Last weekend, Charleston’s culinary scene came alive during the 2025 Food & Wine Classic, a three-day celebration of gastronomy, wine, and Southern charm. From celebrity chef seminars to indulgent tastings and exclusive events, the festival brought together worldwide talent and Lowcountry tradition.

The Classic featured more than 50 cooking demonstrations and beverage panels, led by an all-star lineup of chefs, sommeliers, authors, and industry experts

Highlights included a fireside chat with Emeril Lagasse and his son E.J. Lagasse speaking about tradition and innovation in the kitchen. The celebrity chef demonstrations were also a standout with Tyler Florence, Maneet Chauhan and Andrew Zimmerman taking the stage and sharing cooking tips and stories. The wine seminars also shined with seasoned sommeliers including Julia Coney, Wanda Mann and Anthony Giglio.

The Grand Tasting Pavilion stood as the social centerpiece of the weekend. Across four two-hour session blocks, attendees sampled their way through more than 100 wine, spirits, and food purveyors.Tasting areas offered wine pairings including sparkling, red and white varieties.Guests mingled with chefs and winemakers, discussing techniques, inspiration, and trends.

This year’s special events focused on local food, including the Pearls of the Coast Lowcountry Oyster Roast under the stars where guests enjoyed fire roasted oysters, cocktails and live jazz. The Lowcountry Tailgate was also a favorite with a tailgate style dinner with Trisha Yearwood. The menu included BBQ, southern staples and cocktails. Local expert Tia Clark led guests on a net-casting and crabbing expedition and then cooked up a seafood lunch.

For information on tickets for the 2026 Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, visit https://foodandwineclassicincharleston.com.