CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The Charleston Food and Wine Festival came to a close Sunday, marking the end of the five-day culinary celebration.
Hundreds of foodies and wine connoisseurs indulged in a diverse array of culinary creations and sampled dishes from local chefs as well as culinary talents from across the country.
The event took place in the heart of downtown Charleston, spanning several venues across the city including Johnson Hagood Stadium where one of the most popular attractions was held, the Culinary Village experience.
This year’s event featured over 90 unique and personalized experiences, blending a variety of activities to cater to every taste. Beyond the food and wine, there were also rows of vendors showcasing tables of handmade goods, chef demonstrations, music, and a silent disco.
One Charleston County resident said this is her second year attending the festival, and shared why she came back for seconds.
“We like the opportunity to get family and friends together. So, it’s great for us to come together and figure out where we want to be able to go to restaurants and try new things. So not only that, but we found a lot of restaurants and wineries that are not from the region. So, it’s wonderful to experience something larger,” Patti Roskill, Mount Pleasant resident, said.
She mentioned that the atmosphere this year was far more comfortable, as the crowd control was much better compared to last year. She expressed how pleased she was with the reduced number of attendees, which created a more intimate experience.
“This year, they’ve done a fantastic job limiting the number of people, and it’s truly made for a much more personal and enjoyable experience,” Roskill said.
Roskill said the culinary village experience was by far her favorite because it took place in a spacious venue and offered an abundance of samples for attendees to try.
The festival first began in 2005 and has since become a fan favorite, attracting not only locals but food enthusiasts from near and far.
Executive Director of the festival Alyssa Mautesmith said they were thrilled to welcome a full house to wrap up the event’s final day.
She said the festival really boosts the local economy as it encourages visitors to spend money at local restaurants and stay at local hotels.
“It is such a boost to our local economy. And year after year, we bring travelers in from all over the country and all over the globe to come here and spend money with local restaurants, dine in local hotels, and really help our economy,” Mautesmith said.
She said the festival’s impact extends far beyond the gates of the Culinary Village.
“On top of that, see our high school students. We’ve got nine high schools represented working right alongside our chefs. They’re part of our culinary high school training program. So, Charleston Wine & Foods’ impact reaches far and wide, far beyond the festival,” Mautesmith said.
For the New York-based brand Mixiboy, the festival is the perfect opportunity to launch their product—a line of all-organic, non-GMO baking mixes that require just two simple ingredients: an egg and a stick of butter.
“We know that people here are looking to try new brands. They are having a lot of fun. They’re usually in communities where they have a lot of influence with friends and family. Our goal is to introduce this to people here, and then they bring it back and tell their friends and tell their family, to continue to order. We’d love to do more food and wine festivals. We’ll definitely be back at Charleston Wine and Food next year,” Austin Sommerer, founding partner of Mixiboy, said.
Sommerer said his team baked 10,000 cookies for the five-day event and drove them all the way from New York. He adds Charleston has been the perfect market for their launch, with even a few orders already rolling in.
Mautesmith said next year is the festival’s 20th anniversary and they’ve already started planning it in order to ensure there’s something to satisfy every palate.
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