5 Of The Best Reasons To Attend The Hilton Head Wine And Food Festival

The annual Hilton Head Wine and Food Festival is an incredible time to experience Hilton Head Island! Held each spring when the weather is mild and the sun is usually shining brightly, this event is a fantastic opportunity for locals and visitors alike to sample delicious food prepared by local restaurants and paired with incredible wines.

For six days each March, organizers of the Hilton Head Wine and Food Festival present an array of Lowcountry cuisine and cultural events. This year’s festival, to be held at the Sea Pines Resort, promises a new schedule of events including celebrity chef showcases, wine education sessions, live entertainment and the much anticipated Grand and Public Tastings.

2016 Hilton Head Wine and Food Festival Events

This year, the event will kick off with a Wine & Cinema event created to showcase a special film, "The Year of the Comet” as well as present an array of delicious wines and hors d’oeuvres and desserts to enjoy before the movie and during intermission.

Beginners and long-time wine connoisseurs will love the daily Wine Tasting and Education sessions, which this year will include ZING, a course about the pivotal moment you discover how easy and delicious it is to pair certain wines with specific foods! Crystal, True Persuasion is another interesting session that will be offered this year. This one focuses on the role the wine glass plays in your wine experience. If you think all of the different-shaped wine glasses on the market today are just for show, you’ll leave this education session with a better understanding of the impact a glass can have. Bonus! You’ll also get to take the glassware home with you!

Sip and Stroll is one of the most anticipated events of the Hilton Head Wine and Food Festival. You’ll get to enjoy a variety of wines while you peruse shops in Harbor Town. Most shops will offer discounts to shoppers bearing a Sip and Stroll Passport.

One of the festival’s biggest events, the Grand Tasting focuses on high-end wines. As an example of the wide variety of wines you’ll be able to experience, last year there were more than 100 wines featured during the Grand Tasting. Of course, it is only recommended that you select a few of those wines to sample yourself, but the wide variety means there will surely be a fine wine for everyone to enjoy!

The same concept has been applied to the Public Tasting, which last year featured more than 250 different wines from all over the world! Held in outdoors under the beautiful tall pines of Sea Pines resort, you will be able to taste new wines and old favorites, as well as watch bartenders face off in the Grey Goose Bartenders Challenge, and watch local chefs whip up their best dishes during the Outdoor Gourmet Challenge.

Other events include the Waiter’s Race and Silent Auction.

Start Planning Your Visit!

If you’re thinking about coming to this year’s Hilton Head Wine and Food Festival, be sure to get your tickets and secure your lodging! Beachside Getaway can help make sure your stay on Hilton Head Island is a comfortable one, with more than 60 home and condo rentals throughout the island! Our select Hilton Head Island rentals range from quaint 1-bedroom villas to luxury 8-bedroom oceanfront homes. There is sure to be something for everyone! Visit our website for additional info and to browse our properties!

Photo Credit: travnikovstudio / Photostock