Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival Returns With New Offerings

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is gearing up for another delicious experience as the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival (FWFWF) returns for the sixth year April 4 through April 7, showcasing local and regional chefs at venues across the city for four days creating one of the tastiest culinary creations in Texas. The festival’s roster includes a range of talented chefs and food artisans as well as craft brewers and distinctive vintners, bringing together an array of tastes, techniques, and styles that reflect the diversity of the city itself.

This year’s FWFWF includes a tantalizing lineup of events, starting with Tacos + Tequila, returning after a well-received festival debut and a steadily growing crowd favorite. Here’s a quick breakdown of the festival’s lineup:

Tacos + Tequila

Photos by Nancy Farrar

When: Thursday, April 4, 2019
Time:  8 p.m. to 10 p.m
Where: Heart of the Ranch
Cost: $50 general admissions, $60 early entry

18 chefs and 12 beverage vendors bring their best to the table, offering tacos and tequila to please any pallet, whether upscale or down home, trend or traditional. Ticket price covers all food and drinks.

Main Event

When: Friday, April 5, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Heart of the Ranch
Cost: $125 general admission, $150 early entry

More than 100 exceptional wines, craft beers and spirits from near and far to pair perfectly with food from the best North Texas chefs, restaurateurs, artisan producers and crafters. Ticket price covers all food and drinks.

Desserts After Dark

When: Friday, April 5, 2019
Time: 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: Whiskey Ranch
Cost: $60 general admission, $70 early entry

Sip true Texas cocktails, enjoy sweet somethings and dance the night away as 16 pastry chefs and 14 mixologists create special eats and drinks; and guests will vote for their faves. Ticket price covers all food and drinks.

Culinary Corral

When: Saturday, April 6, 2019
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m
Where: Heart of the Ranch
Cost: $65 general admission, $75 early entry

This year, FWFWF is taking the excitement around previous years’ Rise + Dine and making it even bigger. Instead of just one brunch-inspired event, they’ve created a four-hour celebration of the best of the fest. The Culinary Corral will include a tasting tent, beer garden, corkyard, live music and a variety of add-on pop-ups. The Culinary Corral also features an artisan marketplace with 17 vendors curated by Fort Worth Makers offering handmade skin care products, leather goods, unique housewares and more. Ticket price covers all food and drinks.

Burgers, Brews + Blues

When: Saturday, April 6, 2019
Time:  6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Heart of the Ranch
Cost: $70 general admission, $85 early entry

Celebrating a trio of all-American classics – sliders, craft beer and blues – 13 chefs will grill up their best mini-burgers and 22 craft breweries will each pour two different beers. Celebrity judges will choose their favorite burger while guests will select a fan favorite for both burgers and beer. Ticket price covers all food and drinks.

Ring of Fire: A Next-Level Cookout

When: Sunday, April 7, 2019
Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Heart of the Ranch
Cost: $65 general admission, $75 early entry

This new event will bring together 22 chefs and 15 beverage participants to take the cookout concept to a whole new level. They’ll still give barbecue its due, but they’re expanding this event to include live fire creations of all kinds, from exotic meat dishes to pizza – all paired with wine, beer and spirits and set to the beat of a live band.

The Weekender Pass

$450 (Roughly $75 in savings, compared to purchasing early entry tickets to each event individually) and provides access to all six events, including early entrance to events when applicable, and all-you-can-eat-and-drink access.

The Connoisseur Pass

$1,000. This ticket may come with a big price tag, but it offers even bigger benefits. Benefits of being a Connoisseur include:

• Early entry access (when applicable) to all six signature events during the festival

• One complimentary ticket to the Centerstage event in 2019

• One complimentary ticket to each Sipping Series event

• One complimentary ticket to the Reserve Wine Tasting

• VIP treatment and concierge service

• Additional perks, including waived service fees for additional tickets

• Exclusive invites to festival happenings, such as the champagne welcome party.

• A connoisseur lapel pin and other great swag

Be sure to get your passes early and plan for some amazing eats. But keep in mind, no one under the age of 21 is permitted to attend festival events, regardless of whether alcohol is being served at a particular event or not. This includes toddlers and infants. The festival urges all adults to consume alcoholic products responsibly.