to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the public
Member Benefits Include
Priority Early Access
Ticket Stipend
a portion of your membership is given back to you to use towards tickets
Dedicated Concierge Service
to help curate your festival week, assist with ticket purchasing, and provide concierge during the Festival
Exclusive Invitations
to Friends-only events and behind-the-scenes experiences
Connection + Community
through shared experiences with fellow members
Early Entry
to Opening Night (30 min) the Culinary Village (1 hour) for a more intimate experiences
Preferential Seating
reserved individual/small group seating where possible; restaurant limitations apply
Payment Options
ability to split into two installments
Ticket Deductible
portion of your membership is tax deductible
Digital Recognition
listed as a supporter on our Friends of the Festival webpage
VIP Commemorative Gift
+ 20% discount on all CHSWF merchandise
Additional Benefits by Tier
MEMBERSHIP TIERS
Benefit
Top Chef
$12,000
Grand Cru
$8,000
Five Star
$5,000
Epicurean
$2,000
Complimentary Test Kitchen Rental
Opportunity for complimentary rental Charleston Wine + Food Test Kitchen for Private Event
Reserved Table
Opportunity to own a dedicated table at Signature Dinner, Lunch or Brunch
(must be purchased during pre-sale; subject to restaurant limitations)
VIP Parking Pass
Where applicable; by event
Buy-out
Opportunity to own a full Signature Dinner, Lunch or Brunch
(must be purchased during pre-sale; unbranded)
Pre-sale: 24 Hour Private Access
24 hour private access to purchase tickets before any other Friends of the Festival tier
Pre-sale to seated events
Signature Dinners, Lunches, Brunches, Beverage Workshops, Hands-on Classes, and Excursions (limit applies to tickets purchased during pre-sale)
limit of 8
per event
limit of 4
per event
limit of 2
per event
Pre-sale: Signature Events + Culinary Village
Includes option to purchase Opening Night
Ticket Stipend
Festival-wide (issued in the form of a Charleston Wine + Food gift card)
$6,000
50% of membership
$3,600
45% of membership
$2,000
40% of membership
$700
35% of membership
Complimentary Access: Amuse Bouche | A Party for Our Partners
Held during Festival kick-off; by invitation only
6
comp
invitations
4
comp
invitations
2
comp
invitations
1
comp
invitation
Exclusive Access to Friends Only Event
Friends Boozy Brunch (October 5)
4
comp
invitations
2
comp
invitations
2
comp
invitations
1
comp
invitation
Exclusive Access to Friends Only Event
Winter Wine Lunch (January 31)
4
comp
invitations
2
comp
invitations
2
comp
invitations
1
comp
invitation
Complimentary Access
Designated Festival Hospitality Suite
4
comp
invitations
4
comp
invitations
2
comp
invitations
2
comp
invitations
30 minute early access to Signature events + Culinary Village
Signature Events, where applicable
Priority Waitlist
Sold-out Events
VIP Commemorative Gift + 20% Discount on Festival Merch
Webpage Recognition
Friends of CHSWF page
Concierge Service
Ticketing Advice Line and Purchasing Support + Festival Week Support
Preferential Seating
Reserved Individual/Small Group Seating at Select Events
Tax Deductible
A portion of membership is tax deductible
Payment Options
Ability to Split Membership into Two Installments
Let’s Be Friends, Year-Round
June 2025
Exclusive launch of the Friends of the Festival 2026 program. Discounts on renewals are offered to returning Friends only, for a limited time. Limited memberships available, to ensure access to the most sought-after Festival experiences + premium service benefits during Ticket Launch (Oct) + Festival (Mar)
October 2025
Friends annual kick-off event hosted on October 5th, by invitation only. Coveted pre-sale access for Friends to purchase from the full menu of ticketed Festival events, exclusively offered one week prior to public ticket launch. Historically, more than 50% of the 100+ public-facing Festival events sell out within the first week.
January 2026
Friends of the Festival Winter Wine Lunch January 31. This event is a fun get-together for Friends to connect, enjoy a top-notch dining experience and receive Festival tips + tricks, itineraries and more.
March 4-8, 2026
The 20th annual Charleston Wine + Food Festival kicks off on March 4th at our Amuse Bouche pre-party for Friends and Partners only. Friends receive preferential seating, expedited entry at events and concierge services throughout the Festival to make your experiences five-star!
Become a Friend
of the Festival
As a Friend, you’ll enjoy exclusive benefits, including early access to tickets, special events, and festival merchandise discounts.
