Food & Wine Classic Charleston

September 2024 marked the launch of a major new festival in Charleston, and it’s got some culinary and hospitality heavyweights behind it.

It was such a roaring success, it's come back and seems to get better and bigger each year.  Exact dates and details for 2026 haven't been announced yet, so stay tuned.

The Food & Wine Classic Charleston is presented by Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Southern Living and Explore Charleston, and is an offshoot of the famous and much beloved Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado.

Here’s some of what’s on tap and on the plate for the three-day festival:

• Over 50 celebrity chef demos, panels and wine seminars;
• The Grand Tasting Pavilion with over a hundred foods, wines & spirits;
• Unique curated experiences, tours and exclusive events;
• Top talent and famous foodies like Emeril Lagasse and his son EJ, Tyler Florence, Andrew Zimmern, Maneet Chauhan, CJ McCollum, Mike Lata, Phil Rosenthal, Ross Matthews, Valerie Bertinelli and Trisha Yearwood (hosting Southern Living's Lowcountry Tailgate), Top Chef jusge Gail Simmons, Claudette Zepeda, Carrie Morey, Rodney Scott, and a myriad more;
• Get three-day passes, or single event tickets;
• Special events packages include… Pearls of the Coast: A Lowcountry Oyster Roast; Sea to Table: Crabbing & Cooking in the Lowcountry; and Southern Living's Lowcountry Tailgate.

Venues include the Gaillard, Charleston Visitors Center, Mills House, Emeline Greenhouse, and other spots around the Holy City.  Read all about the festival in this blog, or check out the website for details and tickets.