From April 16 to 21, several of our esteemed Coombsville Vintners and Growers flew south to partake in the exclusive Charlotte Wine + Food Week. The 36th annual celebration supports the Charlotte region’s nonprofits, particularly those that support children in need from preschool to college. 

On Wednesday night, Ackerman Family Vineyards and Rewa Vineyards poured their exquisite labels at the boutique bottle shop Petit Philippe Fine Wine. The tasting featured delectable snacks, cheese, and charcuterie by chef Will Williams of Seasoned Provision. “The next night, each participating winery hosted a winemaker dinner, either at a private home or restaurant,” said Lauren Ackerman, founder and owner of Ackerman Family Vineyards. “Our restaurant was called Napa on Providence, and we had an eight-course menu with our wines.” 

Sciandri Family Vineyard hosted a vintner dinner on Thursday evening at Angeline’s. The sold-out affair featured arancini with black truffles paired with Sciandri’s current release of Rosé, seafood salad with romesco paired with 2023 Sciandri Sauvignon Blanc, oxtail ragu with strozzapreti paired with 2019 Sciandri Cabernet Sauvignon, and more delicious food and wine.  

Friday night was the collectors’ gala and live auction at The Union at Station West. Although other labels from Napa and Sonoma were present at the grand tasting, Coombsville’s members joined, pouring from one table. Promoting the AVA as a unified front was important to all who traveled to North Carolina. In addition to Ackerman, those in attendance included her sales director, Joe Hinde, Rewa’s Anthony Washington, and Sciandri Family Vineyard’s Rebecca Sciandri Griffin. The trio is pictured above at Friday’s gala, with Hinde in the middle.