About The Festival

It’s no longer a secret: Asheville is a must-visit culinary destination. With a rich history of foodways that are deeply connected to the mountains of Western North Carolina, Asheville and the surrounding area have boasted award-winning chefs and restaurants for years.

The Asheville Wine & Food Festival was born from a desire to celebrate and showcase our area’s chefs, wineries, farmers, and food producers. And our region’s wealth of wineries have made viticulture a permanent part of the state’s economy.

Giving Back

The Festival is proud to maintain a charitable component by contributing proceeds and collaborating with area nonprofits that support and promote sustainable and ecologically-sound food production and education. The inaugural event in 2009 was a fund-raiser for RiverLink, which works to preserve our area’s waterways. Funds from the 2010 festival were awarded to MANNA FoodBank and Slow Food Asheville.

In 2011, the Festival will share proceeds with F.E.A.S.T., a hands-on cooking program that focuses on seasonal, local ingredients and education. Children are taught how to plant, harvest, cook, eat, and enjoy food that is fresh, easy to prepare, affordable, and sustainable.

The program is being implemented in public housing centers, public and private schools, and the YMCA and YWCA. F.E.A.S.T. is a program of Slow Food Asheville.

The signature charity for 2012 will be announced in late January.