If you love wine, then South Carolina should be on your travel bucket list! If you’re planning your next vacation and looking for new things to do, don’t miss out on the incredible wine festivals this state has to offer.
Despite having a humid and arid climate mostly throughout the year, South Carolina still holds more than 12 wineries capable of producing the best quality wine you’ve ever tasted!
Wine festivals in South Carolina offer an exciting array of events that celebrate the up-and-coming wine industry in the state, and are the best place to mingle and experience the hospitality of the South!
Read on to find out how South Carolina is more than just beautiful sandy beaches and pristine shores!
The Top Wine Festivals in South Carolina
There are seven must-attend festivals in South Carolina where you can enjoy a selection of wines from around the world, meet local winemakers, learn about different regions and varietals, and eat some delicious food. Here are the seven wine festivals that should be at the top of your to-do list!
- South Carolina Reggae Jerk & Wine Festival
- Columbia Food & Wine Festival
- Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival
- Charleston Wine Festivals
- Alpaca Wine Experience
- Sippin Safari
- Wine Women and Wellness
1. South Carolina Reggae Jerk & Wine Festival
South Carolina Reggae Jerk & Wine Festival is an exciting event that celebrates the rich culture of Jamaica with Reggae music, Jerk foods, and exceptional quality wine!
The location of the event is Brittle Bank Park in Charleston, taking place on October 15th, 2022. The festival is a celebration of Jamaica’s Diamond Jubilee and is a must-visit for foodies and wine enthusiasts.
Here you will get serenaded by classic Reggae music while enjoying the scrumptious Jerk chicken prepared by the most talented chefs, paired with fine wine. If you’ve never tried Jerk chicken, then this is the place to be!
You can make the afternoon even more memorable and visit the various vendors selling Caribbean soul food, arts & crafts, games, wine and vodka bars, and much more!
The South Carolina Reggae Jerk & Wine Festival is a fun event that brings people together in celebration of the wonderful Jamaican culture, food, and music and is a great way to learn and explore such a rich community!
2. Columbia Food & Wine Festival
The Columbia Food and Wine Festival is a culinary showcase that features local wines, craft brews, and spirits as well as a variety of food vendors. The festival is a great way to enjoy the city’s best restaurants, wineries, and breweries while enjoying live music, food, and wine.
The festival takes place over five days, from the end of March to April at Gervais Street, Columbia. The event is a celebration of the growing culinary scene of Columbia, featuring an array of signature cuisines paired with the best wine in the state!
This is a great event for socializing, and brings the entire community together to experience a memorable gastronomic journey of Columbia’s finest bites and pours prepared by renowned chefs.
If you want to get out of the house, meet some new people, and learn more about Columbian wine and food, this is a great opportunity.
3. Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival
Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival is an annual festival that has been running for 37 years and will return on March 19-26, 2023.
The spectacular event kicks off at the Sea Pines Resort with a great combo of the best Lowcountry cuisines, perfect weather, and a selection of the finest wines produced in the country.
The highlight of the event is the Grand Tasting and Public Tasting which features a collection of more than 250 world-class wines brought in from all over the globe, delicious craft beers, and auctions that directly benefit the John F. & Valerie Currie Scholarship Fund.
Thousands of visitors are drawn to the Island every year to be a part of a loving community and benefit the tourism industry. You can enjoy a delectable glass of wine while exploring the stunning grounds of the Sea Pines Country Club.
Wine enthusiasts can head to the Grand tasting to witness an international judging competition for the most premium quality wines of the evening!
The festival pairs up with the most renowned wineries, restaurants, and bars on the island and brings together a buzzing event that promotes culinary awareness and brings the community together!
From flavorful food, celebrity chef food-pairing dinners and live cooking demonstrations to a wide assortment of beer, wine, and spirits, Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival has the best option for everyone!
If you want to spend some valuable time with your better half, this event is the perfect spot to spend an entire day of unlimited entertainment!
4. Charleston Wine Festivals
Charleston Wine Festival is a popular festival in South Carolina that takes place throughout the year. During summer, the festival takes place on the weekend in August and features quality spirits, artisans, winemakers, food enthusiasts, and food pairings prepared by top chefs in the city.
The event celebrates the best of Lowcountry wines and with over 50 different wines to choose from, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Of course, no wine festival would be complete without live music and delicious food. During Spring, the festival kicks off in March and offers five days of unlimited fun, delicious food, wine, and music!
The food pairings are a unique combination of the best delicacies from different regions of the globe, ranging from Indian to the Mediterranean, and an assortment of seafood. Take a trusted wine glass in hand and take a stroll on the beautiful ocean-side patio overlooking Charleston Harbor.
If you visit South Carolina in the winter, then also you can attend the Charleston Wine Festival in January, with a variety of wines and food pairings that are perfect for cozying up in the chilly season!
So whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just looking for some fun weekend entertainment, be sure to check out the Charleston Wine Festival and you won’t be disappointed!
5. Alpaca Wine Experience
Sipping wine while being surrounded by cute Alpacas in their habitat might sound strange, but that’s exactly why so many people across the state visit the Red Horse Inn in Landrum, South Carolina.
Alpaca Wine Experience is a one-of-a-kind event that gives its visitors a chance to get a closer look at these incredibly friendly and adorable animals who are wrongfully known for their spitting habits!
This unique event first kicks off with some delicious wine, and you are offered to take a glass with the wine of your liking to see the Alpacas.
An instructor will accompany you to the animals’ domicile, where you will be able to interact with these amazing species and you will also be taught how to read their behavior to interpret whether they will spit or not (don’t worry, they won’t unless provoked!).
You can take a few clicks with the animal, enjoy your wine, and indulge in some music as you take in the beautiful countryside feel of the location! This is an unforgettable experience that will help you create awesome memories with your loved ones!
6. Sippin Safari
Sippin’ Safari is an annual fundraising event that features an assemblage of various wines, spirits, soul food, and an eccentric setting of the Greenville Zoo.
The event will be held on September 9th, between 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the zoo. The event provides the perfect setting for an exciting excursion where you can walk and explore wildlife, sip wine with tasty food pairings prepared by local restaurants and enjoy live music!
With over 60 wines available, you can explore and enrich your palate or head to the Beer Garden if you’re more of a beer enthusiast! If you’re in Greenville during September, then spending a fun evening at the Sippin’ Safari is a must!
7. Wine, Women, and Wellness
There’s nothing better than having a fun-filled girls’ night out, that won’t even cost you a dime! Wine, Women, and Wellness is a small event that brings together all the incredible women of the community to enjoy good wine, sample delicious food, and provides the perfect atmosphere where you can kick back and relax!
The event will take place on September 13th, 2022 between 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM on North Street, Summerville. The best part about the evening is that each visitor is entered into a drawing contest for a $500 Airbnb gift card and $250 for a getaway! Local speakers, vendors, and businesswomen are present to discuss the health, beauty, and wellness of the community.
The event is a hotspot for ladies and is a great way of bringing different thoughts and ideas to the table over a glass of wine. If you’re looking for a much-awaited gathering with girlfriends, then Wine, Women, and Wellness is the perfect place to spend a relaxing evening!
