Drink

Charlotte Wine & Food Week 2020

Some highlights from the "reimagined" Charlotte Wine & Food Week, pandemic-version.

We recently celebrated a “reimagined” Charlotte Wine & Food Week. The events are typically in the Spring and due to the pandemic, clearly looked a little different this year. There were some small, reduced-capacity dinners at restaurants and private homes throughout the week, as well as a virtual auction, instead of the larger bigger dinners and galas.

All proceeds from Charlotte Wine & Food go to support local children’s charities, so you’re drinking for a great cause.

I went to two wine-paired dinners – Broadbent wines at Fin & Fino restaurant, and Stonestreet Estate wines at Fig Tree restaurant. Both were lovely experiences, but the wine and food at Fig Tree were both hard to beat.

We attended the first dinner, at Fin & Fino, with a group of couples, spread out over 2 tables.

This Secaturs Chenin Blanc was a big hit with our crew. It’s one I have had many times before but didn’t realize it was a Broadbent wine. This wine is only $17, so give it a try!

This one, as well as other Broadbent wines poured, were organic and non-interventionist.

Max Kast, North Carolina’s only Master Sommelier poured the wines and took us through our tasting. He is the Director of Education for Broadbent.

I must admit it was so fun (and yet felt so odd!) to get dressed up to go out. Made me realize how much I miss things like this…


The night after, I joined my girlfriends at a second pairing dinner at Fig Tree Restaurant.

This dinner featured Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, which I wasn’t very familiar with — but I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the wines and excited to discover them!

The food at Fig Tree is always sublime.

Craig Ellick, from Stonestreet, walked us through the tasting. I loved geeking out over wine with him!

I took home several bottles of the Stonestreet wines, and am excited to try them again. I loved their 2016 Estate Chardonnay on the lower end of their offering, and their 2016 Rockfall Cabernet on the higher end. I noticed wine.com had a few of their other wines, too.

All in all — this year’s events looked very different than in years past. You realize just how much the buzz of a crowd can add to an event once you don’t have it! But it was a great couple of nights, and this year, more than ever, I am happy be able to find such a great way to support those who need it.

Cheers!
xx—BB


Special thanks to @poprockphotography for the use of her great photos!


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