Festival Information for Wineries
Thank you for your interest in the Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival, presented by Sarasota-Manatee Originals!
Forks & Corks 2025 was an extraordinary celebration of culinary and winemaking excellence, showcasing a hand-selected roster of world-class wineries across a multi-day lineup of events. From the intimate Winemaker Dinners and educational University Master Classes, to the Trade Tasting, Retail Tasting, and our iconic Grand Tasting held in the stunning courtyard of The Ringling Museum of Art, this year’s festival offered unmatched visibility and engagement opportunities for participating wineries.
Throughout the course of the festival weekend, wineries collectively sold over $150,000 in wine, a testament to the purchasing power and enthusiasm of our guests.
A Premier Stage for Exceptional Wineries
Forks & Corks remains one of the only wine festivals in the Southeast with a strong retail focus, offering direct wine sales at every event and putting your wines in front of consumers, trade professionals, sommeliers, hoteliers, and media.
Now entering its 19th year, Forks & Corks has become the premier food and wine event on Florida’s Suncoast, as well as the largest annual fundraiser for the Sarasota-Manatee Originals — a collaborative of 70+ independently owned restaurants spanning from Anna Maria Island to Venice. This celebrated event helps fund our mission to support local, independent culinary talent and foster a vibrant food and beverage community.
On behalf of Co-Chairs Michael Klauber and Mike Harb, our Board of Directors, and all of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals, we thank you for your interest and support.
Winemaker Festival Resources
Event Dates & Descriptions
Winemaker Events & Dinners
Thursday-Monday | January 22-26
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS OPTIONAL
The Originals coordinate a variety of events hosted by our Member Restaurants to showcase your wine alongside the area’s best culinary creations. These events range from formally-structured wine pairing dinners, to lesson luncheons, to casual reception tasting style events. Many of our Member Restaurants carry licenses to sell wine, creating an additional sales opportunity for your winery. These winemaker events take place at our Member Restaurants, throughout our Gulfcoast communities.
University Master Class
Saturday | January 24
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS OPTIONAL
This is a wine seminar series in which each winery representative has the opportunity to showcase 2-3 wines of your choice to an audience of 50-75 wine enthusiasts. Each panel features 4-6 winery representatives (typically owners and winemakers), as well as a moderator who will lead the discussion. The wine shown is available for guests to purchase. Forks & Corks University takes place in the Michael’s On East Ballroom and Michael’s Wine Cellar.
Retail Tasting Event
Saturday | January 24
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS OPTIONAL
The Sarasota-Manatee Originals partner with various wine retail shops in the Sarasota, Venice, and Bradenton area who host wine tasting events (open to the public) exclusively featuring the wineries participating in Forks & Corks. These events typically take place during the afternoon of Saturday, April 22 and are an additional opportunity to represent your winery and generate sales. Retailers charge admission for guests to attend and prices vary by location.
Grand Tasting
Sunday | January 25
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED
This is the Forks & Corks premier event. The Grand Tasting is held in the spectacular courtyard of the Ringling Museum of Art. 1,800 guests will enjoy sampling wine and food from over 100 vendors. Each winery will have an assigned station and will be provided with a table, linen and winery sign. There is a strict policy that only 2 representatives are allowed per winery station (due to tight capacity limits in the Ringling courtyard.) Your wine will be available for guests to purchase in the Grand Tasting Wine Retail Tent.
Trade Tasting
Monday | January 26
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED
This hospitality industry-exclusive tasting welcomes approximately 500 vetted attendees, offering a unique opportunity to interact directly with Forks & Corks participating wineries. Invitations are extended to professionals from restaurants, hotels, country clubs, retailers, and more within a 200-mile radius. This complimentary event is reserved for qualified industry individuals and requires appropriate credentials for entry.
Online Food & Wine Donation
Online Auction
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED
We hope you will support our organization by donating something exclusive or unique to our virtual online auction. Whether it might be a special vintage, large-format bottle, food-and-wine or travel experience, we know our guests will enjoy bidding on something that represents your brand.
Most wineries that opt to ship their wine for the judging also ship their donation for the silent auction at the same time. We encourage you to make one shipment. Please include the auction form with the shipment so we are able to differentiate between the Judging and Auction Donation Wine.
Winemaker FAQs
Is there a registration fee to participate?
There is no registration fee to participate in Forks & Corks. However, the following is required from each participating winery:
- Wine donations for the Grand Tasting and Trade Tasting must be provided at no cost.
- If participating in Forks & Corks University, wines for the seminar must also be donated.
- For Winemaker Dinners, Events, or Retail Tastings, your local distributor will coordinate product with the host venue.
- Each winery is also asked to donate an item to the Forks & Corks Online Auction.
Please note: All travel and lodging expenses are the responsibility of the winery.
How do I register?
We are at capacity for 2026, however, you can be added to the waitlist HERE!
