Albany Chefs’ Dine and Wine Festival serves up a weekend of Fine Food and Drink

Albany Wine and Dine for the Arts is bringing the 2023 Albany Chefs’ Food and Wine Festival presented by Bank of America to Albany this coming weekend. The three-day festival begins on Thursday, Jan. 26, with the Mayor’s Reception and Kickoff, followed by the Grand Tastings and Slider Slam on Friday, Jan. 27. The festivities will culminate on Saturday, Jan. 28, with the Grand Gala dinner. 

“The effects of the pandemic took a significant toll on our local restaurants and arts organizations. As they continue to recover and engage with the community, we need to come out in force to show our support,” said Marcus Q. Pryor, board president of Albany Wine and Dine for the Arts. “That is why we are so excited to have the festival’s events back in person, allowing community members to interact, indulge and enjoy all of the culture and artistic contributions the city has to offer.”

More than 50 Capital Region Chefs will be featured throughout the Festival in the Friday & Saturday Grand Tastings and Seminars. These Chefs are an excellent representation of the best of the Capital Region culinary scene.

The Grand Tasting and Seminars will take place at the Albany Capital Center. Sample culinary delights from the area’s top chefs and restaurants.  Experience educational seminars, including the Highland Park Whiskey Tour.  VIP tickets will include access to the Stoli Elite VIP Lounge presented by Total Events, where Hors D’oeuvres and specialty cocktails will be served. Each VIP ticket purchase automatically gives you an opportunity to win 1 of 5 exciting travel experiences!

“I am thrilled that Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival Wine and Dine for the Arts will be back in person in 2023, complete with all the signature events that patrons have come to know and love, such as the reception and kickoff event that I host, seminars, the Slider Slammer and the Grand Gala Dinner,” said Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan. “This event and the mission to provide sustainable funding for the nonprofit arts community in Albany are very important to me and I am looking forward to celebrating throughout the event.”

Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival has provided nearly $1.5 million in sustainable funding for the support and preservation of the not-for-profit arts community in Albany.

Black Dimensions in Art (BDA), a visual arts organization educating the public on the contributions of artists within the African diaspora, submitted the winning bottle design for the 2023 festival. The design represents the organization by featuring the African continent wrapped around the bottle. In addition to BDA’s design being featured throughout the festival, the Wine and Dine board of directors will award them with a $1,000 cash prize.

This year, Premier Beneficiaries are the Albany Barn, Capital Repertory Theatre, Capitaland Chorus, and Park Playhouse. Spotlight Beneficiaries this year are the Albany Center Gallery, Capital Cinema, and Electronic Body Art, Inc. Total distribution will be based on the final net proceeds at the conclusion of the 2023 Festival.

In addition, the Wine and Dine for the Arts board of directors also announced their nominations for this year’s Legacy Awards. These awards recognize individuals for their commitment and support of the arts throughout the Capital Region. Benita Zahn has been nominated for The Honorable Gerald D. Jennings Backstage Award. This award is given to an individual that supports the arts organizations’ endeavors and enhances the region’s quality of life. The Karen Smith-Sfara Ovation Award honors the memory of founding member Karen Smith-Sfara and is given to an outstanding patron or organization demonstrating a significant contribution to the arts in Albany. This year the board nominated two individuals deserving of this achievement, Annette Nanes and Scott Meyer. The board nominated Matt Baumgartner for The Spirit of the Industry award, which is given to an individual that demonstrates a deep commitment to the community and a high level of professionalism in the restaurant industry. Each award will be presented at the annual festival kickoff event, the Mayor’s Reception, held on January 26 at Albany City Hall.

For more information about how to purchase tickets, visit albanywinefest.com.  

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About Albany Wine and Dine for the Arts:  Their mission is to provide sustainable funding for the support and preservation of the not-for-profit arts community in Albany, New York, through an annual three-day food and wine-themed festival that markets restaurants, chefs, and their innovative cuisine, educates consumers on healthy, sustainable agriculture, and donates the net income directly to deserving non-profit arts organizations.