Charleston Wine + Food Prepares Sizzling Summer Events

Events range from wine tastings to ceviche making.

The heat takes its toll on Lowcountry every summer, but Charleston Wine + Food wants to offer fun new ways to cool off with its recently launched summer events dubbed the Sizzle.

“I have been wanting to see us get back to doing some year-round programming,” says Wine + Food executive director Alyssa Maute Smith, “We wanted to move beyond just the five days in March and have a chance to engage with the local industry, guests, and consumers.”

As the downtown scene gets a little sleepy and everyone’s headed to the beach, Smith wanted to give Charlestonians a new way to interact with the food and beverage community. “It’s hot as hell here,” she says, “And instead of vacating from that, we’re using it as the theme.” Events include ceviche making with chef Shaun Brian of Cuda Co. (765 Folly Road), a chilled red wine tasting with Miles White and Femi Oyederian of Graft (700 King Street), and an ice cream social with chef Evan Gaudreau of pop-up Mon Frére.

“Summer is such a fun time for food,” says Smith, “You have access to way more than just oysters and root vegetables — which is what we work with in March. It’s exciting to play with the seasonality of ingredients and bring different products to the table.”

Tickets for the Sizzle events are available online and run through August.