Registration is an easy online form, that you can find below. All completed forms are reviewed by our Event Co-Chairs. Once your registration has been approved, you will receive a welcome e-mail with more information on how to register the wines you will show, how to sign up for wine judging, the discounted hotel rates we have available, the various events you may be interested in participating in and all other details needed to prepare for Forks & Corks.
Can I register if I am an Importer/Supplier and not a Winery Principal?
Yes! We’d love to have you join us for the 2025 event. Please note that registration priority is given to Winemakers and Winery Principals, but we will accept importers and supplies as well. We encourage you to register quickly as non-winery placement is limited!
How many representatives can I bring to represent my winery?
Credential & Ticket Policy – Grand Tasting 2026
For the Grand Tasting on Sunday, January 25, 2026, please note that only two badge credentials will be issued per winery station. This policy is strictly enforced due to space limitations in the Ringling Museum of Art Courtyard. Each winery may bring a maximum of two representatives for their station.
Distributors will receive separate credentials to support participating wineries on event day.
If you wish to bring additional team members or guests, tickets must be purchased separately. Please be aware that this event sells out within minutes of going on sale, so any ticket requests must be made well in advance.
There is no guest limit for the following events:
- Trade Tasting – Monday, January 26
- Retail Tastings
- Winemaker Dinners & Events
Access to the Forks & Corks University Master Classes will be determined based on your participation in that specific event.
ill I be able to select the events I'd like to participate in?
The Grand Tasting & The Trade Tasting are required events. When registering to participate in Forks & Corks, these events are mandatory for participation.
Once all of the wineries have registered, we work on programming with our wine committee (made up of representatives from each distributor).
When planning the University Master Class sessions, we look for trends in wineries registered (ex. If we have 6 Italian Winemakers attending the festival, it is likely that we would opt to have an Italian themed Forks & Corks University Master Class session).
When planning Winemaker Dinners, we often pair Winemakers to co-host dinners at the best local restaurants. Please note, only wineries providing a Winemaker or Principal will be eligible to participate in winemaker events/dinners and as panelists for sessions at Forks & Corks University. We do our best to accommodate all requests. However, we do not guarantee placement. When you register to participate you will be asked to indicate the events that you would like to participate.
Will I be able to sell my wine during the Forks & Corks events?
Yes! Your wine will be available for guests to purchase at ALL of the Forks & Corks events. The Festival weekend produces over $150,000 in retail wine sales annually!
We are one of the few festivals in the Southeast that has a retail focus throughout the weekend of Forks & Corks events, showcasing your products to consumers, retailers, restaurants and hoteliers.
How does the Wine Judging work?
The Wine Judging event, launched in 2013, was created to increase retail sales and enhance the wine knowledge of our event attendees. Since its introduction, we’ve seen a 50% increase in retail wine sales at the Grand Tasting.
Only wines being showcased at the Grand Tasting and Trade Tasting are eligible for submission. Each winery may enter up to six wines, and we ask that you provide two bottles of each wine submitted for judging. Samples may be shipped directly to the Sarasota-Manatee Originals office or delivered by your Florida distributor.
Once received, wines are grouped by category and arranged into tasting flights for our panel of 20 expert judges, who are selected for their extensive wine knowledge and tasting experience. Judges are divided into five groups, each blind tasting an average of 60 wines over the course of the day. Wines are scored using a 20-point scale.
The top 10 scoring red wines and top 10 scoring white wines are highlighted, and medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) are awarded based on scores. Medal-winning wines and Best in Show selections are announced prior to the Festival and noted in the printed wine guide at the Grand Tasting.
The date for the 2026 Wine Judging is still to be determined. Details will be shared as soon as they are confirmed.
What am I expected to donate for the Online Food and Wine Auction?
Yes. Each participating winery is required to donate an auction item with a minimum value of $250 to support the Forks & Corks Online Food & Wine Auction.
Popular donations include large-format bottles or curated collections of wine from participating wineries. We also welcome unique, experience-based packages—such as travel getaways (domestic or international), exclusive lodging, private dining experiences, behind-the-scenes winery access, or entertainment packages.
All auction items must be received by December 1, 2025, either via shipment or hand delivery through your Florida distributor, to the Sarasota-Manatee Originals office.
Your support helps us raise critical funds to promote and sustain our network of locally owned, independent restaurants.
What details do I need to know about retail sales, and how much wine can I expect to sell?
Your Florida distributor will work to advise you on this.
Best in Show, Medal winners, and aggressively-priced wine do tend to sell out. To adequately stock the Grand Tasting Wine Retail Tent, we suggest 3 cases of each wine from your distributor. Included with each purchased VIP Grand Tasting ticket is a $150 wine voucher for the guest to use in the Retail Tent during the Grand Tasting.
Note: When deciding what wines to enter into the judging, please keep in mind that you will want the wine to be available for purchase in the state of Florida at the time of the event.
I have a question that wasn't answered here. Who do I contact?
Please contact Marne Gaston at forksandcorks@dineoriginal.com. Our office number is (941) 365-2800.
