Treat your palate to the homegrown flavor of the annual Charleston Wine and Food Festival, a five-day tasting bash where you can sign up for cooking classes, eat at fancy in-restaurant meals and learn how to mix a Charleston Daiquiri. This year, some pretty cool options include an excursion into Indigenous Lowcountry food led by Mohawk chef and Indigenous food instructor Dave Smoke McClusky, or an early morning baking class led by biscuit master Carrie Morey and Joy The Baker author Joy Wilson.
Among the Charleston-area chefs who will join the festivities this upcoming year are Amethyst Ganaway, who champions Southern and African-American foodways; Charlotte Jenkins, known for spreading Gullah culture, an African American ethnic group who live in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and Georgia; and Jonathan Kaldas, a Charlestonian chef of Egyptian descent who has been a staple in the Holy City food scene for the past few decades.
The Charleston Wine and Food Festival takes place across the peninsula, yet its largest sampling event is held at Culinary Village in Riverfront Park (in North Charleston). The ticketed sampling is where you can enjoy small bites and sips, witness chef demonstrations and listen to live music. The vibe is like a party among long-standing friends (and winemakers), but with mouth-watering pimento cheese hot dogs, lobster bao bun rolls or a warm bowl of purloo, a combination of rice simmered in fish or chicken stock, heavily seasoned with spices and meat.
The Specs
- Approximately 35,000 food enthusiasts attend.
- Events are individually ticketed. To attend the Culinary Village, General Admission tickets cost $169 and the CV Pass (VIP Admission) costs $295.
- Whether this is your first time visiting or you are a veteran, here’s our Fifty Grande list of the best things to do in Charleston.
FAQs
What is the closest airport to The Charleston Wine + Food Festival?
The closest international airport to the festival is Charleston International Airport, eight miles away.
What’s the festival all about?
According to Charleston’s site, the festival, which will have more than 100 events, is to celebrate “a collective of artists, culinary visionaries, craftsmen, bartenders, brewers, purveyors, couriers, farmers, events staff, wine pros, sanitation assistants, security guards, writers, musicians, prep chefs, servers, restaurateurs, guests, and – of course – Charlestonians.”
It’s my first time attending the fest. What should I expect?
CHSWF will host top chefs and offer series of food and booze signature events across the five days, including brunches, signature dinners, wine tastings, late-night parties and more.
What are some of the signature events?
They include Street Eats (in partnership with Saveur magazine), Catch of the Day, kid-friendly and free events, Wine + Food Street Fest, ¡Sabor!: A Taste of Spain, and The Smokeshow, an ode to BBQ and whiskey.
Is the festival family-friendly?
All festival events are 21+, except for the Street Festival.
How do I get to the Culinary Village?
There is a round-trip shuttle leaving from downtown Charleston to the Culinary Village. Tickets are $35.
What is the bag policy?
All bags must be clear except for small clutches.
Who is the festival’s director?
Alyssa Maute Smith is the executive director of the fest.
Is Charleston Wine + Food a non-profit?
Yes. Charleston Wine + Food is “a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports Charleston and the Lowcountry’s diverse culinary + hospitality community through financial contributions to organizations or persons that directly benefit our local foodways initiatives and strengthen our local community,” according to their site.