The Naples Winter Wine Festival featured sommeliers roster has officially been unveiled for the highly anticipated 27th annual charity celebration, scheduled for January 29–31, 2027, at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. Recognized internationally as one of the premier charity wine auctions in the world, the three-day gathering will showcase 16 world-renowned wine professionals, including seven distinguished Master Sommeliers, who will curate, explain, and pour exceptional rare vintages along Florida’s Gulf coast.
Serving as the foundational annual fundraiser for the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the festival has raised more than $366 million since its inaugural event in 2001. These charitable dollars directly support dozens of local non-profit agencies that deliver healthcare, early childhood education, and social services to over 350,000 underprivileged children in Collier County. For the 2027 edition, the festival embraces the vibrant theme “Hope Sings: A Brighter Tomorrow Takes the Stage,” marrying global culinary prestige with impactful community philanthropy.
Elite Expertise Guiding the Naples Winter Wine Festival Featured Sommeliers
Throughout the lively festival weekend, the Naples Winter Wine Festival featured sommeliers will guide guests through an array of immersive tasting events. Their duties encompass leading the intimate Vintage Cellar tasting and luncheon, collaborating with visiting celebrity chefs during exclusive Vintner Dinners hosted at private luxury estates across Naples, and pouring rare pours during Saturday’s high-energy live auction under the grand tent.
The assembled 2027 roster brings together acclaimed beverage directors, educators, and boutique vineyard principals from major culinary hubs across the country:
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Gillian Ballance, MS — Treasury Wine Estates and Decant Bottle Shop, Yountville, California
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Fernando Beteta, MS — PopSomm, Chicago, Illinois
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Mark Bright — Saison Hospitality Group, San Francisco, California
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Jacob Brown — Realm Cellars, San Francisco, California
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Marie Cheslik — Slik Wines, Chicago, Illinois
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Jonathan Eichholz, MS — Aftergold, New York, New York
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John Eisele — Four Seasons Napa Valley, Calistoga, California
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Lindsey Fern — Nemacolin, Uniontown, Pennsylvania
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Sarah Foote — Castle Hot Springs, Morristown, Arizona
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Logan Griffin — Blackberry Mountain, Walland, Tennessee
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Jon McCarthy — The Matheson, Healdsburg, California
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Michael Meagher, MS — Sommelier On-Demand Hospitality Services LLC, Groton, Massachusetts
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George Miliotes, MS — Wine Bar George, Orlando, Florida
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Robin O’Connor — Brazen Head Brooklyn, New York
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David Reuss, MS — Jackson Family Wines, Denver, Colorado
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Rob Smits — Caruso’s at Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito, California
Elevating Philanthropy Through Culinary Excellence
The dedicated participation of the Naples Winter Wine Festival featured sommeliers remains a core driver of the festival’s historic fundraising track record. By pairing world-class palates with rare library collections and limited-release auction lots, these professionals craft memorable sensory experiences for collectors, donors, and visiting wine aficionados.
Every dollar raised through the weekend’s festivities is strategically reinvested across Southwest Florida. Grant distributions from the foundation fund essential initiatives including pediatric dental care, mental health counseling, after-school reading clinics, and weekend nutrition programs for at-risk youth.
This celebrated event reinforces the Paradise Coast’s standing as a world-class destination for seasonal hospitality, luxury dining, and transformative charitable giving. To see how other premier regional dining and hospitality initiatives drive our local service economy, explore our overview of the Sizzle Dining Southwest Florida restaurants campaign.
