In its fifth year, the St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival is scheduled for Sept. 8-11, 2016, and features five events in four days. After record attendance last year, this year’s event is refined, with a renewed focus on intimate, authentic and quality. Each year, all proceeds from the festival benefit local causes. This year’s charities are Fresh Starts in the Culinary Arts, Catholic Charities – St. Augustine Regional Office and K9s United. The 2016 St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival events include the Fresh Starts Kick-Off Luncheon, Vino Veritas, Cochinillo Asado, Batalla de Vino and Grand Tasting.

The festival events begin on Sept. 8, 2016, at noon with the Fresh Starts Kick-Off Luncheon at First Coast Technical College, 2980 Collins Ave. The four-course lunch is a salute to transitioning homeless who are embarking on culinary arts careers. Throughout the lunch, guests have the opportunity to meet and talk to the chefs, students and community members. Tickets to the luncheon are $25.

Vino Veritas takes place on Sept. 9, 2016, from 7-9:30 p.m. at The Treasury on the Plaza, 24 Cathedral Place. This year’s “Truth in Wine” event features Spanish wines paired with seafood, caviar, steaks and butler-passed Spanish hors d'oeuvres with live Spanish music and dance. The admission price includes an American-made wine glass that is laser etched with the event logo. Tickets to Vino Veritas are $150.

New to the event this year is the Cochinillo Asado, suckling pig roast, on Sept. 10, 2016, from 1-4 p.m. at the Mission Nombre de Dios, 27 Ocean Ave. This suckling pig roast and picnic is accompanied by fine Spanish wine and beer. Suckling pigs will be pit roasted in the Spanish tradition by chefs from Michael's Tasting Room, Culinary Outfitters, Raintree Restaurant and The Reef Restaurant. Each restaurant will also offer specialty side dishes. Tickets to the Cochinillo Asado are $65.

Also on Sept. 10, 2016, immediately following the Cochinillo Asado is the Batalla de Vino at 4 p.m. at the Mission Nombre de Dios. This event is America’s first authentic wine fight. Participants dressed in white “decorate” friends and strangers with red wine. The team competition will take the field first. Each team of five will try to get other teams' kings and queens as red with wine as possible while protecting its royalty. The team with the whitest-clothed king or queen at the end of the competition wins. The victorious team receives a $500 check to the charity of its choice. At 4:15 p.m., the Grand Batalla de Vino begins, and individuals take the field to participate in the event. Tickets for the Batalla de Vino team competition are $100 for a team of five. Tickets for the Grand Batalla are $10.  

The festival wraps up with the Grand Tasting on Sept. 11, 2016, from 2-5 p.m. at The Treasury on the Plaza. The Grand Tasting provides the opportunity to sample more than 100 different Spanish wines. The event also features samplings of Spanish-inspired hors d'oeuvres prepared by Chef Tony of the Publix Cooking School. The admission price includes an American-made wine glass that is laser etched with the event logo. Tickets are $75.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.spanishwinefestival.com or call 904-540-1402.

About the St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival

The St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival is an exciting way to acknowledge and honor the community. Since the festival began four years ago, $250,000 has been donated to local charities. The mission of the St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival is to connect St. Augustine, the Spanish Wine Capitol of America, to its Spanish history through a series of special events that feature Spanish wine, cuisine and culture. The festival serves to raise money for local charities, foster international economic development and enrich the quality of life in the St. Augustine community.