The Wharf Uncorked
“We are thrilled to bring the festival to the Gulf Coast for its 5th year as a way to 
showcase culinary excellence and support a special cause,” said Sheena Mizell, marketing manager at The Wharf. “Year over year, we are blown away by the support and welcome all wine and food enthusiasts to join us for the three-day celebration.”
Event details for each day’s highlights are included below.
Thursday, Sept. 13
VIP Kickoff + Chef Showdown
The Port, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Presented by Good Grit Magazine, the night will kick off with high-end wine tastings and small bites, an open bar with a signature cocktail by John Emerald Distillery, a live auction and wine pull.
Guests will have a front-row view as Chef Chris Kelly returns to defend his title against three local chefs in a heated battle emceed by Atlanta chef and restaurateur Ford Fry and Good Grit Magazine founder & editor-in-chief, Laura Bento. The chef with the best Alabama Gulf Seafood dish will take home the winning title along with bragging rights. Judging the Chef Showdown will be power foodie couple James Briscione & Brooke Parkhurst, Andy Chapman from Eat Y'all, and reigning Wharf Uncorked Grand Tasting Championship, Brody Olive.
Friday, Sept. 14
Local Wine Dinners
The Wharf is home to many unique restaurants with a variety of fare. Several on-property venues along with others on the Gulf Coast will offer curated menus with signature wine parings. Guests can make reservations directly through the restaurant of their choice. A full list of participating restaurants will be released at www.thewharfuncorked.com.
Saturday, Sept. 15
Grand Tasting presented by Rouses Markets
Main Street and Wharf Parkway, 4 – 7:30 p.m.
The Wharf Entertainment District will be lined with vendors offering wine, beer and spirit tastings and small bites from more than 13 local restaurants competing in the culinary completion. Chef and mixology demonstrations will take place throughout the event at the Rouses Markets & Banfi Culinary Experience Stage. Guests will have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite dish for the People’s Choice Award, which will be presented at the end of the night with a ceremony of awards.
Friday, Sept. 14
Local Wine Dinners
The Wharf is home to many unique restaurants with a variety of fare. Several on-property venues along with others on the Gulf Coast will offer curated menus with signature wine parings. Guests can make reservations directly through the restaurant of their choice. A full list of participating restaurants will be released at www.thewharfuncorked.com.
Saturday, Sept. 15
Grand Tasting presented by Rouses Markets
Main Street and Wharf Parkway, 4 – 7:30 p.m.
The Wharf Entertainment District will be lined with vendors offering wine, beer and spirit tastings and small bites from more than 13 local restaurants competing in the culinary completion. Chef and mixology demonstrations will take place throughout the event at the Rouses Markets & Banfi Culinary Experience Stage. Guests will have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite dish for the People’s Choice Award, which will be presented at the end of the night with a ceremony of awards.
“This is our third year sponsoring Wharf Uncorked, and all of the food for the Culinary Experience Stage and the Chef Showdown will come from our new Rouses Market in Orange Beach,” said Donny Rouse, CEO of Rouses Market. “My great grandfather emigrated from Sardinia making this year’s Italian theme a perfect fit.”
The chefs will be using the new line of authentic Italian-made products from Rouses Markets with recipes dating back hundreds—even thousands—of years.
“We went to the source for our private label. Italians, after all, are as passionate about their food culture as we are here on the Gulf Coast,” said Rouse. Culinary stage cooking demonstrations will be put on by Chef Nino from Rouses Markets, Pete Blohme owner & chef at Panini Pete’s, and Louisiana based culinary entertainer Amy Sins.
Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster.com or at The Wharf box office. For more information, please visit TheWharfUncorked.com.