What A $2.5M Afternoon Looks Like At SWFL Wine And Food Fest
It’s charity season in Southwest Florida. It’s the time of the year when you wont find one, but multiple events in the same weekend. However, it’s rare to find one that pulls in this kind of money. This is what a $2.5 million afternoon looks like at SWFL Wine and Food Fest.
The Wine Fest was founded in 2009 and since then has raised $29 million mostly for Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers. There were two goals this year. First, to top the $30 million mark. Check.
Next, to raise funds desperately needed to build a surgical center just for pediatric patients. They currently share the operating rooms with adult patients and there is not enough space to accomodate the volume of patients.
SWFL Wine And Food Fest Photos
This is one of my favorite fund raising events of the year. It combines all the things I love; food, wine, philanthropy and family. The money raised over the years has changed the lives of so many local families. Many attend the festivities to share their stories and thank donors.
Wine Fest begins Friday night with a series of private wine dinners featuring local and celebrity chefs, along with featured wine makers. The food and wine pairings, and dinner themes are often over the top.
The theme of this year’s event was Roaring 20’s. Lot’s of people dressed to impress. There was even a speakeasy outside of the ballroom which was a highlight of the afternoon.
SWFL Wine And Food Fest Grand Tasting
The main event began with a Grand Tasting. Chefs from all over Southwest Florida put out beautiful bites of food while winemakers and winery owners pour samples of some of their best bottles.
Gina Birch with Chef Brian Roland and his wife Nicole Roland. The beloved owners of Crave Culinaire have generously supported the wine fest for years. They donated a private wine dinner for 12 with Jarvis Estates. It sold for $50,000. Twice!
One of the highlights of the Grand Tasting is finding gems like Courtship. Many of the wineries at this event are small production. These are not ones you will commonly see in SWFL or anywhere outside of the wineries. It’s a treat to discover and try them.
Gina is hanging out with the Golisano Girls. The station is working closely with these amazing women on another radio-thon to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital. A kick-off event is coming up so stay tuned for details.
Award-winning Chappellet wines were a big hit. Wineries like this one that are better known in wine circles and can be found on menus at higher-end restaurants, bring blends and vintages that are hard to find. Another perk for wine lovers.
Gina Birch with award winning Chef Dustin Valett from Healdsburg, Sonoma. He also makes his own wine. The cabernet was just awarded 100 points so it was big deal to try.
Dustin is another longtime supporter of the SWFL Wine Fest. He cooked at one of the vintner dinners and poured his wines at the grand tasting. In addition, he donated an in home dinner for 12. It sold for $80,000. FOUR times.
SWFL Wine And Food Fest Auction Time
Check out this quick video I made of the party at the SWFL Wine and Food Fest.
Walking into the auction room is always a party and this year was no exception. There was choreographed dancing, noise makers and lots of excitement. There were 27 lots to bid on this year.
On the big screen, auctioneer Scott Robertson poses with Sherwin Family Vineyards and 6 Liter American Flag bottle. It was part of the auction lot surrounding a trip to Napa Valley.
My table was in the back but I had a great overview of the action. I had a paddle too but, if you want to know if I bought anything, that will be in a different post.
At the end of the day, it’s nice to be reminded why we all gathered and where the money raised goes. Cheers to everyone who made the SWFL Wine And Food Fest possible, especially those who donated money. It will be exciting to see that surgical center built, to help save the lives of more children.
