Bring your own bottle and celebrate with us!  Join us as we officially kick-off the 2013 Festival. Encompassed around the International Wine Judging & Competition, this fun and festive party allows local and visiting wine enthusiasts to mix and mingle with our distinguished judges and local VIP's. With a judging panel in excess of 20 judges including both Master and Advanced Sommeliers from across the USA, this is your chance to rub elbows with the "best of the best". Get their insights on your favorite wines, or maybe just share a story or two. This fun night shouldn't be missed, as rarely is there a time when so many wine experts get together at one time, in one room. "Uncork" is a wonderful opportunity to rub elbows with the International Wine Judges and very knowledgeable wine educators and distributors.

This event is fashioned after another popular wine activity called Open That Bottle Night.  “Most of us have a special bottle of wine, champagne or spirits tucked away in a closet or in the back of the refrigerator. The bottle is special because of who gave it to us, or why they gave it to us, or why we bought it. The originators of "Open That Bottle Night" realized that we all have such bottles, but we never find just the right occasion to open them up and enjoy the contents,” says Jeff Gerber of Bomboras Grille and HHI Wine & Food Festival Executive Committee member. To kick off the 2013 event the organizers of the Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival are inviting members of the public to reserve a space at this exclusive, limited seating event and to bring their special bottle(s) of wine to taste with their friends and other attendees.