Sarasota-Manatee Originals Announces Forks & Corks Ticket Sales

September 29, 2023 – Sarasota

Organizers of 2024 Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival are excited to announce ticket information for The Grand Tasting at The Ringling Museum of Art, presented by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals. Due to the unprecedented demand for tickets each year, Forks & Corks Grand Tasting tickets will launch on two different dates. General Admission tickets will be available on October 17 at 7PM and historically have sold out in a matter of minutes. VIP and Early Access tickets for The Grand Tasting will be available starting Tuesday October 10 at 9AM in a pre-sale. All Forks & Corks Grand Tasting tickets are available online only at this address: https://forks-corks.squadup.com

Celebrating its 17th year in 2024, the five-day epicurean event is designed to showcase the palate-pleasing talents of the locally-owned, independent restaurants of Sarasota and Manatee Counties, highlighted by an esteemed international cast of visiting winery owners and winemakers. The 2024 Festival is scheduled for January 25-29 and offers a world-class weekend of winemaker dinners, interactive wine seminars and wine tastings that culminates with the alfresco Grand Tasting event at the Ringling Museum of Art. 

“The 2024 event will once again bring the Who’s-Who of the wine world to the Gulf Coast,” said Michael Klauber, SMO Founder and Forks & Corks Wine Chairman and Owner of Michaels on East. “We are assembling a stellar group of international winemakers to showcase their wines alongside our area’s most passionate culinary professionals and restaurateurs.” 

Forks & Corks’ most sought-after event is the Grand Tasting taking place on Sunday, January 28, 2024 in the historic courtyard of The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. Guests will sample and savor delicious dishes presented by over 40 Members of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals restaurant group and sip from a collection of more than 300 unique wines from across the globe selected by Klauber and judged by an esteemed group of beverage professionals. “More than 60 distinguished wineries from countries including Italy, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, France, Spain, Greece, Portugal,  Germany, New Zealand, and, of course, the United States, will be represented at the event,” added Klauber. 

General Admission ticketing ($175+ per person) provides unlimited tastings at The Grand Tasting from 12 to 4PM.  The Grand Tasting also features live musical entertainment, a wine retail tent where patrons can purchase the various wines tasted, photobooths, one-of-a-kind auctionand a beer garden. 

Grand Tasting VIP ticket holders ($450+ each) receive a variety of perks including a $150 wine voucher for the onsite wine shop, complimentary valet parking, and tent-covered seating and fun activities at the Forks & Corks VIP Experience presented by The Scout Guide. Early Access tickets ($350+ each) include a $50 wine voucher. Both VIP and Early Access Ticket holders will enjoy expedited early access to a Welcome Reception (11AM to 12PM) as well as early event entrance into the Grand Tasting in the Courtyard at 11:30AM. 

The 2024 Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival is presented by Audi Sarasota and Suncoast Porsche and with the gracious support of Event Sponsors including (to date) Art Ovation Hotel, Florida Design Works, Icard Merrill, Atlas Insurance, Edible Sarasota, SYSCO, Palmer Accounting Group PA, Chic on the Cheap Interior Design and the Observer Media Group.