EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, October 15
Time: 6:30 PM Reception | 7:00 PM Dinner
Location: 224 W 10th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Special Guests: Jay Raffaldini - Owner, Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery
Chris Nelson - Winemaker, Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery
Guest Chef: Edwin Cruz of Edwin’s Organix
Tickets: $150/person + tax
Service is included in the ticket price and $50 of each ticket is tax-deductible.
Must be 21+

FEATURED WINES*
2019 Raffaldini Auguri (Sparkling)
2019 Raffaldini Vermentino Superiore
2015 Raffaldini Montepulciano Riserva
2018 Raffaldini Grande Riserva (Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, and Sagrantino)
2016 Raffaldini Meditazione (Sagrantino, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot)

*vintages subject to change

MENU

On Arrival
Cannelloni and Tomato Chutney Bruschetta
Italian White Bean Pureé with Parmesan Cheese
topped with a Tomato Chutney served on Locally Baked Bread
2019 Raffaldini Auguri

First Course
Warm Burrata Salad
Bed of Arugula topped with Warm Burrata Cheese, Sliced Prosciutto, Cherry Tomatoes
and Locally Grown Figs with a Honey Glaze Balsamic Vinaigrette
2019 Raffaldini Vermentino Superiore

Second Course
Pasta Fettuccine
House-made Fettuccine, Sundried Tomatoes, Baby Spinach,
Parmesan Cheese, Rosa Sauce topped with Pinoli
2015 Raffaldini Montepulciano Riserva

 Third Course
Manzo Italiano
Roasted Italian Beef with Carrots and Exotic Mushrooms
in a Salsa Baro made with the 2018 Raffaldini Grande Riserva
served over Poplar Creamy Mashed Potatoes
2018 Raffaldini Grande Riserva

Fourth Course
Panna Cotta
Traditional Italian “Cooked Cream”
 topped with Mixed Berry Sauce and Fresh Fruit
2016 Raffaldini Meditazione

Dietary restrictions may be accommodated with advance notice. Please indicate any restrictions the event organizers should be aware of at time of your registration/ticket purchase. Alternatively, please email info@charlottewineandfood.org to notify us at minimum 5 days prior to the event.

Terms & Conditions
All events will be following social distancing protocols. Learn more.

CULINARY & BEVERAGE TALENT

JAY RAFFALDINI | OWNER - RAFFALDINI VINEYARDS & WINERY
Jay Raffaldini started his trading career in Wall Street in 1985 and now, along with his partners, manages $45 billion in hedge fund assets for clients globally making them one of the largest hedge fund investors in the world.  In 1994 he also became an Adjunct Lecturer to the Federal Reserve on derivative and risk management topics. In 2000, Jay acquired an abandoned farm in Wilkes County, North Carolina to begin the process of growing Italian grapes which at the time was unheard of in the State. Fast forward to today, Raffaldini Vineyards is one of the most popular vineyards with 25,000 people visiting annually. In 2009 Raffaldini Vineyards was voted one of the top ten new vineyards in all of North America, the first time any such vineyard from the Mid Atlantic received that award. Jay was also a founding member and is currently serving as President of the NC Fine Wines Society. In 2008 Jay relocated from New York City to Winston Salem while commuting around the world for his hedge fund business and managing Raffaldini Vineyards.

CHRIS NELSON | WINEMAKER - RAFFALDINI VINEYARDS & WINERY
Chris found his love for wine on a trip to Sonoma in 2000 while avoiding the madness of Black Friday.  From that point onward, he took an interest in learning more about wine with visits to the wine regions surrounding his home in San Francisco.  After graduating with a Master's in Enology and Viticulture from Fresno State, Chris headed for harvest internships in Russian River (Sonoma), Dry River (New Zealand) as well as Calistoga (Napa).  He became a head winemaker (Pinot noir and White wines) in 2007 making custom wines for Crushpad in San Francisco.  After spending 17 years on the West Coast, making wine from vineyards stretching from Santa Barbara to Santa Lucia Highlands to Sonoma and Mendocino and as far north as the Willamette Valley and Walla Walla, Chris decided it was time to return to his home state of North Carolina for a new challenge.  Chris joined Raffaldini Vineyards in April of 2019 and has been enjoying getting reacquainted with his home state while learning the art of crafting Italian varietal wines in the Yadkin Valley.

EDWIN CRUZ | OWNER AND HEAD CHEF, EDWIN’S ORGANIX | GUEST CHEF @ POPLAR TAPAS WINE & SPIRITS
Edwin Cruz is the owner and head chef of Edwin’s Organix, an environmentally friendly, eco-conscious, and vegan specialty catering service that started in 2018. Chef Cruz hails from Tampico, Mexico where he took culinary classes. He has worked in the food and hospitality industry for over 13 years and has served as head chef for two restaurants which he helped open in Winston Salem, NC. In his hometown of Charlotte, NC, he was one of the first pop-up chefs in the area to take over restaurant menus and change the food scene in a unique way. Cruz is passionate about cooking and enjoys learning about different culinary practices in different parts of the world. To connect with him, follow him on social media: Edwin_organic