Charlotte Wine & Food

What Charlotte Wine & Food does

Charlotte Wine & Food is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 56-1937731) founded in 1989 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The organization operates a single flagship event series — Charlotte Wine & Food Week — that hosts wine tastings, vintner dinners, auctions, and a gala once per year as a fundraising vehicle for Charlotte-area children's charities. Core products include In-Home and Restaurant Vintner Dinners, the Collectors Gala & Live Auction (capped at 250 attendees), the Grand Tasting (capped at 300 attendees), and a Corporate Sponsorship Program. The organization also runs a Charity Beneficiary Program that selects two new nonprofit grantees annually on up to four-year cycles, with grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 per beneficiary.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven. Revenue is generated through individual tax-deductible donations, customized corporate sponsorship packages (Truist serves as presenting sponsor, with Bank of America and Wells Fargo as recurring anchor sponsors hosting signature dinners), ticket sales for tastings and dinners, and live and silent auctions. Funds raised are redistributed to four current beneficiary organizations — Beds for Kids, Digi-Bridge, Families Forward Charlotte, and Wayfinders — collectively serving over 2,500 children annually. Since inception, the organization has distributed over $8 million to charitable beneficiaries, with $480,000 distributed in the 2025-2026 season (38th year).

Charlotte Wine & Food operates with a lean team of 8 employees and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The organization has no proprietary technology platform, app, or API; operations are managed through email-based inquiries, custom sponsorship negotiations, and direct outreach. Its customer base spans five primary segments: corporate sponsors seeking community engagement and client entertainment, wineries and vintners seeking Charlotte market access, fine dining restaurants seeking visibility, 501(c)(3) beneficiary charities, and affluent wine and food patrons attending by invitation or ticket purchase.

Name

Charlotte Wine & Food

Legal name

Charlotte Wine & Food (501(c)(3) Nonprofit)

Website

https://charlottewineandfood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Charlotte Wine & Food is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that operates the annual Charlotte Wine & Food Week event series — including tastings, vintner dinners, and a Collectors Gala — to raise funds for Charlotte-area children's charities, having donated over $8 million since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Event Fundraising

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gala Dinners & Fundraising Events (Nonprofit/CSR) (MPAGAHAE), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

Keywords

• Wine and food events
• Charitable fundraising
• Nonprofit event series
• Charity auctions
• Wine tastings

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations & Fundraising: Charlotte Wine & Food raises funds through tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization has donated over $8 million to charitable beneficiaries since 1989.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for marketing visibility, community engagement opportunities, and client entertainment access during Charlotte Wine & Food Week events. Sponsorship packages are customized for each company.
3. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales to the Grand Tasting, Collectors Gala, vintner dinners, and other wine and food events throughout the week.
4. Auctions: Both silent and live auctions featuring wine lots, exceptional food and wine experiences, travel packages, sporting experiences, cultural activities, spa packages, and merchandise. 100% of auction proceeds benefit local children's charities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Charlotte Wine & Food hosts an annual week-long series of wine and food fundraising events — including in-home vintner dinners, restaurant vintner dinners, the Grand Tasting, and the Collectors Gala & Live Auction — to raise money for Charlotte-area children's charities. The organization operates Corporate Sponsorship, Vintner Participation, Restaurant Participation, Auction Donations, and Charity Beneficiary programs that together fund grants of $50,000 to $150,000 annually per beneficiary.

