Charleston Wine + Food

Launched in 2005, the Charleston Wine & Food Festival (CHSWF) in South Carolina has become the “it” festival of the South. What started as a means to celebrate, promote, and elevate Charleston’s culinary scene has blossomed into an annual multi-day affair that highlights Southern cooking alongside wines from across the globe.

“The team behind CHSWF does a tremendous job of showcasing the Holy City’s culinary diversity, high-quality local ingredients, and reverence for top-notch food and drinks,” says Wanda Mann, a New York City-based wine writer. “From Lowcountry classics to haute cuisine, craft beer to Champagne, the festival covers all the bases, and challenges preconceived notions about southern cuisine.”

It’s also become a hotspot for celebrity chefs who host culinary activations and wine parties during the festival. Still, the main draw is the local talent—the food and beverage professionals who are shaping the culinary future of one of the premier culinary capitals of the U.S. “CHSWF feels like a genuine community event,” says Mann. “The Southern hospitality is the real deal.”