Star chefs, NBA athletes, vintners help at-risk kids
year, but we’ll be adding more diversity … so there will be champagne this year, and Antinori, from Tuscany, a family that has been making wine since 1385 — for six centuries. On the New World side, we have the Catena family — the best winery in Argentina. We’ve tried our best to embrace the entirety of the wine world this year and allow our guests to have a lot of fun with a broader range of wines.”
It’s a steep price. Reserve Packages start at $2,500, which affords two guests entry to the outdoor food and wine tasting, live auction and after party. A midrange $6,500 nets the same, plus private car service. And for $9,250, the Grand Cru Package includes VIP access to all events, car service and hotel accommodations.
All festival attendees are invited to attend the OMYF grant ceremony, where funds will be distributed to local nonprofit organizations.
Throughout the weekend, private vintner dinners will be hosted at homes around Central Florida, but the big soiree comes on Saturday, at the Outdoor Wine Festival at the RitzCarlton, Grand Lakes, where celebrity chefs including Michael Symon, Gabriel Kreuther, Art Smith and Eric Lees will join local celebs such as James and Julie Petrakis, Melissa Kelly, Brandon McGlamery, Kathleen Blake and Laurent Hollander (more than 20 chefs total) will be cooking up a storm while wine professionals showcase their wares and educate guests on what they’re drinking.
Also on tap, a Wine Auction, followed by an exclusive dinner. Sunday brings with it — — an Orlando Magic game. Tipoff against the Charlotte Hornets is at 6 p.m. at the Amway Center.
You don’t have to attend any of the above, however, to get in on the auction action. The site goes live on March 8 and bidding opens on everything from signed Magic memorabilia to a private concert with Boyz
II Men to a Tanzanian safari adventure.
“This is where it all starts,” says Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “We’re going to have all kinds of great wine and sports experiences that you can bid for online all week long.”
Last year, an exclusive stay at Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World generated $360,000. A similar lot is available this year and includes an exclusive Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge adventure experience, as well. (Enter the raffle here.)
“This is an event unlike any other that’s ever been done in [our] community,” says Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “The opportunity to raise funds for kids in Central Florida and bringing the greatest wine and the greatest chefs from around the country together for people who love food, who love wine and who also want to help in raising money for at-risk children in Central Florida…. There is a great need in our community, and a lot of great organizations working with [the children]. They need these funds to be able to continue their programs.”
Last year, the inaugural Orlando Wine Festival and Auction raised $900,000 for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation.
“But the goal is always to do better,” says Martins.