Tickets for the third annual Wellen Park Wine Festival went on sale Saturday, Aug. 1, with prices ranging from $25 to $175 for the two-day event along the U.S. 41 corridor in south Sarasota County.
The festival runs Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at Downtown Wellen, the mixed-use district in North Port. It has sold out before, according to the event's ticket page.
Friday: Wine dinner
Friday's centerpiece is a five-course wine dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. in Solis Hall, featuring wines exclusively from ZD Wines, a family-owned Napa Valley winery founded in 1969 and operated by three generations of the deLeuze family. Tickets are $175 per person.
Saturday: Grand Tasting
Saturday's lineup starts with an introductory wine tasting class from 11 a.m. to noon in Solis Hall ($25), followed by the Grand Tasting promenade along Wellen Park Boulevard from 1 to 4 p.m. More than 40 vintners from national and international wineries will pour.
General admission to the Grand Tasting costs $95. VIP tickets run $175 and add early entry, an air-conditioned lounge and private restrooms. Both tiers include a souvenir tasting glass, a swag bag and four food tickets redeemable at participating restaurants.
Eight Downtown Wellen restaurants are providing small bites: Acqua Pazza Coastal Italian, Agave Bandido, The Banyan House, Grain and Berry, La Maison, Oak & Stone, Sassy Tarts and Villani & Co.
Good to know
Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park, said the festival has become a weekend residents anticipate because it pairs quality wine with the culinary scene at Downtown Wellen. "We're excited to welcome both returning and first-time guests for another memorable weekend where they can discover new wines, connect with friends, enjoy live music and experience everything that makes Wellen Park such a special place," Severance told Scene Sarasota.
The Rotary Club at Wellen Park serves as the festival's official charity partner. The event is 21 and older.
Live music will accompany the Saturday tasting. Full vintner lists and food menus will be posted at wellenpark.com/wine, where tickets are available.
