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JW Marriott Austin I Saturday, November 7, 2026
Join Us For the 40th Anniversary of This Incredible Event!
Experience an unforgettable evening of culinary excellence and giving back at the Austin Wine & Food Foundation Gala.
Immediately following the Austin Wine Auction, The Austin Wine & Food Foundation Gala features an exquisite four-course dinner with expert wine service from a team of Austin’s finest sommeliers. The event includes a smaller, curated selection of 10-15 premium live auction lots, including luxury vacations, exceptional wines, exclusive dining experiences, and an exciting raffle with coveted prizes. And we are thrilled to have Chris Carpenter of Cardinale as our 2026 Featured Winemaker.
Your participation in this beloved celebration of food and wine directly supports our philanthropic initiatives, including AWFF programming, the battle against food insecurity in Austin, and our scholarship program for local hospitality professionals advancing their careers through education.
Get Tickets Here
Tables & Tickets
on Sale Now!
Corporate Sponsorships
Most include a ten-person table
at the Gala!
2025 Auction Catalog
Take a look at last year’s Auction packages!
Host the Winemaker Table | $12,000
SOLD OUT!
You and your guests will enjoy the singular honor of hosting the featured winemaker, Chris Carpenter, at your table while indulging in an expert wine presentation by a professional sommelier dedicated exclusively to your table. Your table will have premium placement and will be offered choices from our premier-level wine list, hand-picked by our team of expert sommeliers.
Includes:
(2) Tickets to the Featured Winemaker Luncheon on November 6
(10) tickets to the Austin Wine Auction on November 7, immediately before the Gala
Grand Cru Table | $7,500
TABLE FOR 10
You and your guests will indulge in an expert wine presentation by a professional sommelier. Your table will have premium placement, and your guests will be offered choices from our premier-level wine list, which our expert sommeliers hand-picked.
Includes:
(2) Tickets to the Featured Winemaker Luncheon on November 6
(10) Tickets to the Austin Wine Auction on November 7, immediately before the Gala
Premier Cru Table | $5,000
TABLE FOR 10
You and your guests will indulge in an expert wine presentation by a professional sommelier. Your table will have upgraded placement, and your guests will be offered choices from our upgraded wine list, which our expert sommeliers hand-picked.
Includes:
(10) Tickets to the Austin Wine Auction on November 7, immediately before the Gala
Village Table | $3,500
TABLE FOR 10
You and your guests will indulge in an impressive wine list hand-picked by our expert sommeliers.
Includes:
(2) Tickets to the Austin Wine Auction on November 7, immediately before the Gala
Buy Gala Tickets
Individual Tickets to the Gala can be purchased for $500.
2026 Featured Winemaker
We are thrilled to welcome Christopher Carpenter of Cardinale Winery as our Featured Winemaker and speaker for the 40th Annual Wine Auction & Gala!
Chris Carpenter is the winemaker for many of Napa Valley’s most prestigious wineries, including Cardinale, Lokoya, La Jota Vineyard Co., Mt. Brave, Caladan, and Hickinbotham in South Australia’s McLaren Vale. Over the past two decades, Chris has earned a reputation for taming Napa Valley’s mountain tannins and creating legendary Cabernet Sauvignon. He works closely with the vineyard team to nurture and then manifest the unique character of each vineyard block in elegant wines with great depth, mountain character, and historic pedigree.
We are honored to have Chris Carpenter here to share his expertise and award-winning wines with us.
Meet The Auctioneer
Charles Antin has been a fundraising and commercial auctioneer since 2007. Charles has auctioneered hundreds of benefits from Miami to Nashville to Jackson Hole to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Destin, San Francisco and Hong Kong – and, of course, many in the metro NYC area, where he is based. These auctions have raised tens of millions of dollars for charitable organizations.
On the commercial side, Charles is the Global Head of Wine Auctions at Zachys, and was both a commercial and charity auctioneer at Christie’s for close to a decade.
We can't wait to welcome Charles back to Austin for the Austin Wine Auction and the Wine & Food Foundation Gala!
AWFF GIVES BACK!
In addition to our yearly programming, proceeds from our events help support our philanthropic initiatives, including giving back $115,000 in grants and educational scholarships in 2026!
AWFF Grants
AWFF is committed to preventing and battling food insecurity in Central Texas. In 2025, we granted a total of $65,000 to the following organizations.
Learn More About Grants
AWFF Hospitality Scholarships
The Austin Wine & Food Foundation Scholarship Program exists to support hospitality professionals in their career growth and achieve their career goals. We believe that every dedicated service professional deserves access to the tools and training needed to advance their career, regardless of financial barriers.
Our comprehensive scholarship initiative provides funding for industry certifications, specialized training programs, and continuing education opportunities. From sommelier certifications and culinary arts programs to hospitality management courses and service excellence training, we support professionals at every stage of their career journey.
Learn More About Scholarships
Thank You to Our Sponsors
