For the 18th consecutive year, Palm Beach was overrun by top chefs and fine wine, ready to welcome guests to “wine and dine under the sun.” The Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival (PBFWF) presented by Wine Spectator brought more than 20 signature events to Palm Beach County’s elite hotels, restaurants, golf courses and beyond, December 11 to 14, making the festival one of America’s premier culinary gatherings.
Ranging from intimate chef dinners to pulsating parties and walk-around tastings, the festival’s various events presented attendees with some difficult decisions. The official opening on Friday evening simultaneously featured the poolside Festival Kick-Off Party at The Belgrove Hotel, the Chef Welcome Party presented by Cheney Brothers at SeaHawk Prime by David Burke and the more intimate six-course Founder’s Dinner paired with Terlato wines at Wine Spectator Grand Award winner Marcello’s La Sirena, a West Palm Beach institution for 40 years.
[article-img-container][src=2025-12/ns_palm-beach-food-wine-marcello-121725_1600.jpg] [caption= Chefs Marcello Fiorentino and Lindsay Autry teamed up to make dinner at Marcello’s La Sirena on the festival’s opening night.] [credit= (Tracey Benson)] [alt= Chefs Marcello Fiorentino and Lindsay Autry at the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival.] [end: article-img-container]
For several years, chef and co-owner Marcello Fiorentino has invited a fellow cook to collaborate in his cozy kitchen. This year he was joined by chef Lindsay Autry of Honeybelle, who co-founded the Festival in 2007 with her husband, David Sabin. “I cook with people I know!” beamed Fiorentino. “We each took three courses and I told Lindsay, ‘You do your southern soul thing.’ I want this dinner to be completely different.”
Bringing it all together was the Terlato Wine portfolio, thoughtfully pairing wine to each course. Terlato CEO William A. Terlato called it a perfect match. “The event only seats 72 people and always sells out in 10 minutes,” said Terlato, whose wines feature across the events, most abundantly with the Champagne Lanson, which flows freely at every turn.
The climax of the four-day culinary extravaganza, Sunday afternoon’s Grand Tasting presented by The Palm Beaches at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, is an annual highlight. This year’s tasting attracted more than 2,500 revelers ready to indulge in dishes cooked by teams from more than 50 of South Florida’s finest restaurants.
[article-img-container][src=2025-12/ns_palm-beach-food-wine-tasting-121725_1600.jpg] [caption= More than 2,500 guests filled the Grand Tasting.] [credit= (Michael Pisarri)] [alt= The Grand Tasting at the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival.] [end: article-img-container]
Almost immediately upon entering, attendees were greeted by winemaker Greg Brewer pouring his Diatom Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 2024 (93 points), just one of 125 wineries at the event, each pouring a wine rated 90 points or higher by Wine Spectator editors in blind tastings. “This event is so fun. It has the sexiness and upscale position of Wine Spectator, but it’s a little looser, a little more flamboyant,” said Brewer.
The ability to mix and match wine and food made for myriad tasting combinations. First time presenter chef Matteo Carboni of La Bar á Vin in Palm Beach offered crispy octopus served on a dollop of hummus, seasoned with aji parilla dressing and yogurt. Carboni gave his dish a taste test, took a sip of Champagne Gosset Brut Grande Réserve (93 points) and then said, "I love wine. And we have this beautiful Champagne as a neighbor, so we are sharing a bit. This is the concept of the Festival!”
Just a few feet away, chef David Burke, who has been attending since 2011, was offering a taste of his newest restaurant, SeaHawk Prime by David Burke, located in Lake Park. He appeared happy to be serving the crowd, while his New York and New Jersey restaurants lay covered in snow. “Palm Beach has it all—easy to get around, the weather is great, and the clientele has a real appreciation of food and wine,” said Burke, whose playful dish Smoked Goldfish included a goldfish shaped pancake made with Goldfish snack crackers and gold leaf.
[article-img-container][src=2025-12/ns_palm-beach-food-wine-feudi-121725_1600.jpg] [caption= Italian winery Feudi di San Gregorio poured one of the top selections.] [credit= (Michael Pisarri)] [alt= Italian winery Feudi di San Gregorio pouring at the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival.] [end: article-img-container]
Among the top wines on offer was Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year for 2025, Château Giscours Margaux 2018 (95 points), being poured by Pauline Wlodorzyk, who came from Bordeaux for the event. “I was here last year. That’s why I’m back,” she said, echoing the sentiments of many devoted attendees. “I think the quality of the food really makes the event, but there are many serious wine drinkers. A lot of people have our wine in their cellar.”
Italy’s Argiano had their turn as Wine of the Year (in 2023) and winemaker and CEO Bernardino Sani showed up with his Toscana Solengo 2022 (93 points) to pour from magnum. “It’s a beautiful event, so we thought we’d bring something special,” said Sani. “The food and wine are great together, and we have next to us some steak,” he said, gesturing toward Lewis Prime Grill and their Creekstone Farms New York Strip. “It’s great fortune—a perfect match!”
Event co-founder David Sabin took the stage to thank event partners and the crowd for their generosity. “We are here today raising money for Els for Autism as we drink fine wine and celebrate the best of life!” he said to applause. As the designated charity for the event, a portion of ticket sales from the Grand Tasting goes to benefit the Els for Autism Foundation—co-founded by Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator, with his wife Hazel Shanken in partnership with Ernie Els and Liezl Els. The foundation operates the Els Center of Excellence, a world-class, 26-acre campus and learning center in Jupiter, Florida, for young people with autism.
[article-img-container][src=2025-12/ns_palm-beach-food-wine-challenge-121725_1600.jpg] [caption= Glenn Rogers Jr., chef and owner of Eleva8ted Catering, brought his A game and won the Grand Chef Throwdown.] [credit= (Michael Pisarri)] [alt= Glenn Rogers Jr., chef and owner of Eleva8ted Catering at the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival.] [end: article-img-container]
Dr. Marlene Sotelo, executive director of Els for Autism noted, “Ernie and his wife, Liezl, have a son with autism, so they were inspired to found this organization with Marvin and Hazel. We are so happy that this event has already raised $125,000 for the Foundation.” The Shankens were in attendance along with three members of the Wine Spectator editorial team, who mingled with winemakers over the course of the event.
More good works were on the way as three chefs took to the stage to compete in the annual Grand Chef Throwdown presented by Geico. After a tough competition, celebrity chef judges Maneet Chauhan, Tiffani Faison and Robert Irvine issued their verdict: Glenn Rogers Jr., chef and owner of Eleva8ted Catering, walked away with bragging rights and a $10,000 check for the non-profit Community Classroom Project located in Delray Beach.
The 19th annual Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival will take place December 10-13, 2026.
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