Epicurean Charlotte Food & Wine Magazine

Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend has announced its official Kick-Off Event for the 2012 season to be held Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The evening celebration will include exquisite wine and food, exciting live and silent auction items and an opportunity to 
experience the Race Day Simulator. Special guest will be racing and vintner legend, Randy Lewis. Mr. Lewis is founder of Lewis Cellars and is a Formula Race Car champion.

Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend will announce its 2012 Charity Beneficiaries at the kick-off event. Tickets are $125 per person and can be purchased online beginning February 7th at www.charlottewineandfood.org. Partners include Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Lewis Cellars, Robert Foley Vineyards, The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, Morrison Smith Jewelers, Professional Consultant Group Inc., Womble Carlyle, Zebra Restaurant, Spectrum Creative Graphics, Haley Jeter Photography and Charlotte Living Magazine.

A vintner dinner hosted by Randy Lewis featuring select wines from his family winery, Lewis Cellars, will be held Friday, April 15th, at 6:30 p.m. at Zebra Restaurant (4521 Sharon Road in Charlotte). Tickets are $150 per person, which includes a passed aperitif followed by a four-course dinner. Tickets are limited and available online beginning February 7th at www.charlottewineaandfood.org.

Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend raised more than $265,00 in 2010 for its charity beneficiaries directed to the mission of “Nourishing Mecklenburg County Youth.”

Since its inception in 1989, Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend has grown into one of the Southeast’s largest wine events and has raised more than $3.2 million for local charities. Held in the spring of every even-numbered year, the Weekend draws notable winemakers from around the world and pairs them with Charlotte’s top chefs for three days of fun and educational events. Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend 2012 dates are April 19th through 21st. The host hotel will be the Ritz-Carlton uptown.

For more information, visit them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at CLTWineandFood. Check the web site for tickets at www.charlottewineandfood.org or call 704. 338.WINE (9463).