The 3-day Naples Winter Wine Festival in Florida is scheduled for January 27 – 29, 2012. The proceeds from this festival benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation.This year’s festival is the 12^th annual festival and claims to be one of the most successful charity wine and food events in the country in recent years.

The festival planners have secured 17 chefs  from around the country and 29 vintners from throughout the world to participate in this January festival. The festival includes an auction at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort where 67 one-of-a-kind packages will be auctioned. Look for travel packages, wine, jewelry, and VIP celebrity experiences. A list of the auction items is available online.

Tickets start at $8,500 per couple and include two invitations to Meet the Kids Day Tour and Luncheon, two reserved seats at a Vintner Dinner with private car and driver, two reserved seats at the Believe in the Magic Auction, two invitations to the Wine Down and two invitations to the Celebrity Brunch.

Tickets for $20,000 are for two couples and include four tickets for most of the above events.

For tickets contact Barrett Farmer at 239-514-2239 or email                                      barrett@napleswinefestival.com.

Naples Children & Educational Foundation

The foundation was started in 2001 to help the children of the county. According to the foundation website, “The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) was established in 2001 with the vision of making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of children in Collier County.”

While many people cannot attend the festival, it is still possible to make an online donation to the Foundation. If you wish to donate, visit the donation page.

Cheers! Kathy