January 7, 2017
Sarasota, FL
—Photo by Rod Millington
Fred Bollaci of New York City and Palm Beach-based Fred Bollaci Enterprises, known as the definitive international healthy gourmet lifestyle, food, wine, and travel expert along with prestigious Fairfield, CT-based Venu Magazine have officially announced their sponsorship of the 27th annual Florida Winefest & Auction in Sarasota, Florida!
Florida Winefest was founded by a group of philanthropic Sarasota residents as a way of celebrating good food and wine and giving back to the community. To date, Winefest has contributed over $8 million to 84 children’s charities on Florida’s Gulf Coast, something we can all be proud of!
Florida Winefest holds events throughout the year, with the piece de resistance being the weekend-long festival, this year April 6th through 9th in Sarasota. Festivities begin on Thursday April 6th with boutique winemaker dinners, advancing to a waterfront wine tasting with over 100 top US and international winemakers in attendance on Friday, followed by Banquet on the Block on Friday night, April 7th, in which a swath of downtown Sarasota is transformed into an ultra elegant food and wine event with a dramatic table hosting several hundred guests and a dozen top winemakers as well as top local chefs. Local chef talent includes the renowned Chef Chris Covelli (NY native who owned a successful restaurant in Provincetown, MA and senior instructor at Sandra Lotti’s Toscana Saporita Cooking School in Tuscany, the inaugural Platinum Palate), and Chef Paul Mattison, also a NY native with successful restaurants in Sarasota-Brandeton (Mattison’s City Grille in Sarasota and Bradenton’s Riverwalk, Mattison’s Forty-One, and Mattison’s at the Van Wezel), both have hosted at the renowned James Beard House in New York City many times, most recently the duo hosted a dinner this December to benefit Winefest. The dinner will be replicated in Sarasota on April 15th, 2017!
Fred Bollaci, a Sommelier and gourmet lifestyle expert and writer for Venu will be on hand at all Winefest events this year, with Venu Magazine. The Spring issue featuring Winefest will be out in late February. “I have enjoyed attending Winefest for many years and have met many wonderful people in the world of food and wine. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase this unique event and Sarasota, a community I have spent a lot of time in on the world stage, so other connoisseurs can enjoy the experience,” Bollaci said.
—Photo by Rod Millington
Top winemakers who support Winefest and will be in attendance will include: Castello Banfi (Tuscany), The Wagner Family (Caymus, Belle Glos, Mer Soleil from California), Williamson Wines, Carneros della Notte, Foppoli, and Christopher Creek, among countless others!
Saturday April 8th, 2017 will be the grand brunch and charity auction, featuring trips, artwork, fine wine, and more, and Sunday April 9th will be the casual, family friendly “wine on the water” event with live music and dancing, a favorite for locals to bring the entire family.
—Photo by Rod Millington
—Photo by Rod Millington
—Photo by Rod Millington
—Photo by Rod Millington
—Photo by Rod Millington
—Photo by Rod Millington
“I am very proud to be part of Florida Winefest & Auction and thrilled to support such an important cause: helping less fortunate children. This is a great weekend of fine wine and excellent food and a perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy the very best of Sarasota, or to come and experience the cultural capital of Florida at the best time of year,” Bollaci said. “I am proud to lend my name and support to this great event and highly recommend you come and check it out!” Information and tickets at www.floridawinefest.org
Fred will be featuring Florida Winefest in the Spring 2017 issue of Venu Magazine, the leading contemporary art, culture, and luxury lifestyle magazine in the US!
Florida Winefest & Auction is proud to announce William Kelley, of Sarasota will be our 2017 artist.
The artwork entitled “L’Uva Sangiovese di Montalcino”, 60″x68″, oil on canvas, will be the featured painting at our 27th annual Grand Tasting, Brunch & Charity Auction on April 8, 2017. You may place a sealed bid on the original by calling the Winefest office at 941-952-1109. Minimum bid is $25,000.
