Following a successful first year hosting Austin's famous Pecan Street Festival, the outdoor mall Hill Country Galleria is adopting another new festival. This time, it's an original festival in partnership with the Wine & Food Foundation, setting up wine and and food tastings at participating shops, restaurants, and food trucks. The Hill Country Galleria Wine & Food Festival takes place Saturday, May 31, from 3-6 pm.
Guests will receive "passports" to help organize their visit. Then they'll make stops around the Galleria's property, sampling red wines, whites, and rosés, with sommeliers spread around the event to guide the tastings.
The following businesses will offer bites that are included in the ticket price:
- The League
- Tony C's
- Buenos Aires Café
- Chisos Grill
- Burro Cheese Kitchen
- Mighty Cone
- TacoMan512
- Party Cart Co. Charcuterie
In addition to the food and wine, three live jazz bands will increase the festival ambiance in the Central Plaza: Honeybee Jazz, Dave Madden Trio, and Glenn Rexach.
One VIP tasting centers the event for guests who want to get a little deeper. Certified sommelier Steve Alley will lead the tasting from 1:30-3 pm at The League Kitchen & Tavern (13420 Galleria Cir Suite A-128), an upscale sports pub.
Tickets ($50 general admission, $110 VIP or $90 for Wine & Food Foundation members) are available now at winefoodfoundation.org.
Central Texans may already be familiar with the Wine & Food Foundation through its other events, which include wine auctions, smaller tastings, and the Toast of Texas event, a similar tasting event that pairs wine with barbecue at Austin's Assembly Hall. This year's Toast of Texas is scheduled for June 8.
Besides creating platforms for restaurants and winemakers to share their work, the Wine & Food Foundation's main contributions to the industry are fighting food insecurity and giving grants, scholarships, and hospitality industry support. All ticket sales from the Hill Country Galleria event will support these missions.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Wine & Food Foundation to bring a fun and new experience to Hill Country Galleria,” said Alora Hess, marketing manager at Hill Country Galleria. “It will be a nice day to sip on high-quality sourced wines and snack on bites from our amazing restaurant tenants, all while supporting a great cause.”
