The Charlotte Wine & Food Festival pours more than 100 wines, craft beers and spirits at the Backyard at Ballantyne on Sept. 26.
The all-you-care-to-taste festival is the event's only North Carolina stop in 2026. It runs from noon to 5 p.m. and pairs unlimited beverage sampling with live music, cooking demonstrations, interactive experiences and food from local pop-ups, restaurants and food trucks, the Charlotte Weekly reported. Food is sold separately and is not included in the ticket price.
Two Ballantyne-area restaurants anchor the demo lineup. Chef Odhie Fields of Postino Ballantyne will prepare the Postino Bruschetta Bite at 12:30 p.m. The culinary team from NAPA Bistro & Wine Bar at Stonecrest follows at 2 p.m. with a fall recipe demonstration.
At 3 p.m., Jorge Andres and Jana Angel, hosts of "QCLife" on WBTV, will cook their favorite recipes in a meet-and-eat session. Festival founder Greg Nivens closes the demo stage at 4 p.m. with a vertical tasting of wines from Alto Moncayo, a Spanish vineyard. Seats for that tasting are limited.
Every ticket holder receives a souvenir tasting glass.
Three ticket tiers are available. General admission costs $45 plus fees and covers entry from 1 to 5 p.m. with unlimited beverage samples and live entertainment. VIP admission is $75 plus fees and opens the gates an hour early at noon, adding a bottle of wine, a wine bag and access to VIP areas. Entry-only tickets, which do not include tastings, will be sold on-site for $25.
Organizers encourage buying tickets in advance at uncorkthefun.com. The Ballantyne date is the second and final stop on the festival's 2026 tour, following a June 13 event in Timonium, Maryland.
If you go
- What: Charlotte Wine & Food Festival
- When: Sept. 26, noon to 5 p.m.
- Where: The Backyard at Ballantyne
- Tickets: $45 general admission, $75 VIP, $25 entry-only (on-site)
- Info: uncorkthefun.com
