2018 Forks & Corks Tickets Go On Sale November 6
Grand Tasting, Forks & Corks University Tickets Expected to Sell Out Fast
SARASOTA, Fla. (October 23, 2017) – On Monday, Nov. 6, at 7:00 p.m., tickets will go on sale for the popular Grand Tasting event of the highly anticipated 2018 Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival (Jan. 26-28, 2018), presented by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals. Tickets will also be available for the festival’s Forks & Corks University, a series of fun and educational seminars led by wine experts from around the world. All ticket sales will take place online at EatLikeALocal.com. Now in its 11th season, the multi-day Forks & Corks epicurean event is well established as the area’s premier food and wine festival.
“We’re once again assembling a stellar group of international winery owners and winemakers to showcase alongside our own outstanding collection of culinary masters from the 60 local restaurants that make up the Sarasota-Manatee Originals,” said Sarah Firstenberger, executive director of the organization. “There are many great events throughout the festival, but the Grand Tasting is by far the most popular, with tickets usually selling out in a matter of minutes.”
For the Grand Tasting, guests will be able to purchase up to four (4) General Admission tickets ($150.00 each) or up to two (2) VIP tickets ($350.00 each) online. VIP tickets include a $150 wine voucher, valet parking, early front courtyard entrance and champagne reception, as well as covered seating, a private tour of The Ringling Museum and a personal invitation to the VIP festival kick-off party. There are also sponsorship opportunities available, which include tickets to the Grand Tasting event. For information on sponsorships, contact Sarah Firstenberger at (941) 365-2800 or [email protected].
The Grand Tasting will take place on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, from noon to 4 p.m. in the expansive courtyard and greenspace of the world-renowned John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. According to Firstenberger, the Grand Tasting of 2018 promises to be the best yet, with a number of new Originals serving specialties alongside their fellow Original restaurateurs. Guests will sip from a collection of more than 350 wines from across the globe – all hand-selected and professionally tasted, judged and recognized as medal winners – and savor culinary creations from members of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals. A retail tent will also be available, where patrons can purchase the various wines, making Forks & Corks one of only a few festivals in the Southeast to provide the opportunity to purchase wines showcased on-site during the event.
Those who “enroll” in Forks & Corks University enjoy tasting and learning about various wines in seminars led by a panel of winemakers and owners from the showcased wineries. Each half- or full-day session includes a gourmet four-course meal with wine pairings. Sessions take place at Michael’s on East Ballroom and Wine Cellar, and tickets (on sale Nov. 6) are required to attend. For a full class schedule, visit EatLikeALocal.com.
In addition to the Grand Tasting and University events, Forks & Corks includes more than 25 tasting experiences, including winemaker dinners, retail tastings and a trade tasting, each featuring top-of-class wines, celebrity winemakers, and cuisine from nearly 60 of the finest independently owned local restaurants on Florida’s SunCoast. Tickets for all these events, along with special packages and accommodation offers, will be available in November.
Keeping it local, the Originals support The Ringling Foundation and All Faiths Food Bank and other local non-profits. To date, Forks & Corks has raised nearly $500,000 to benefit local charities.
An area-wide event, this year’s sponsors include Suncoast Porsche and Audi Sarasota (Presenting Sponsor), Willis Smith Construction, Sweet Sparkman Architects, CenterState Bank, Palmer Accounting Group, P.A., Atlas Insurance, Design Works, RBC Wealth Management and Icard Merrill
For more information on Forks & Corks and to purchase tickets, visit EatLikeALocal.com. Follow Forks & Corks on Facebook.
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About Sarasota-Manatee Originals
The Sarasota-Manatee Originals are a diverse collection of 60 award-winning, independent restaurants with a shared passion for outstanding dining experiences and commitment to the community. Each “Original” restaurant is known for its inventive use of the best ingredients to prepare dishes that embody the flavor, color and culture of Florida’s west coast. Forks & Corks is the organization’s major annual fundraiser.
