Featured wines will be available for sale through the Wine Vault***
10% of proceeds from wine sales will benefit our charitable partners.
ABOUT FRESCOBALDI ESTATES
With multiple renowned tenute, or wine estates, in Tuscany, one of the most famous wine regions on the planet, the Frescobaldi portfolio is one of the world’s most storied in Italian wine. Located in Tuscan districts with “centuries-old reputations for growing noble wines,” the estates differ in soils and weather, environment, and history, “thus giving unique characteristics to their own particular wines.”
Aside from its diversity, Frescobaldi is also one of the world’s oldest and prestigious names in the industry, with over 700 years of history. These days the portfolio is overseen by its President, Marchesi Lamberto Frescobaldi, the Italian aristocrat and 30th-generation winemaker of the Frescobaldi family who embodies everything the brand stands for.
The nine wine estates under Frescobaldi, encompassing some 3,700 acres, are Castello Pomino (Pomino), Castello Nipozzano (Nipozzano), Tenuta Perano (Gaiole in Chianti), Tenuta Castiglioni (Montespertoli), Tenuta CastelGiocondo (Montalcino), Tenuta Ammiraglia (Magliano in Toscana), Remole (Sieci), Calimaia (Cervognano – Montepulciano), and Gorgona (Livorno), each a highly-regarded marque in the wine world. The Frescobaldi family also own and operate Attems (Friuli), Danzante, Tenuta Luce della Vite (Montalcino), Ornellaia and Masseto. In 2023, Frescobaldi expanded their portfolio into the US by acquiring Domaine Roy & Fils in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
STEFANO BENINI | VICE PRESIDENT & EXPORT DIRECTOR - FRESCOBALDI
Born in Florence in April 1968, he represents the 30th generation of the Frescobaldi family. After a degree in “Business and Administration” at Universita’ di Roma “La Sapienza” with a thesis "Il sistema di qualità totale del settore vinicolo" (“The Total Quality System of the Wine Industry”), he moved to Chicago in 1994, then New York in 1995 to start working in the family business as US Sales Manager, in support of Frescobaldi’s US importer at the time, Paterno Imports.
In spring of 1996, after the establishment of the first Italian American partnership in the wine business, Tenuta Luce, between the Frescobaldi and the Mondavi families, Stefano lived 8 months in Napa Valley as Associate Sales & Marketing Manager at Robert Mondavi Winery.
In 1997, based in San Francisco, he became North America Area Manager, with specific focus over US and Canada for Marchesi Frescobaldi; during his free time, he was often seen windsurfing, under the Golden Gate Bridge or out in the waves of the California Coast: one of his great passions.
In 1999, coming back to Italy, as Export Manager, the responsibilities for sales and marketing were expanded to the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Caribbean, Latin America and Be-Ne-Lux.
In 2006 Stefano was elected member of the board of the Consorzio del Laudemio, the brand that represents a small number of central Tuscan prestigious producers of ultra-high premium extra virgin olive oil; in 2007 he was appointed Vice President to the Board of Directors of the Compagnia de´ Frescobaldi, the holding company that oversee the results of the Operative Company “Marchesi Frescobaldi Società Agricola”.
Since January of 2006, with the title of Export Director, he is the business manager for Canada, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Continental and Mediterranean Europe, and Central and South America, looking after the brands Marchesi Frescobaldi, Attems, Tenuta Luce & Danzante. At the same time, he was made responsible for sales and marketing of Tenuta Ornellaia in Canada.
In June 2013 he was appointed Member of the Board Directors of Marchesi Frescobaldi Società Agricola. In June 2020 was appointed VP of the Board Directors of Marchesi Frescobaldi.
From September 2018, with the title of Export Director the whole world was added to his territory of responsibilities with 6 Export managers in the team, looking after the brands Marchesi Frescobaldi, Attems, Tenuta Luce & Danzante.
In May 2024 Stefano was appointed President of the Board of Tenute di Toscana, the Holding Company that retains the ownership of Ornellaia & Masseto and Tenuta di Castelgiocondo & Luce della Vite.
