by TM Petaccia

For the 37th year, local wine and food lovers become philanthropists as Charlotte Wine + Food launches its week-long fundraiser for the nonprofit’s mission to ensure that all area children receive a full and proper education regardless of their economic situation.

“It’s not just checks we’re writing,” says Lauren Deese, Executive Director of Charlotte Wine + Food. “It’s the community that we build through Wine & Food as well as learning and sharing the stories of the organizations we support — knowing that what we’re doing has purpose.”

From April 23-27, Charlotte Wine + Food will host thirteen wine pairing events at some of the city’s top restaurants, culminating with its already sold-out Collector’s Gala, plus the organization’s Grand Tasting wine and food show.

To date, the organization has raised over $7 million for area charities, with nearly $1 million raised over the last two years combined. “We’re on a really nice trajectory,” Deese says.

Charlotte Wine + Food selects its beneficiaries for four-year recipient rotations to help bring funds to a wider range of charities. Returning recipients this year are A Child’s Place and Augustine Literacy Project – Charlotte, with Digi-Bridge and Wayfinders being this year’s new add-ons.

“Both of the new recipients fall into a similar camp,” Deese says. “They both provide opportunity and support upward mobility for underserved youth, although by different means.”

Digi-Bridge stimulates interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), giving middle school children opportunities and skills by fostering curiosity, creativity, exploration, persistence, and resilience. “By exposing kids to these opportunities, hopefully, it will start driving them into these jobs, which also provides that upward mobility,” Deese says. “It’s also just a great confidence-building program.”

Wayfinders conducts year-round enrichment programs and summer camps to spur self-motivation in underserved students. “The mentors stay with the kids all the way through high school,” Deese says. “They help with cultural enrichment plus college and career readiness to help them succeed in life as an adult.”

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C W+F Events

CW+F Week brings in some of the world’s top vintners and sommeliers, pairing them with local chefs for a series of public events and private dinners. In addition to the 13 individual restaurant dinners, the annual Collector’s Gala & Auction will take place on Friday, April 25, with CW+F’s Grand Tasting on Saturday, April 26.

The Collector’s Gala and Auction, Charlotte Wine + Food’s signature event, will be at Quail Hollow Club. Already sold out, the event features tastings from 20 renowned wineries along with dishes prepared by Edwin’s Organix, Jon G’s Barbecue, Mazi, and Cookies on the Side. The auction will be conducted by nationally known auctioneer Luke Proctor.

The annual Grand Tasting returns to The Union at Station West for the second year. A “street fair for fine wine,” the event features more than 100 curated wines from around the world with a number of food participants, including DŌZO, The Goodyear House, Honeybear Bake Shop, Indigo Road, Legion Brewery, El Puro, Sea Level, Seasoned Provisions, Table & Twine, Taco Boy, and El Veneno. The event will also feature local breweries, cocktails, live jazz, and a mobile auction emceed by WBTV personalities Nia Harden and Alex Giles. Tickets are $150 ($175 for early entry).

“The Grand Tasting is a great place for connoisseurs, but at a much more affordable price point and a much more casual event,” Deese says.

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Restaurant Tastings

The core of Charlotte Wine + Food is the exclusive winery tastings held at the area’s top restaurants. Thirteen dining events will occur over five days, April 23-27.

For the first time, a Charlotte Wine + Food dining event will occur in South Carolina. The Speckled Pear in Ft. Mill will be one of four restaurants kicking off this year’s events on Wednesday, April 23. The restaurant will feature wines from Italy’s Banfi Vintners. “Chef Michael Bader has always been a big supporter of Charlotte Wine + Food, hosting our big kickoff events when he was at the Wells Fargo Executive Dining Room. He’s just so creative and easy to work with. We’re so excited to do something down there.”

Rosemont is also a new participating restaurant this year, hosting an event featuring Beaulieu Vineyards on Thursday, April 24.

The Wine Vault – Elizabeth will host wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres event on April 23. The lowest ticket cost of the week at $75, the wine shop will feature wines from Germany’s Pflüger Estate with winemaker Alex Pflüger with hors d’oeuvres prepared by Seasoned Provisions. The wine shop will also host a Sunday rosé wine brunch on Sunday, April 27.

Also returning to the CW+F Week lineup will be dinners at Chapter 6, Customshop (Sold Out), L’Ostrica (Sold Out), La Cave At Petite Philippe, Napa Bistro & Wine Bar, Napa On Providence (Sold Out), and Restaurant Constance (Sold Out), and Porcupine Provisions (two events, April 23 and April 24). Ticket costs for most of the dinners are either $195 or $250, depending on the venue.

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There are also a number of private, invitation-only events hosted by CW+F board members or sponsors to supplement the public fundraising, as well as an online raffle with prizes of a $5,000 gift certificate to Morrison Smith Jewelers and a cruise for two voyage aboard Virgin Voyages. There will also be an online auction featuring over 50 items, which will span the entirety of the six-day fundraiser.

The event has been named one of the top five wine events in the United States by Forbes Travel Guide (2014) and was recently named a “must-attend wine event” by the Sommeliers Choice Awards.

Full details can be found at the Charlotte Wine + Food website.