Better late than never!
We’ve been a bit busy “wining” our way through the Colchagua Valley and Mendoza recently, but I couldn’t let another week pass without sharing our highlights from this year’s Forks & Corks, held back on January 25th. (Read all of our South American adventures starting with day 1 here.)
This was our third year attending, and I’m certain it won’t be our last!
What is Forks & Corks?
Forks & Corks is an annual multi-day wine and food festival in Sarasota that showcases international winemakers alongside the culinary talents of local independent restaurants.
The festival is hosted by the Sarasota Manatee Originals, a local non-profit comprised of over 70 independently owned restaurants. This event serves as the group’s largest annual fundraiser, supporting their mission to promote our region as a premier culinary destination. We love supporting this group—whether it’s attending their events or choosing to “Eat Like a Local” at member restaurants throughout the year.
Where Does this Wine Magic Happen?
While the week is filled with winemaker dinners across the Sarasota and Venice area and master classes at Michael’s on East, the pièce de résistance is the Grand Tasting held on Sunday at the stunning Ringling Museum of Art.
Forks & Corks Grand Tasting is held at the Ringling. Events are held throughout the week prior at area restaurants.
How Do You Get in on This Next Year?
Tickets go on sale in October, and they sell out FAST! We’ve learned the hard way to always mark our calendars so we’re ready to buy the moment they are released.
Pro Tip: Follow Sarasota Manatee Originals on social media so you don’t miss the announcement.
We’ve been spoiled by the VIP tickets, which offer early access to the Grand Tasting and a dedicated VIP area to escape the sun, grab a seat, and relax. If you can swing it, we definitely recommend the VIP option, though all tickets grant access to the same incredible winemakers and restaurants.
The Grand Tasting was a Grand Time!
We arrived well-fed (this is not the day to skimp on breakfast!) and ready to enjoy a perfect Southwest Florida day. The sun was shining, and the temperature was just right—warm with a beautiful breeze.
With a major work presentation scheduled for the following morning (some might call that poor planning on my part!), I took on the role of Designated Driver for my “partner in wine.” And honestly, I may have had even more fun than in previous years!
As the gates opened, we were the first down the “black carpet.” The energy was infectious, the volunteers were all smiles, and the Taittinger was free-flowing. During the first hour, VIP guests enjoy a champagne reception and can browse the on-site wine shop.
The Beauty of the Wine Shop: All the wines poured at the Grand Tasting are available for purchase. This year, you could even purchase your favorites online prior to the event and pick them up at the exit. It was awesome and made for a much more seamless experience (plus, your ticket usually includes a store credit…so it’s like you’d be crazy not to pick up a few of the wines you sampled!).
The Argentina Connection
Once the doors to the Ringling courtyard swung open, we had one mission: a visit to Susana Balbo.
If you’ve followed us over the past few posts, you know we recently stayed at the Susana Balbo Winemaker’s House in Argentina. We had originally planned that trip for 2027, but fate stepped in when we won a night there during last year’s Forks & Corks auction!
We made a beeline to their table to meet their representative, Christian, and sample one of the Nosotros wines that would be included in our tasting at the winery. Christian was fantastic, and meeting him made us more excited than ever to leave for our South American adventure the next week.
New Finds & Local Favorites
Since I was being very selective with my tastings (the DD thing…), I had a great time people-watching! That alone is worth the price of admission. However, we did discover several wines we liked enough to order:
- Jax Vineyards: 2023 Petit Verdot (check out my partner in wine’s first thoughts on this wine here) & 2023 Cabernet Franc
- Schweiger Vineyards: 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, & 2021 Cabernet Franc
We also enjoyed incredible small bites from our Venice favorites—Fins, Café Venice, and Crow’s Nest—alongside many fantastic Sarasota eateries.
Perhaps not the kind of people-watching I was expecting…
See You Next Year!
What more could we want than a day at the beautiful Ringling, surrounded by swaying palms, world-class wines, and scrumptious local bites?
While I didn’t win another travel auction this year (I guess you can’t win if you don’t bid!), I did walk away with a gift card to Café Venice. It was a day full of fun for a great cause. We truly love supporting local!
Where have you “eaten local” lately? Let us know your favorite Sarasota or Venice spots in the comments!
Venice Wine Experiences 