Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend tickets

You can buy tickets for the 2012 Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend beginning Dec. 19, online at www.CharlotteWineandFood.org.

This every-two-years happening is one of the Southeast's largest wine events, say organizers, and has raised more than $3.5 million for area charities (this year: the Council for Children’s Rights; Second Harvest Food Bank's Metrolina-BackPack Program; Pat’s Place; and Charlotte Community Health Clinic).

The Weekend will be April 18-22, and highlights range from winemaker dinners at area restaurants to tastings and classes to a golf tournament. The kickoff is a tequila dinner at Paco's Tacos & Tequila, April 18, and the largest event is Big Bottles & Blues at the Ritz-Carlton, April 20. A gala and live auction (look for the rare 1919 Romanée-Conti bottle) will be April 21, and a brunch April 22.