Stefano is married to Carole de Rham, and they have three children, Federico (2005), Sebastiano & Anna (2007), to whom he dedicates his free time.
Apart from windsurfing he is an avid mountain skier, and he has a great passion for rock music and football. A supporter of AC Fiorentina, he will never leave for a trip without Led Zeppelin’s songs.
MENU & WINE LIST
RECEPTION
Chef's Choice Passed Appetizers
Open Bar including assorted sodas, beer and cocktails.
2021 Attems Cicinis Sauvignon Blanc | Collio DOC
Specialty Cocktails from featured Mixologists
Mike Guzman | Blue Door
Justin Hazelton | Lorem Ipsum
FIRST COURSE
2023 Marchesi Frescobaldi Castello di Pomino Bianco | Pomino Bianco DOC
SECOND COURSE
2022 Castello Nipozzano Montesodi | Toscana IGT
THIRD COURSE
2021 Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico Riserva | Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
FOURTH COURSE
2020 CastelGiocondo Brunello di Montalcino | Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
A tatse of the 2022 Ornellaia | Bolgheri DOC Superiore
DESSERT RECEPTION
Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur
BRUCE & LESLIE SCHLERNITZAUER | PROPRIETORS - PORCUPINE PROVISIONS
Bruce Schlernitzauer, a Navy brat, is mostly from Massachusetts and Leslie is a Charlotte native. They met in college in Massachusetts and later Bruce went to Johnson & Wales in Cranston, RI in their advanced standing culinary program while Leslie received her MBA from Boston University. In 1994, they arrived in Charlotte and two years later opened Porcupine Café on East Boulevard. After closing Porcupine Café, they opened Porcupine Provisions, becoming one of Charlotte's top caterers. In June of 2020 they launched Gathered, a twice monthly delivery basket filled with carefully curated local lovelies from the catering team behind Porcupine Provisions.
Leslie serves on several boards including Charlotte Wine + Food, Council for Children’s Rights and previously served on the Advisory Board for Charlotte Concerts. They have two children (girls) Megan and Grace. When not cooking for a profit you will find them cooking for a cause every chance they get!
MIKE GUZMÁN | BEVERAGE DIRECTOR & OPERATOR - BLUE DOOR
Mike Guzman is an accomplished hospitality professional with over 14 years of bartending and leadership experience across major cities including Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver, and Charlotte. Known for his creativity, precision, and dedication to world-class service, Mike has opened and led programs at high-profile venues such as Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar and Vanderpump Cocktail Garden for Caesars Entertainment.
As the Bar Manager and Creative Director at Blue Door Cocktail Bar in Charlotte, Mike blends classic technique with innovative concepts, drawing inspiration from American cities and cultures to craft immersive cocktail experiences. His accolades include being named a 2024 Global Finalist in the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge, one of the USBG Presents World Class Top 30 U.S. Bartenders in 2023, and a National Finalist in the Lucid Absinthe Cocktail Classique. He also holds certifications from BarSmarts, the WSET, and the Society of Wine Educators.
Mike is passionate about team development, thoughtful hospitality, and raising the bar for cocktail culture through education, sustainability, and storytelling.
JUSTIN HAZELTON | MIXOLOGIST - LOREM IPSUM
Bio/Headshot coming soon
DAN LYLES | auctioneer
Dan is a professional fundraising auctioneer who has a passion for helping non-profits maximize their fundraising potential. Daniel has conducted hundreds of auctions and is the “go-to guy” for many of the largest fundraisers in Charlotte, NC, Charleston, SC, and Greenville, SC. Dan relies on humor and fun to set the stage for high-impact giving.
His professional experience includes sales, marketing, and brand management. He is a graduate of The Southeastern School of Auctioneering, and is currently an instructor in the school on art and marketing/branding and teaches auctioneers on the state level with continued education courses.
Dan is an active member of the South Carolina Auctioneers Association (SCAA) and the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) and serves as Director for the South Carolina Auctioneers Association.
