The very popular culinary destination weekend festival, Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife – W3, which has taken place on Jekyll Island, Georgia since 2016 is now moving to Vilano Beach, FL, November 4 – 6, 2022. A limited release of Early Bird Discount tickets is now available for sale for the festival’s signature events.
“We are so excited about relocating this already successfully established event to Vilano Beach, as there are so many opportunities now available for new growth potential, including a more diversified culinary experience. Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife will also be returning to its original all-inclusive tasting tickets for all its events, which includes unlimited tasting bites and unlimited wines, beers, and spirits with souvenir glasses. Nearly 65% of the previous Georgia festival’s attending guests visited from Florida, which will make the Vilano Beach location very popular for Floridians and visitors throughout the southeast”, said Jan Gourley, Festival Founder/Director.
Early Bird Discount Tickets Available for Sale through 904TIX, today!
The schedule of events for Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife, presented by Publix + GreenWise Market follows, additional events and details will be available on the festival website in the coming weeks. A limited release of event tickets is now available at Early Bird Discount pricing on the festival website at www.whiskeywineandwildlife.com.
Friday, November 4
W3 Master Classes, presented by Publix + GreenWise Market
4 Classes – 10 am – 3:30 pm *Class schedule and location to be announced soon.
$50 per person, per class – Early Bird discount pricing or $175 Master Class Pass for All 4 Classes! (General Admission pricing: $60 per person/$199 Master Class Pass)
These interactive and intimate learning experiences showcase local and celebrity guest chefs, cookbook authors and beverage experts. Each class includes tasting bites with a paired wine, beer, or signature cocktail. *Limited tickets available to only 60 people per class.
Class 1: 10:00 am – 11:00 am; Class 2: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm; Class 3: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Class 4: 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Guided Tours through the GTM Resarch Reserve/Wine & Cheese Paired Reception
Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) Research Reserve
505 Guana River Rd #6527, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$39 per person – Early Bird discount pricing; (General Admission pricing: $45 for person)
*Limited tickets available
- Friday, November 4, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
- Saturday, November 5, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
- Sunday, November 6, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Enjoy exploring the great coastal outdoors and the natural beauty of the GTM Research Reserve with a private guided tour. The tour concludes with tasting some fantastic wines, paired with specialty cheeses from Publix + GreenWise Market. Teeming with life, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Research Reserve) is a dynamic, ever-changing place with many interconnected habitats from the ocean to the forests. One of 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the country, this landscape protects and provides for a great diversity of plants and animals. Guests will get to experience wildlife (and wine) up close!
Friday, November 4
Whiskey Inspired on the Pier, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Vilano Beach Pier
260 Vilano Road, St. Augustine, FL 32084
$69 per person – Early Bird discount pricing; (General Admission pricing: $79 per person)
The happiest of happy hours shared with the Bluebird of Happiness, on Vilano Beach’s famous Pier! Enjoy an unlimited variety of whiskies, wines and beers, along with a showcase of the festival’s official beverage partners. Guests will enjoy tasting whiskey inspired classic cocktails and more with a souvenir glass, along with a variety of appetizer stations, “Pig Pickin’ on the Pier” with whole hog barbecue and music – all taking place on the Vilano Beach Pier overlooking the Matanzas Inlet. If you enjoy spectacular sunsets, you won’t want to miss this event with one of the best vantage points to watch a spectacular sunset over downtown St. Augustine with your favorite beverage of choice.
Saturday, November 5
W3 Main Event – Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Block Party in Vilano Beach
Vilano Beach, St. Augustine, FL 32084 (Location to be announced soon)
$99 per person – Early Bird discount pricing; (General Admission pricing: $119 per person)
The main event combines all three of the W’s and much more for the perfect Vilano Beach afternoon. Enjoy culinary delights from up and down the A1A Corridor – nearly 20 of northeast Florida’s best! Guests will enjoy hundreds of unlimited varieties of beverage tastings (spirits, wines and beers) with a souvenir glass at this private Vilano Beach block party. It’s a full afternoon of live music from Laiken Love & The Fellowship of Love, celebrity guest chefs on the Publix Cooking Demonstration Stage, artisan market and the GTM Reserve Stage with wildlife demonstrations and more. Tickets are ALL-INCLUSIVE with food and drink tastings included, from some of northeast Florida’s best restaurants and world-renowned spirits, wines and beers!
Publix + GreenWise Market Cooking Demo Stage at W3 Main Event
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Aprons Cooking School, Jacksonville, FL
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Kenny Gilbert, Silkie’s Chicken and Champagne Bar, Jacksonville, FL
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm: Rebecca Reed, Restaurant Orsay, Jacksonville, FL
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Michael Lugo, Michael’s St. Augustine & Pesca by Michael’s, Vilano Beach
The Best Taste Awards, presented by Jacksonville Magazine will showcase all the winners of Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife’s best tastes in the November 2022 issue. Participating restaurants will be professionally judged in mid-September and winners will be awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Medal Award, which will on display at W3.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE Awards, presented by Publix + GreenWise Market. W3 attendees will vote for their favorite bites and sips during the event on Saturday. One People’s Choice Medal Award Winner in seven categories, including beverage tastings will be announced on the Music at 4:30 pm.
The Vilano Beach Main Street Silent Auction will feature steals on some great items, including art, travel, and food and drink packages, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Vilano Beach Main Street. A Wine & Whiskey Pull will benefit the GTM Research Reserve
SATELLITE PARKING LOTS & OLD TOWN TROLLEY STOPS & WATER SHUTTLE SERVICES
Parking is very limited on Vilano Beach – Old Town Trolley’s will be running every 30 minutes and will provide the best and most hassle-free way to attend Friday night and Saturday’s Main Event. The satellite parking shuttle service is FREE of charge for festival guests, with the schedule available on the festival website in the coming weeks.
Special event Water Shuttle Service schedules will be available to and from historic downtown St. Augustine to the Vilano Beach Pier for Whiskey Inspired on the Pier Friday evening and for Saturday’s W3 Main Event. Additional information will be coming soon on reserving a Water Shuttle ticket. The festival also highly encourages utilizing ride services and/or designating drivers for guest drop-off/pick-up.
There are great volunteer opportunities available with the festival. Volunteers have an opportunity to earn free festival tickets with only 8 or more volunteer hours, visit Volunteer on the festival website for more information.
The weekend’s events will raise funds and awareness for programs for the festival Official Charity Partner, Vilano Beach Main Street, with 100% of the proceeds from the Silent Auction on Saturday, November 5, designated for Vilano Beach Main Street. The GTM Research Reserve is also a charity partner and will be the recipient of the proceeds from the Whiskey & Wine Pull on Saturday, November 5, 2022.
Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife, presented by Publix + GreenWise Market is supported by St. Johns County Tourism Development Council, St. Johns Cultural Council, St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra, Florida’s Historic Coast and Vilano Beach Main Street.
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