Key West Food and Wine Festival

What Key West Food and Wine Festival does

Key West Food & Wine Festival is an annual, five-day culinary event held each January in Key West, Florida, produced by privately held Dolce Events & Marketing International (founded 2009). The 2027 edition is the 18th. The festival offers over 20 unique events including waterfront tastings, winemaker and chef collaborations, regional dinners (Oceania, South Africa, South America, Europe, North America), cooking classes, spirits dinners, and a Cooking With Love community/volunteer event. A VIP Experience Pass bundles access to nine premier events across the week, while individual event tickets are sold a la carte. The flagship Five Oceans Five Continents Grand Tasting at the Key West Aquarium is presented by Mount Sinai Medical Center and ties to the 2027 theme "Connected by the Oceans," with commissioned artwork by contemporary Cuban artist Humberto Castro.

The business operates on a primarily ticket-sale revenue model, sold directly to consumers via the TicketSpice online platform, with secondary revenue from official art prints/merchandise and an affiliated Key West Olive Oil & Gourmet retail line. Ancillary income is generated through a diversified sponsor and partner stack including presenting healthcare sponsor Mount Sinai Medical Center, lodging partner Hyatt Centric, multiple wine and spirits partners (Neeley Family Distillery, JCB Spirits, Adair Family Wines, Broken Trust Cellars, Encino de Piedra Vinicola, Sailfish Brewing Co.), catering partner Great Events Catering, and media partners Imbibe, Culture Owl, and Destination Florida. Non-profit beneficiaries include Cooking With Love Key West and A Positive Step of Monroe County. Distribution is direct-to-consumer digital with events physically hosted across iconic Key West venues such as the Truman Little White House, Audubon House and Tropical Gardens, Key West Aquarium, and Hyatt Centric Resort.

Beyond the flagship Key West event, Dolce Events & Marketing has launched a sister Oaxaca Food & Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits Festival scheduled for February 24-28, 2027, signaling a multi-festival portfolio strategy. The festival has earned repeat third-party recognition, including USA TODAY 10Best Wine Festival rankings every year from 2022 through 2026 (#1 in 2022, #2 in 2023, #10 in 2024, #5 in 2025 and 2026), Global 100 Best Food & Wine Festival 2024, LUXlife Best Food & Wine Event Management Company (2022, 2023), and a 2026 nomination for World Culinary Awards' North America's Best Culinary Festival. Event Director Mark Certonio was inducted into the Marquis Who's Who Biographical Registry in March 2023. The company is privately held, headquartered at 1075 Duval St. C19, Key West, Florida, with no institutional investment, public listing, or disclosed financials.

Name

Key West Food and Wine Festival

Legal name

Dolce Events & Marketing International

Website

https://keywestfoodandwinefestival.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Key West Food & Wine Festival is an annual five-day culinary event in Key West, Florida, produced by Dolce Events & Marketing, offering 20+ tastings, dinners, and a VIP Experience Pass to culinary travelers, with sponsorship from healthcare, hospitality, and wine/spirits partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food and Wine Festival Events

NAICS

Food Services and Drinking Places (722)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos (MPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Festivals & Culinary Events (Ticketed Tastings, Pop-ups) (THAJAGAL), Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE), Beverage Services (Bar Catering, Mixology, Beverage Programs) (THAHAKAJ)

Keywords

• Food and wine festivals
• Culinary event management
• Wine tasting events
• Festival ticketing services
• Spirits and beer events

Headquarters

HQ city

Key West

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Event Ticket Sales: The primary revenue stream comes from selling tickets to festival events. Individual event tickets and VIP Experience passes (which include access to 9 events) are sold through the festival's website via TicketSpice platform. Tickets for the 2027 festival go on sale September 30, 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The company produces and markets an annual multi-day food, wine, spirits, and beer festival in Key West, Florida, featuring tastings, winemaker dinners, cooking classes, and culinary experiences. Tickets are sold via an online ticketing platform across individual event passes and a VIP Experience Pass.

Product overview

Key West Food & Wine Festival is an annual 5-day culinary event offering a portfolio of tasting experiences, dining events, and premium packages. The core product is the festival itself featuring over 20 unique events including the flagship Five Oceans Five Continents Grand Tasting at Key West Aquarium. Premium offerings include the VIP Experience Pass with access to 9 signature events. The event portfolio spans regional dining experiences (Oceania, South Africa, South America, Europe, North America themes), cooking classes, spirits dinners, and community events. The festival also offers official art merchandise including limited-edition prints and original paintings. A related retail operation sells premium olive oils and gourmet products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 Best Wine Festival in the USA - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice 2022
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered featured, core, presenting, media and general.

