SOBEFEST 2016

If there ever was a must-go-to festival, South Beach Wine and Food Festival on Miami Beach is it.

Network TV stars, culinary geniuses, world-renowned restaurateurs, gourmet food and, of course, the wines.

SOBEfest draws foodies from all over the globe to attend the scrumptious events throughout the four-day festival. From daytime demos to late-night tastings, one of more than 80 events is sure to please anyone’s taste buds. 

I have teamed up with Visit Florida to cover this amazing weekend!  I started my SobeFest experience... wining! I attended the Copper Cane Wines & Provisions event at their bungalow. Favorite drink of the evening? Winemaker Joseph Wagner's new sparkling wine, Steorra. It’s a mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Yum!

Since I wasn't out walking on the beach for the events that night, I went for a simple dolled-up look with a flowy turquoise maxi and a pair of heels.

Throughout the festival, there was a leading event each night on the beach by the Ritz-Carlton South Beach. It was Italian Bites with Giada De Laurentiis on Thursday, Rachael Ray's Burger Bash on Friday, Meatopia on Saturday, and the Lucky Chopsticks event on Sunday.

While the Burger Bash is always a hit, on Friday night I opted for cocktails over sliders and headed out to the Art of Tiki hosted by Guy Fieri. It was a fierce cocktail competition, but one of the crowd's favorites was the Broken Shaker's Paradise Found, a rum cocktail with mint and watermelon. (To all my 21’s and over, how good does that sound?)

For my look of the day, I went for casual comfort with a striped two-piece, white sneakers, and a pair of retro sunnies. On the #SOBEWFF days where you want to cover the most ground and get your grub on, comfy footwear and roomy bottoms will take you a long way!  

And just when you think you've had enough savory bites and sparkling wines, it's time to satisfy your sweet tooth. On Saturday night, Food Network's Duff Goldman hosted a Sweet 15: A Dessert Party. I missed out on the spectacular sugar rush, but I heard his Grapefruit Meringue Crumble Push Pops were a hit.

The SOBE Festival was filled with both local and international culinary talent. With cuisines from all over the world, you can truly see how food is a universal language, bringing together people from different cultures and backgrounds.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of VISIT FLORIDA.  The opinions and text are all mine.

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