The 2013 Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, presented by The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, has announced that it is gearing up for the 28th annual event which will be held March 4 to 9, 2013. The pre-festival events taking place in January are “Uncork the Festival” on January 25, 2013 on Hilton Head Island; and the International Wine Judging and Competition on January 26 and 27, 2013.
“Uncork the Festival”, fashioned after another popular wine activity founded by the Wall Street Journal, the Open That Bottle Night, will include a grape stomping competition, with an “I Love Lucy” look-alike contest. To kick-off the 2013 event, the organizers of the Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival are inviting members of the public to reserve a space at this exclusive event. Attendees will receive a souvenir glass, select winery tasting and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets for the festival will be available on December 1.
The winning poster in the student poster competition will also be unveiled at “Uncork the Festival”. The winning student entry will be awarded a $300, along with tickets to the Saturday festival.
Wine entries are accepted online beginning November 15. Wine entry products must be received by January 22, 2013 to be judged in competition.
Other events include: “Great Chefs of the South Wine Dinners” from March 4 to 9; and “Grand Wine Tasting & Silent Auction” on March 8.
The 2012 festival received approximately 1,000 wine entries in the wine competition. Approximately 20 professional and accredited wine judges participated, including master sommelier Brett Davis from Kentucky.
The Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival in a non-profit organization, with proceeds from its silent auctions benefiting educational opportunities for students in the hospitality management programs of study at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry through the John F. and Valerie Curry scholarship fund.
