Signature Event · Sneakerball
Sold OutGrand Tasting — Main Event
Walk around tasting, limited seating. Food, Wine, Cocktails, Music and the best people on the planet.
About this experience
The Grand Tasting is a bold, high-energy celebration of wine, culture and style. Experience a Walk-Around Tasting with limited seating featuring premium food, exceptional wine, handcrafted cocktails, and live music with the best people on the planet. Embrace the Sneakerball theme: come dripped in gold, pairing luxury gold accents or full-gold looks with your freshest sneakers or designer tennis shoes.
- When
- Saturday, June 20, 2026 · 5–10 PM
- Where
- Culinary Institute of America, COPIA Downtown NAPA · 500 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
- Hosts & Talent
- Curated by Chef Mimi & BFWE26
- Dress code
- Dripped in Gold Sneakerball attire
Featured Partners
Meet the wineries, chefs & makers
The Grand Tasting blends Black-owned wines and Napa Valley vintners with rising chefs, caterers, mixologists and lifestyle brands.
View all partners →Grand Tasting Programming
Chef Demo + Wine Education Experiences
Included with Grand Tasting Admission (Corked in cultured) prepaid - limited extra space.
Take a break from tasting and join us for intimate chef demonstrations, wine education sessions, culinary conversations, and interactive experiences throughout the evening. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
⚠️ IMPORTANT LOCATION NOTE: The June 19 Grand Tasting venue will be announced soon.
Eco Lab Theater
Chef Demonstrations & Culinary Conversations
Hosted by Chef Terry Braggs and Chef Lamont Perriman, Culinary Director
6:15 PM – 6:20 PM
Welcome Remarks
Chef Terry Braggs & Chef Lamont Perriman
6:20 PM – 6:45 PM
Chef Nelson German
Live Culinary Demonstration
7:05 PM – 7:30 PM
Chef Lamont Perriman
Culinary Spotlight & Demonstration
7:50 PM – 8:15 PM
Chef Michelle Wallace
Live Culinary Demonstration
8:35 PM – 9:00 PM
Chef Mimi x Madame Noire
Food, Culture & The Future of Culinary Travel
Join Chef Mimi and Madame Noire for a conversation exploring how food, wine, travel, and culture are shaping the future of destination experiences.
9:20 PM – 9:45 PM
Chef Lamar Moore
Live Culinary Demonstration
Napa Valley Vintners Theater
Wine Education & Interactive Tastings
Explore the stories, wines, and innovations shaping Napa Valley through guided tastings and immersive conversations.
6:20 PM – 6:45 PM
Wines of Napa Valley
Presented by Napa Valley Vintners
Explore the people, places, and varietals that have made Napa Valley one of the world's most celebrated wine regions.
7:05 PM – 7:30 PM
Uncorked & Cultured: A Guided Tasting with Angela
Hosted by Angela, Founder of Uncorked & Culture
Pull up a seat with Angela — founder of Uncorked & Culture — for an intimate, guest-interactive tasting that spotlights Black-owned winemakers and the culture behind the bottle. Expect approachable wine education, real talk about flavor and story, and a guided pour you'll actually remember. Bring your questions — this one is built for the guest experience.
7:50 PM – 8:15 PM
Chef Jocelyn's Wine Pairing Experience
Discover how flavor, texture, and wine come together through an interactive culinary pairing experience.
8:35 PM – 9:00 PM
Sip & AI
Presented by Kafi Djiba, Coded in Culture & Sam Brown Wines
Explore how artificial intelligence is influencing hospitality, entrepreneurship, marketing, and the future of wine while enjoying a guided tasting experience.
Plan Your Evening
Between sessions, enjoy:
- ✨ Curated chef tastings
- 🍷 Wine, spirits, and beverage experiences
- 🛍️ The Vendor Marketplace (5:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
- 🎶 Live music in the Amphitheater
- 🥂 VIP and VVIP lounges
- ⚡ Interactive brand activations throughout the venue
Seating Disclaimer
Sessions are complimentary with Grand Tasting admission and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early to secure your seat.
Taste. Sip. Vibe. Dripped in Gold. ✨
Sold Out
This experience is sold out.
Explore the rest of the BFWE26 weekend or drink Napa with us with the BLOOM Passport.