Florida Winefest & Auction

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The Florida Winefest & Auction presented a 'Banquet On The Block' dinner party in downtown Sarasota Friday evening March 20, 2015. Proceeds from the event will benefit local children's charities.

The Florida Winefest & Auction presented a 'Banquet On The Block' dinner party in downtown Sarasota Friday evening March 20, 2015. Proceeds from the event will benefit local children's charities. (ROD MILLINGTON)

Now in its 26th year, the Florida Winefest and Auction is still one of the area’s pre-eminent food and wine events, with a rich history of bringing exciting winemakers to the area to pour their wares, all for charity. Winefest, through its fundraising arm Caring for Children Charities, has awarded more than $8 million dollars since it started back in 1991, to more than 80 different local organizations. That’s a lot of great wine for a lot of great causes.

In recent years, Winefest has branched out with different events and varied locations, but this year it returns to two popular locations. First, the Winefest home base - which hosts several of the events - is still outside the Van Wezel, with great views over your glass across Sarasota Bay. Second, one of those most popular wine and food events ever has returned for the second year — Banquet on the Block on Friday night.

For Banquet on the Block, Winefest takes over Lemon Avenue in downtown Sarasota, setting up a massively long table in the middle of the cobbled road that fills up with revelers excited to pay $200 each for the experience. There’s multiple courses throughout the dinner, each paired with some of the best wine available from Winefest’s participating winemakers, followed by music and dancing at Mattison’s City Grille.

That said, if your wallet can’t handle the charitable prices of most of the events, there’s always Winefest’s annual finale - Wine on the Water — on Sunday, where you can celebrate the end of the fest with a casual $25 tasting, with food available for purchase.

Time to raise a glass, again.

FLORIDA WINEFEST & AUCTION
Thursday-Sunday
floridawinefest.org

WINEMAKER DINNERS
All dinners take place Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Williamson Wines/Chef Christopher Covelli, $200
Banfi Vintners/Mattison’s Forty-One, $125
Quixote Winery & Y Rousseau Wines/Chef Paul Mattison, $175
Saddleback Cellars/Roast Restaurant, $125
Shadowbox Cellars/The Francis, $125
Azienda Agricola Mazzone/USF Culinary Innovation Lab, $125

BAYFRONT SHOWCASE LUNCH
Winemakers and winery representatives will showcase their wines, alongside food from area purveyors.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday; Winefest Tent, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $50

BANQUET ON THE BLOCK
One of the most popular events of recent years, this dinner takes place out on the streets of downtown Sarasota, with tables set up on Lemon Avenue, featuring wines, a martini bar and food from local chefs, including Chef Sam Ray (Tsunami), Chef Nils Tarantik (Duval’s), Chef Laszlo Bevardi (Salute!), Chef Gino Calleja (Mattison’s City Grille) and Chef Ray Lajoie (Mattison’s Forty-One).
6:30 p.m. Friday; Lemon Ave., Sarasota; $200

GRAND TASTING, BRUNCH AND CHARITY AUCTION
With more than 50 wineries pouring their best vintages and most sought-after labels, appetizer portions of signature dishes from favorite local restaurants and the massive charity auction - including lots ranging from special bottles of wine to adventure travel - this is Winefest’s centerpiece event.
11 a.m. Saturday; Winefest Tent, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $150

WINE ON THE WATER
The last chance to taste wines from participating wineries is also the most accessible event of the Winefest weekend. There will also be live music and food available for purchase.
1 p.m. Sunday; Winefest Tent, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $25

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Brian Ries

Brian Ries is the editor of ticketsarasota.com.
Last modified: March 16, 2016
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