• Encino de Piedra VinicolafeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2027Featured winery partner for 2027 festival. The winemaker from Encino de Piedra guides guests through curated tasting of wines from Valle de Guadalupe, paired with authentic flavors of Tecate cuisine at the 'A Dream Come True' lunch event.
• Realty One Group DestinationfeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2027Featured partner for 2027 VIP Welcome Party. Event presented as fundraiser for A Positive Step Monroe County and Cooking with Love non-profit organizations.
• Broken Trust CellarsfeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Featured winery partner for 2026 festival. Partnership involves hosting exclusive winemaker events and tastings during the festival.
• Gonzales Wine CompanyfeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Featured winery partner for 2026 festival showcasing their wines at festival events.
• Adair Family WinescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Featured winery partner and distributor partner for 2026 festival.
• Mount Sinai Medical CenterpresentingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of the Five Oceans Five Continents Grand Tasting at Key West Aquarium. Partnership focuses on promoting community wellness, heart-healthy initiatives, and health awareness aligned with Mediterranean diet benefits.
• Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & SpacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Lodging partner and venue host for festival events including the South American Brunch. Provides accommodation and event space for festival attendees.
• Great Events CateringcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Catering partner and featured culinary talent. Chef David Fuhrman serves as Chef/Owner providing premium catering services for festival events. Executive Chef Kenardo Williams brings Caribbean and Keys culinary expertise.
• Mark Funkhouser PhotographycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Official photographer for the festival providing all event photography and video content. Gallery partnerships established for 2026, 2024, and 2023 event photos.
• Studio Fine Cuban Art to CollectcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gallery partner curating official festival artwork. Curated by Alaen Ledesma Fernandez. Features Contemporary Cuban Artist Humberto Castro's 'Ocean Eyes' as official 2027 artwork.
• Cooking With Love Key WestcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Non-profit partner that prepares and delivers over 200 hot nutritious meals every Saturday to senior citizens, homebound residents, and neighbors in need. Festival hosts fundraising events including Kitchen Party and VIP Welcome Party fundraiser.
• A Positive Step of Monroe County (APSMC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Non-profit partner dedicated to serving highest risk youth and families in the Florida Keys. Festival VIP Welcome Party serves as fundraiser for this organization.
• Key West AquariumfeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Venue partner for the Five Oceans Five Continents Grand Tasting event. Historic venue provides unique aquarium setting for multi-sensory culinary experience.
• Audubon House and Tropical GardensfeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Venue partner for Oceania dinner event. Historic 19th-century elegance and rare tropical plants provide backdrop for trans-pacific culinary celebration.
• Truman Little White HousefeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Venue partner for American Spirit whiskey dinner. Historic site where President Truman played poker serves as intimate setting for Neeley Family Distillery whiskey pairing experience.
• Imbibe Liquid CulturemediaGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media partner - multi-platform drinks destination combining print and digital magazine, website, newsletter, podcast, and drink-related events including annual Negroni Week.
• Culture OwlmediaGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media partner - multi-channel marketing platform dedicated to promoting arts, culture and entertainment in South Florida.
• Destination FloridamediaGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media partner - Keys #1 visitors guide and official in-room travel magazine for Keys' top lodging properties.
• Seascape Tropical InngeneralGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Lodging partner providing accommodation options for festival attendees.
• Duval InngeneralGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Lodging partner providing accommodation options for festival attendees.
• Neeley Family DistilleryfeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Spirits partner hosting exclusive 'An Exclusive Celebration of American Spirit' whiskey dinner at the historic Truman Little White House. Features Neeley's American Whiskey paired with five-course meal.
• Sailfish Brewing Co.generalGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Beer partner providing craft beer selections for festival events.
• Dolce TerrageneralGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Spirits partner providing artisanal spirits for festival events.
• Citadel BeveragesgeneralGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Spirits partner providing beverage products for festival events.
• JCB SpiritsfeaturedGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Featured spirits partner (Jean-Charles Boisset collection) for 2022 festival. Past presenting wine partner.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• South Beach Wine & Food Festival: Multi-day Florida-based food and wine festival featuring winemaker dinners, tastings, and chef collaborations; directly comparable in format, attendee mix, and ticketing model to Key West Food & Wine Festival.
• Charleston Wine + Food: Annual multi-day culinary festival in Charleston featuring winemaker dinners, tasting events, and chef showcases; closely mirrors Key West's tiered ticketing, regional dinner, and grand tasting structure.
• Pebble Beach Food & Wine: Premium destination food and wine festival featuring celebrity chefs, winemaker events, and tastings; comparable in VIP-heavy ticketing and luxury culinary positioning.
• Naples Winter Wine Festival: Florida-based high-end wine festival with vintner dinners and a signature auction format; closely comparable destination wine festival with premium ticket pricing and charity component.
• Atlanta Food & Wine Festival: Multi-day food and wine festival with tasting seminars, dinners, and grand tastings; directly comparable in event portfolio structure and ticketing tier approach.
• Cayman Cookout: Annual Caribbean culinary event hosted at Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman featuring celebrity chefs and wine/spirits tastings; directly comparable as a warm-weather destination food and wine festival.
• Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience: Wine-focused destination event featuring winemaker dinners, regional tastings, and culinary programming; comparable structure of regional dinners and grand tastings in a destination setting.

Broad incumbents

• Aspen Food & Wine Classic: The flagship US culinary festival under Food & Wine magazine; a larger, more established destination food and wine event with a similar multi-day tasting format but national brand backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/keywestfoodandwinefestival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Key West Food and Wine Festival