Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife – W3 — has announced its final schedule of events, taking place in Vilano Beach on Nov. 7-10.
The festival’s new location at the Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach, 117 Vilano Road, provides guests with the convenience of having one location for the weekend’s events, all within just a few blocks of Vilano Beach.
The event raises funds and awareness for the festival’s official charity partner, Vilano Beach Main Street, with 100% of the proceeds from the silent auction on Saturday, Nov. 9, designated for community improvements for the nonprofit organization. Both Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife and its sister festival, St. Augustine Food + Wine Festival, have raised more than $75,000 for Vilano Beach Main Street.
The GTM Research Reserve is also a charity partner, with 100% of the proceeds from the GTM Guided Tours/Wine & Cheese Reception event donated to the Friends of the GTM Research Reserve. New this year, guests can walk on the wild side in “The Wildlife Lounge,” which will be part of the Friday night and Saturday events, offering a fun interactive area with animals from the GTM Research Reserve, wildlife-themed music, signature cocktails and more.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Nov. 7
Pesca by Michael’s W3 Wine Dinner, Cocktail Reception, 6-6:30 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m. Location: Pesca by Michael’s inside the Hyatt Place, 117 Vilano Road, St. Augustine.
Tickets: $225 per person
The perfect way to kick-off Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife with an incredible four-course dinner by Executive Chef Michael Lugo and the VIVA Hospitality team. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards from Sonoma, California, has carefully paired each course with an exceptional wine from their vast portfolio. The cocktail reception open bar will include signature cocktails and official festival beverages.
Friday, Nov. 8
W3 Master Classes
Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach
Three classes – noon to 4 p.m.
Tickets: $79 per person, per class
“Unveiling the Secrets of Making Delicious Shrimp Ceviche”
Noon to 1 p.m.
Chef Sebastian Sikora, chef de cuisine at La Cocina, the Cellar Upstairs at San Sebastian Winery, will guide guests on how to make foolproof, delicious ceviche. Ceviche is a versatile dish, great for appetizers and tapas for any occasion. Sikora will share a few tricks of the trade in preparing ceviche for small dinner parties or large holiday gatherings. Rivi Gin will handcraft two signature cocktails to pair with the shrimp ceviche.
“An East Coast Tasting of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards from Sonoma, California”
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
For more than 50 years, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has produced elegant, fruit-driven wines that best represent the distinct characteristics of Sonoma’s uniquely diverse terroir. As a 100% certified sustainable producer, the wine’s exceptional quality is only matched by their commitment to preserving the grandeur of Sonoma County for future generations to enjoy. Guests are invited to explore the award-winning wines of the acclaimed Sonoma Valley in Vilano Beach. Delicious tasting bites will accompany each of the wines in the tasting flight.
“The Finishing Touch” with Taylor Morley, master distiller, Red Line Whiskey Co.
3-4 p.m.
Enjoy tasting a variety of Red Line Whiskeys with Master Distiller Taylor Morley. Born out of enthusiasm and the instinctual love for bourbon, Red Line Whiskey Co. came from the hands and heart of Morley. During the lull of COVID, he pulled from his years of experience learning from distillers around the world to procure the best hand-selected, single-barrel offerings. What began as a passion project transformed into a booming business. Now, he spends his time taking detailed care of each barrel individually — some finished, some blended, others left in their purest state.
Friday, Nov. 8
Vilano A1A Soirée, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $109 per person, limited number of tickets available
A Hyatt Place hotel takeover tasting event, with gourmet bites, indoors and outdoors. Guests receive a souvenir glass for unlimited beer, wine and spirits tastings. Sample some of Northeast Florida’s best restaurants, live music and more — all with a laid-back oceanfront Vilano Beach vibe.
Saturday, Nov. 9
Guided Tour through the GTM Research Reserve/Wine & Cheese Paired Reception
10:30 a.m. to noon
Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) Research Reserve, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach
Tickets: $45 per person, limited number of tickets available
Enjoy exploring the great coastal outdoors and the natural beauty of the GTM Research Reserve with a private guided tour. The tour concludes with tasting some fantastic wines, paired with specialty cheeses. Teeming with life, the GTM Research Reserve is a dynamic, ever-changing place with many interconnected habitats from the ocean to the forests. One of 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the country, this landscape protects and provides for a great diversity of plants and animals. Guests will get to experience wildlife (and wine) up close.
Saturday, Nov. 9
W3 Grand Tasting — Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife
2-5 p.m.
Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach, 117 Vilano Road, St. Augustine
Tickets: $129 per person
The main event combines all three of the W’s and much more for the perfect Vilano Beach afternoon. Enjoy culinary delights from up and down the A1A Corridor — some of Northeast Florida’s best. Guests will enjoy hundreds of unlimited varieties of beverage tastings (spirits, wines and beers) with a souvenir glass and live music. It’s a full afternoon of live music, and the new Wildlife Lounge with the GTM Research Reserve with wildlife demonstrations and more. Tickets are all-inclusive with food and drink tastings included.
Best Taste Awards and People’s Choice Awards, presented by Jacksonville Magazine. W3 attendees will vote for their favorite bites and sips during the event on Saturday. One People’s Choice Medal Award winner in seven categories, including beverage tastings, will be announced at 4:15 p.m.
The Vilano Beach Main Street Silent Auction will feature some great deals on great items, including art, travel and food and drink packages, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Vilano Beach Main Street.
Sunday, Nov. 10
W3 Sunday Jazz Brunch
Location: Pesca by Michael’s Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach, 117 Vilano Road, St. Augustine
Tickets: $119 per person. A family-friendly event, the admission fee for children ages 3-12 years old is $39.
The grand finale brunch at Pesca by Michael’s will be a great way to end the weekend — an all-inclusive culinary and drink ticket for a fantastic brunch buffet with gourmet stations for breakfast- and lunch-lovers alike. The festival’s only family-friendly event provides families with a delicious way to end the weekend. Beverage tasting stations will include sparkling wine, mimosas, bloody mary’s, spirts, wine and beers. Guests can continue to enjoy beverage tasting stations after their brunch.
NOTE: Brunch seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups of six or more should make advance reservations to ensure same-table seating.
SATELLITE PARKING LOTS and OLD TOWN TROLLEY STOPS
Parking is very limited on Vilano Beach, so Old Town Trolleys will run every 30 minutes and will provide the best and most hassle-free way to attend Saturday’s main event. The satellite parking shuttle service is free of charge for festival guests, with the schedule available on the festival website in the coming weeks.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are great volunteer opportunities available with the festival. Volunteers have an opportunity to earn free festival tickets with only eight or more volunteer hours. Click “Volunteer” on the festival website for more information.
The festival is made possible in part by support from St. Johns Cultural Council, Florida’s Historic Coast: St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra and a 2024 St. Johns County Tourist Development Grant and Vilano Beach Main Street.