Product overview

Charlotte Wine & Food is a nonprofit organization operating since 1989 that hosts an annual Charlotte Wine & Food Week event series as its primary fundraising vehicle. The organization runs multiple event products including In-Home Vintner Dinners, Restaurant Vintner Dinners, The Collectors Gala & Live Auction, and The Grand Tasting. Supporting programs include the Auction Donations Program, Restaurant Participation Program, Charity Beneficiary Program, Corporate Sponsorship Program, and Charity Partner Meal Program. Collectively these products raise funds for Charlotte-area children's charities, having distributed over $8 million to date.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charlotte Wine & Food Week Annual flagship week-long fundraising event series celebrating 38+ years of wine and food experiences, featuring multiple venue-based tastings, dinners, and auctions to raise money for Charlotte-area children's charities.
• In-Home Vintner Dinners Intimate 4-5 course dinners hosted at private residences of Charlotte Wine + Food's top patrons, featuring wine pairings and winery representatives in attendance.
• Restaurant Vintner Dinners Dinners hosted at Charlotte's top fine dining restaurants featuring 4-5 courses paired with wines, with winery representatives in attendance.
• The Collectors Gala & Live Auction A premier fundraising event limited to 250 of Charlotte Wine & Food's top patrons, featuring a high-end wine and food tasting, family-style seated meal, live auction with 15+ exceptional lots, and super silent auction.
• The Grand Tasting Charlotte Wine + Food's largest tasting experience featuring over 100 curated wines from around the globe, up to 12 area restaurants and culinary artisans, breweries, mixologists, exclusive mobile silent auction, and live music.
• Auction Donations Program Both silent and live auctions featuring wine lots, exceptional food and wine experiences, travel packages, sporting experiences, cultural activities, spa packages, and merchandise to benefit local children's charities.
• Restaurant Participation Program Program enabling Charlotte's restaurants and chefs to participate in vintner dinners and the Collectors Gala, featuring their culinary creations alongside winery partners and receiving visibility plus stipends.
• Charity Beneficiary Program Program selecting 2 new non-profit beneficiaries annually to receive grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 for up to 4 years, serving children ages 0-22 in Mecklenburg County.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Customizable sponsorship packages for corporate sponsors offering community engagement, client entertaining, and marketing visibility to Charlotte Wine + Food's network of wine and food enthusiasts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $8 million donated to children's charities since 1989
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TruistcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTruist serves as the presenting sponsor for Charlotte Wine & Food Week events, providing primary branding and marketing visibility for the annual fundraising series.
• Bank of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of America hosts the annual Fall Favorites dinner at their Executive Dining Room and provides corporate sponsorship support.
• Wells FargocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWells Fargo hosts the annual Wells Fargo Kickoff Dinner featuring prominent wineries and provides executive dining support.
• The Drum DilworthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for the Check Presentation Celebration distributing funds to beneficiary charities.
• Porcupine ProvisionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatering company owned by CW+F Chairman Emeritus Leslie Schlernitzauer and her husband Bruce, providing catering for events including the Fried Chicken and Champagne themed celebration.
• Black Crown CaviarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides caviar for events, featured in welcome bites at the Check Presentation Celebration.
• Party ReflectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent rentals provider for Grand Tasting and Collectors Gala events.
• D2 Production ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides AV services for Grand Tasting and Collectors Gala events.
• WBTVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal TV station; personalities Alex Giles and Nia Harden hosted the Grand Tasting 2026.
• The Wine VaultminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurated wine selections for Grand Tasting events.
• Quail Hollow ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive private club venue hosting the Collectors Gala 2026.
• The Casey by Beau MondeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant venue hosting the Collectors Gala 2027.
• The Union at Station WestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent venue hosting the Grand Tasting 2027.
• Beds for KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary charity receiving grants from Charlotte Wine & Food. Provides beds and essential furniture to Charlotte families transitioning out of poverty.
• Digi-BridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary charity receiving grants from Charlotte Wine & Food. Sparks interest in STEAM learning for students.
• Families Forward CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary charity receiving grants from Charlotte Wine & Food. Helps local families toward lasting financial stability.
• WayfinderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary charity receiving grants from Charlotte Wine & Food. Ignites students' potential through summer camp and enrichment programs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Charleston Wine + Food: Charleston Wine + Food is a nonprofit food and wine festival that closely mirrors Charlotte Wine & Food's model—hosting a multi-day event series featuring tastings, vintner dinners, and culinary experiences to benefit the local community. The peer comparison is highly relevant given similar geographic scale, nonprofit structure, and focus on Southern U.S. culinary tourism.
• Pebble Beach Food & Wine: Pebble Beach Food & Wine is a luxury multi-day food and wine festival featuring tastings, dinners, and celebrity chef programming for affluent patrons. While operated on a for-profit basis (unlike Charlotte Wine & Food), it serves as a strong comparable for the high-end wine and food event format, attendee demographics, and corporate sponsor profile.
• Aspen Food & Wine Classic: Aspen Food & Wine Classic is the premier U.S. food and wine event featuring tastings, demos, and panels attended by affluent patrons, chefs, and vintners. It is comparable to Charlotte Wine & Food in audience demographic (sophisticated wine and food enthusiasts) and corporate sponsor engagement, though significantly larger in scale and for-profit in operation.
• Auction Napa Valley: Auction Napa Valley, hosted by the Napa Valley Vintners, is a premier charity wine auction event benefiting local nonprofits through live and silent auctions, vintner-hosted dinners, and tasting experiences. It shares Charlotte Wine & Food's charity auction model, vintner engagement approach, and dependence on affluent patrons and corporate sponsors.
• Food Network New York Wine & Food Festival: Food Network New York Wine & Food Festival is a major food and wine festival benefiting Food Bank For New York City and No Kid Hungry. It is comparable to Charlotte Wine & Food in its multi-day tasting format, vintner/chef participation model, charity beneficiary structure, and corporate sponsorship approach, though at much larger scale.
• Naples Winter Wine Festival: Naples Winter Wine Festival is a high-end charity wine auction event that raises millions annually for children's charities through vintner dinners, a grand tasting, and a live auction. It is the most directly comparable peer to Charlotte Wine & Food given its nonprofit model, charity beneficiary focus (children's services), and auction-driven fundraising format.

Others

• United Way of Central Carolinas: United Way of Central Carolinas is a regional nonprofit fundraising organization that distributes funds to local children's services, education, and family stability programs in the Charlotte area. It shares Charlotte Wine & Food's nonprofit grantmaking model and beneficiary focus, but uses workplace giving campaigns rather than event-based fundraising.
• Community Foundation of the Charlotte Region: Community Foundation of the Charlotte Region is a local grantmaking foundation serving the Charlotte metro area through donor-advised funds and grant programs. It is comparable to Charlotte Wine & Food as a Charlotte-based grantmaking entity serving local nonprofits, though it operates on a much larger permanent endowment scale.

Regional players

• Atlanta Food & Wine Festival: Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is a regional food and wine event in the Southeast U.S. featuring tastings, dinners, and learning experiences for affluent patrons. It serves a comparable demographic to Charlotte Wine & Food and operates in a nearby metro, but does not share the nonprofit charity-beneficiary model.
• Festival de la Gastronomía (Miami): South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) is a major Southeast regional food and wine event benefiting the Chaplin School of Hospitality Management at FIU. It is comparable to Charlotte Wine & Food in its charity beneficiary model, multi-day tasting format, and sponsor structure, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charlotte-wine-&-food-weekend-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charlotte Wine & Food