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SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. reveals hosts of 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest’s Chef Vintner Dinners

SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. has announced the hosts of the 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest’s Chef Vintner Dinners, taking place Friday, Feb. 21 at luxury venues throughout Southwest Florida.

The two-day Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest kicks off with Chef Vintner Dinners on Friday, Feb. 21. Intimate, uniquely themed dining experiences will unfold in luxury venues throughout Southwest Florida, each featuring the culinary talents of a celebrated chef and wines from renowned vintners.

The seven phenomenal 2020 Chef Vintner Dinner experiences include:

Rockin’ the Riviera for Pediatric Health Care. Turning up the volume with an Italian Riviera-themed Chef Vintner Dinner, experienced hosts Sandy and Tim Youngquist and Maria and Wayne Wiles will treat guests to dinner at the Youngquist home in St. Charles Harbour. Local celebrity band Deb & The Dynamics will take the stage as Chef Dustin Valette sets the table with gourmet cuisine from his namesake restaurant in Healdsburg, California – Valette. Wine will be poured by the 2020 Honored Signature Vintner, Paul Hobbs Winery, as well as Amizetta Wines.

UnforeSEEN Fairytales – the Dark Side of the Story. Happily ever after begins at Venue Naples with a themed dinner that highlights the need for pediatric health care services in Southwest Florida, including unforeseen diagnoses that require lifesaving care. The fairytale evening will offer cuisine by Crave Culinaire paired with exquisite wines by Amici Cellars, Arista Winery and Cimarossa Wines. An after-party will feature musical knight-in-shining-armor, DJ Ceron. This storybook meal is hosted by Edee and Michael DeLuca, Jenn and Joe Pavich, Nicole and Brian Roland, and Sonya and Brian Sawyer.

Live Every Hour Like It’s Happy Hour. Hosting their first Chef Vintner Dinner in 2020, Rachel and Ed Bell were first inspired to “paint a difference” when their son Jack’s story was featured at the 2018 Live Auction. World-class vintners AXR Napa Valley and Celani Family Vineyards will pour at the Bells’ home in Devonwood, paired with cuisine by Chef Harold Balink of Harold’s restaurant. Inspired by a Lilly Pulitzer quote: “Live every hour like it’s happy hour,” the dinner will feature a collaboration with the Lilly Pulitzer boutiques in Estero and Naples.

Costa Del Vino. Hosted by Gulfshore Life at the Schwartzel family home on Captiva Island, the Costa Del Vino dinner is inspired by the property’s beautiful waterfront view. At Casa de la Puesta del Sol, which means “sunset house,” guests will begin their evening watching the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. Acoustic guitar will fill the evening air, and Moorish lanterns will shed light on a Spanish meal created by Chef Gloria Jordan of La Trattoria Cafe Napoli with wine pairings from Thompson 31Fifty Wines and Ackerman Family Vineyard.

Masquerade Ball Under the Venetian Stars. Brooke and Patrick Denson and Paula and Peter Pala are collaborating to host a Chef Vintner Dinner at the Pala home in Miromar Lakes. Guests will enjoy wines by Scarbolo Winery and Vérité Winery paired with a gourmet feast by Chef Jeff Michaud of Osteria. This black-tie affair will transport guests to a world of romance inspired by the star-studded sky over Venice, Italy.

Casino Royale. Guests will hold all the cards as they come together to support pediatric health care in Southwest Florida at the Lodge’s home in Naples. Wine lovers are guaranteed to hit the jackpot with wines by Saint Helena Winery and HUNNICUTT, which will be paired with a meal by Chef Adam Nardis of M Waterfront Grille. Hosts Inga and Kristian Lodge and Renée and Pason Gaddis are turning up the drama and intrigue for a black-tie party worthy of Mr. James Bond himself.

Caloosahatchee Moonlight. Guests will enjoy an evening of hyper-local music, food and wine at this estate located on the widest part of the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers. Hosted by Brian Kelley and Shari Skinner, the experience will begin with a sunset cruise on the river with passed hors d’oeuvres and wine. Returning to the dock, the multi-course, farm-to-table dinner will be thoughtfully prepared by Chef Allen Fisher of Harvest & Wisdom Organic Dining restaurant at Shangri-La Springs and accompanied by acclaimed wines from Williams Selyem Winery and Gemstone Vineyard.

Chef Vintner Dinners kick off the two-day 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, taking place Feb. 21-22. Festivities will continue with the Grand Tasting and Live Auction on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, featuring artful cuisine created by celebrated chefs and expertly paired with vintners from some of the finest and most exclusive wineries.

Funds raised at the event’s Live Auction will benefit SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc.’s efforts to provide lifesaving care, educational programs and lasting solutions that enable a secure future for the children of Southwest Florida. Proceeds will support pediatric health care services at Golisano Children’s Hospital, as well as pediatric health care educational programs at Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College.

To learn more about the 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, please visit www.swflwinefest.org.

About SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc.

SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc.’s annual signature fundraiser, the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, has donated nearly $23 million over the past 11 years in support of children’s health initiatives. The 2020 event will support pediatric health care services at Golisano Children’s Hospital, as well as pediatric health care educational programs at Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College. For more information, visit www.swflwinefest.org.

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