Having VODA Magazine’s home office in the magnificent city of Chicago is great! In February with temperatures maybe reaching a mere 20 degrees, not so much–good reason to hop on a plane, or for some the car, and head to the gorgeous Gulf Coast of Florida. An even better reason than escaping the cold is to attend the fun, fabulous, and dare we say, fancy Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, February 24-25. The food, vintages, and views are sure to be none other than sensational.
All this fabulousness is for a good cause, 100% of the proceeds benefit SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides funding to charities serving local children. This is one of the largest charitable producing festivals in the country. Wine Spectator ranked the event number six on its list of Top 10 U.S. Charity Wine Auctions.
It kicks off on Friday with Chef Vintner Dinners (this is one of the fancy parts), the Gulf Coast’s most highly-regarded chefs will pair their dishes with a remarkable and renowned vintner in various private residences in the area including Naples, Miromar Lakes, and South Fort Meyers. This year’s signature vintner is V Madrone Cellars, a producer of beautiful and sought-after small production of 100% Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon along with Carneros Chardonnay, Old Vines Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah.
On Saturday, the Grand Tasting & Live Auction take place at the gorgeous Gulf-front Miromar Lakes Golf and Beach Club. Have you ever been to a live auction? Trust us, they are fun and a wine one at that, sign us up! Swirl, sip, and taste some of the most fantastic fare and fine wines in the afternoon overlooking the vibrant golf course and the serene blue sea. Then, there’s the after party… Did we mention the weather here this time of year? Balmy, breezy, and beautiful!
New events and exciting news are announced on the site for more information please visit, www.swflwinefest.org
Nicole Carbon
Nicole Carbon is the Editor-In-Chief of VODA Magazine. She is based in beautiful Sarasota, FL. For over a decade, she has been writing for both print and online media outlets about food, wine, travel, and other lifestyle-related finds. She received her Level 2 Award in Wines certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and writes a monthly wine column in the Venice Gondolier Sun. She contributes to Edible Sarasota, writes a health and wellness blog, and various feature articles and content for other media outlets. Previously, she wrote two magazine columns titled “A Girl Walks Into a Bar,” and “Inside the Kitchen.” Her work has appeared in the Austin American Statesman, Austin MD, Austin Monthly, Austin Woman, Austin Man, Citysearch Austin and Los Angeles, CultureMap.com, JetBlue’s blog, SRQ Magazine, and the list goes on. She has also made TV appearances on local NBC and Fox news affiliates as well as Cooking Channel’s Eat Street.
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