It’s wine time! The 5th annual Spanish Wine Festival is back and set to kick off September 8th, 2016 at First Coast Technical College, and end September 11, 2016 with a grand tasting at The Treasury on the Plaza in St. Augustine, FL.
The Spanish Wine Festival is a four day extravaganza dedicated to bringing delicious Spanish wine combined with local restaurant fare into the lives of St. Augustine residents. The 2016 St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival events include the Fresh Starts Kick-Off Luncheon, Vino Veritas, Cochinillo Asado, Batalla de Vino and Grand Tasting.
What’s could be better than sipping on succulent Spanish wine for four days? The fact that the Spanish Wine Festival has raised over $250,000 in the last five years for local charities!
This years charities include Fresh Starts in the Culinary Arts, Catholic Charities-St. Augustine Regional Office, and K9 United.
Fresh Starts Kick-Off Luncheon
Fresh Starts in the Culinary Arts is dedicated to helping the homeless to create a new life in the form of pursuing a career in culinary arts.
Day one of the Spanish Wine Festival will be a Fresh Start Kick-Off Luncheon held at First Coast Technical College from noon-1:30pm on Thursday September 8th, 2016 where guests will enjoy delicious entree’s whipped up by the amazing chefs and students who will also be available for mingling. Tickets to the Fresh Start Kick- Off Luncheon will be $25.
Another charity included is K9s United, a nonprofit organization formed after the tragic loss of German Shepherd K-9 Officer Baron, is dedicated to raising funds for law enforcement with K9 units in need.
Vino Veritas
Friday September 9th, 2016 there will be a “Truth in Wine” upscale event held at The Treasury on the Plaza from 7:00pm-9:30pm where guests will be treated flavorful wines while mingling in one of the most beautiful and historic venus in downtown St. Augustine, Florida as sensational Spanish music flows throughout the evening.
This extravagant event will also feature delectable entrees, including seafood, caviar, steaks and butler-passed Spanish hors d’oeuvres. Guests will be leaving with an American-made wine glass that is laser etched with the event logo.
Tickets to the “Truth in Wine” event will be $150, and dress is (semi) formal wear.
The last last beneficiary to the festival are St. Augustine Regional Office Catholic Charities, who are dedicated to helping any in need by offering emergency assistance in paying bills and providing food for families who are unable to.
Cochinillo Asado, Suckling Pig Roast
The Nombre de Dios Mission Grounds in Downtown St. Augustine will be holding many activity events to support Catholic Charities on Saturday September 10th, 2016 from 1-4:30pm, including a pig roast picnic cook by chefs from Michael’s Tasting Room, Culinary Outfitters, Raintree Restaurant and The Reef Restaurant, and guests will be treated to specialty sides from each restaurant in addition to Spanish wine. Tickets are $65 for entry to the Pig Roast Picnic.
Batalla de Vino
After the picnic, guests are encouraged to take place in the multiple wine fights scheduled right after the picnics- like water gun fights, only with wine! Teams are to go first, and individuals to follow.
Guests are to wear all white clothing, and the goal is to spray as many patrons as possible with red wine while trying to keep their own clothes pearly white. An event as fun as it is delicious! Tickets are $10 for individuals to participate in the wine fight, and $100 for teams of 5.
The best part (besides being sprayed with delicious wine) is that the victorious team receives a $500 check to the charity of its choice.
Grand Tasting
On Sunday September 11th, 2016 from 2:00pm-5:00pm will be dedicated to closing the Spanish Wine Festival with a delicious bang! A grand tasting will be held at The Treasury on the Plaza will host the largest selection of Spanish wine in America available to guests for tasting, featuring over 100 savory Spanish wines in addition to Spanish-inspired hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Tony of the Publix Cooking School.
Tickets to this one of a kind wine tasting extravaganza are $75, and dress is casual.
VIP Individual Sponsorship
In addition to individual tickets, there is a VIP package available for purchase to those who are planning to attend all four days of events. For $500, VIP guests receive early entry to each event, have access to restricted areas in both “Truth in Wine” and Grand Tasting events, along with a specialty VIP gift package. (We can only guess expensive wine! What else could you want?)
This package allows VIP guests to mingle with other Festival Sponsors and Benefactors while helping raise money for local charities.
The main goal of the Spanish Wine Festival is connect the oldest continually occupied city in America, St. Augustine FL with its Spanish culture with a series of events featuring Spanish wine and cuisine all while benefiting the local community through helping raise funds for local charities.
All tickets to the Spanish Wine Festival are available for pre-purchase on the Spanish Wine Festival Website and for more information call 904-540-1402.
