Since its founding, TWFE has existed for the sole purpose of supporting the Frankie Lemmon School & Developmental Center, a NAEYC accredited, 5-star child development center that welcomes children ages 2-6 with and without disabilities. With the funds and awareness TWFE raises, Frankie Lemmon is able to provide inclusive classrooms, life changing therapies, and experiential offerings, giving all children a sense of belonging, friendships, and an opportunity to reach their full potential.
Thursday, February 5, 2026: In-Home Wine Dinners and Community Wine Dinners begin at 6:30PM and end around 9:30PM.
Saturday February 7, 2026: The Tasting is 12PM to 3 PM. The Live Auction is 3PM – 6PM.
Silent Auction: Opens Tuesday, February 3rd at 12 PM and closes Tuesday, February 17th at 12 PM.
Check out our Lineup Page to see what our chefs are cooking and our winemakers are pouring. With so many talented folks in one room, you’re bound to find something you love.
Water is always on the table! For the Tasting and Live Auction, there will be spirit-free drinks available.
If a dinner is listed as private, this means the sponsor at the dinner has guaranteed that they will be selling out their tickets to their family and friends. The only way to access a private dinner is through the sponsor or becoming a sponsor yourself. Interested? Learn more here.
No, we do not allow tickets to be purchased at the event location. To participate, you must purchase your tickets before ticket sales close on Thursday, January 29th at 11:59 PM.
Yes, Triangle Wine & Food Experience is a 21+ event. Those under 21 are not allowed to participate in events.
Triangle Wine & Food Experience is a weekend full of fun. We want everyone to be safe while enjoying themselves. We recommend ride share services like Uber or White Horse Transportation. Please drink responsibly and plan your transportation accordingly.
Community wine dinners bring together Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hills’ best restaurants and renowned wineries from around the world together. Across the Triangle, restaurants and wineries work in concert to offer guests inspired multicourse menus showcasing the best in each for one night only. Each course is intentionally paired with a selection from the featured winery and is guided by the attending winemaker, creating a culinary experience marked most vividly by the company it was shared with.
Cooking in collaboration from the host’s kitchen to create a one of a kind culinary experience and paired with one the most sought-after winemakers in the world, In-Home Wine Dinners are intimate and luxurious. Featuring two of the brightest culinary talents in the country, together they will curate a multicourse wine dinner designed to complement a featured winemaker’s selections at a private residence.
Thursday, February 5, 2026: In-Home Wine Dinners and Community Wine Dinners begin at 6:30PM until around 9:30PM.
If a dinner is listed as private, this means the sponsor at the dinner has guaranteed that they will be selling out their tickets to their family and friends. The only way to access a private dinner is through the sponsor or becoming a sponsor.
No, there are no physical tickets. We will have your name and information at the dinner!
Yes, you can transfer your tickets to someone else. If doing this, please email [email protected] with the names and contact information of those who will be attending in your place.
Triangle Wine & Food Experience events are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, we can turn your ticket purchase into a full donation to support the children and families we serve.
Attire for in-home and community dinners are dressy casual.
Check out our gallery from last year for outfit inspiration! Wine Dinners Photo Gallery
Each dinner will feature a specially curated menu that perfectly complements the winery or wineries, with dishes prepared in collaboration between chefs and wineries. Menus will remain a surprise until your arrival.
Triangle Wine & Food Experience is a weekend full of fun. We want everyone to be safe while enjoying themselves. We recommend ride share services like Uber or White Horse Transportation. Please drink responsibly and plan your transportation accordingly.
The Tasting is the weekend’s capstone. The country’s brightest culinary talent and coveted wineries from across the world gather under one roof for an unmissable food and beverage experience. Followed by and culminating in the Live Auction, guests raise their paddles and bid generously on unfindable wines and unmatched experiences.
The Tasting is 12 PM to 3 PM. The Live Auction is 3PM – 6PM.
Each year the event has a new location. This year we are excited to celebrate the Tasting & Live Auction at 1000 Social at the Exchange in Raleigh.
Yes, you can transfer your tickets to someone else. If doing this, please email [email protected] with the names and contact information of those who will be attending in your place.
Triangle Wine & Food Experience events are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, we can turn your ticket purchase into a full donation to support the children and families we serve.
The attire for the Tasting & Live Auction is cocktail.
Check out our gallery from last year for outfit inspiration! The Tasting & Live Auction Photo Gallery
Triangle Wine & Food Experience is a weekend full of fun. We want everyone to be safe while enjoying themselves. We recommend ride share services like Uber or White Horse Transportation. Please drink responsibly and plan your transportation accordingly.
The silent auction is open for two weeks. The silent auction will go live on Tuesday, February 2, 2026 at 12 PM and close on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 12 PM.
Yes! Everyone is encouraged to register and bid via GiveSmart. You do not have to have tickets to any TWFE event to participate.
If you are new to the TWFE auction, we recommend starting with the following instructional video, which provides an overview of registration, browsing the auction, bidding on lots, setting auto-bids, and text message notifications.
Click here for a GiveSmart Instructional Video
Click here to be guided through the process and create an account. Or, to register by phone, text TWFE2026 to 76278, and then follow the prompts.
Once you are logged into GiveSmart, click the “My Info” tab at the top. If you already have a card entered, please review the information to make sure the card is accurate. If you do not already have a card entered, please click “Add Card on File” and enter the card details.
Click here to donate. You can select a pre-filled donation amount, or you can enter any amount of your choosing in the open field.
Visit the “Items” page. At the top center of that page, you can search for specific items of interest, or you can use the “Categories” dropdown to filter the auction lots by type.
If you would like to “watch” an item, so that you can quickly check in on the auction lot later, click the “Watch This Item” button at the bottom of the item’s page. To view the auction lots you are watching, click on the “My Activity” button at the top center of the “Items” page and it will quickly pull up all your watched auction lots.
Underneath the auction lot photograph you will see a box allowing you to place bids. Under “Place Bid”, the next minimum bid amount is automatically displayed. To place a bid at that amount, click “Bid.” Or, if you would like to bid higher than the next minimum bid amount, you can manually enter the desired amount and then click “Bid.”
Once you have placed a bid, if a competing bidder places a higher bid, you will be notified by text message so you will have the opportunity to counter with a higher bid.
You also have the option to set an “Auto Bid” by clicking that option at the top of the bidding box. This option enables you to set a maximum bid amount, by entering the highest bid you are willing to place and then clicking “Bid.” So that you do not risk getting outbid at the last minute, everyone is encouraged to set a maximum bid using the “Auto Bid” feature. In the event a competing bidder outbids your current bid, the auction software will automatically raise your bid by the minimum bid increment until your maximum bid has been met or the silent auction ends.
If you are participating by phone, you will receive a text message congratulating you on your win. Follow the link in the text message to be directed to your personal payment page. Or, if you are participating on your computer, select the “Pay” link on the top menu bar, which will also take you to your personal payment page. Review your auction lot wins and purchase summary and select the “Click Here to Pay” button. You can either use the credit card information you added upon registration or enter new card information. Once payment is complete, a red paid stamp will be placed on your order summary. You can download your receipt or select to receive it by email.
All auction items may be picked up at the Frankie Lemmon Foundation office, located at 3101 Poplarwood Court, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27604. A member of our team will reach out to winners with the auction item pick up dates. Payment must be made prior to pickup.
Stay tuned for a sneak peek into the live auction lots!
While we wish you could be with us in person, we are thrilled about your interest in supporting us from afar. If you would like to submit a bid please contact Marsha Hargette at [email protected] before Thursday, January 30th at 5pm. Past that date, we are no longer able to accept proxy bids.