Wine & Swine

Wine and Swine. Where have you been all of my life? I’m calling it – best food and wine festival I’ve been to all year. Gorgeous weather, fabulous food, a great crowd from all over and the perfect backdrop makes for a perfect sunday funday.
Food: I dove in. Starting with what was one of my favorites, Swifts Attics deconstructed taco. It was spicy and savory and delicious. Then I proceeded to piggy my way through cubanos and ribs and pulled pork and pork belly and chili cheese ramen (you read that right!) and deviled ham sammies and smores and so much more. Thank god I wore a stretchy dress.
Drinks: Every kind of wine — Texas and beyond — graced my lips this day. Usually more than once. The folks serving bubbles, crisp whites, therich reds, sake, cider, craft beer (hops n grain, jester king, etc) were generous and informed. Honest Tea helped me out mid rampage when I needed something more than a sample of wine to wash down the goodness.
Setting: Ceres Park. I’ve been here once but I didn’t know how perfect it could be. It’s just beautiful with a huge barn like structure set up to host the hundreds of folks. Dangling lights, strings of pretty paper ruffling in the breeze and the band. Oh the band! Not to loud, perfect for dancing, funny and fun.
The Austin Food and Wine Alliance put on one hell of an event. Well worth your price and get them early next year y’all. And bring a DD so you can get realllllll friendly with the wineries.

Wow — can you say pork food coma!!! That’s what I am currently experiencing — expending any energy I have left to write this Unilocal review! This was the first time I have been (the third annual) and honestly the first I ever heard of it. Shoutout to Sam C. for getting early bird tickets and taking me as her guest! With 25 food vendors and 16 wine, cider and craft brewery vendors, there was something here for all palettes. The presentation and offerings were creative and impressive. Good variety and such a pleasant atmosphere — perfect fall ATX day with nice live music, plenty of seating (covered and outdoors) and a friendly crew (I mean when you run into Unilocal all star community manager Kelly S. unplanned, you KNOW it has to be an event for the cool kids!). My top three food vendors were Jeffrey’s (delicious deconstructed smores with a chocolate bacon accouterments), Ramen Tatsu-​Ya (with their Ramen Chili) and El Alma Café y Cantina (pork taco). Thank you Austin Food and Wine Alliance for planning a fantastic Sunday fun-​day! AND, bonus, unlike other events in Austin that say no kids or no strollers, this one actually took it seriously (well, except for one kid who got snuck in and then got injured running around and taking a face-​plant into a picnic table)…I don’t mind kids, but if an event says it is not for children and won’t allow children or strollers inside, then they should stick to that rule!

Oink oink. hiccup. What a great event!!! Loved being out on the ranch and indulging in some wonderful Texas BBQ and wine.
But wait… That’s not it. It was much much more than just BBQ. How about Bacon and Sweet Potato ice-​cream? Or a deconstructed s’more with a chocolate bacon crisp on the side… I admit it, went back for seconds.
A green chip to vote on best food and pink for best wine. It was like being on a food network challenge show.
Pork tacos. pork ribs. And a delicious Ramen noodle chile…
So yes, I made a pig of myself at the wine and swine festival. And it was well worth it!

The 2^nd annual Wine & Swine Pig Roast was definitely as good as it gets! Everything about this event was planned and executed to perfection!
What I loved:
— The delicious pork dishes! These chefs went all out. The food was delicious and presentations were impressive.
— So many awesome wine and other vendors. The pours were amazingly generous!
— FREE, chilled water bottles throughout the grounds. Awesome!
— The limited number of tickets. The size of the crowd was perfect. The lines were never too long and it wasn’t overcrowded. It was perfect!
— Voting for fan favorite! That just makes it more fun.
— The location! Pioneer Farms was just a short drive from central Austin and was a great location. There was plenty of seating and the venue was large enough for the crowds to spread out.
— The live music!
— They had hayrides!
What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and it benefits a good cause! I will definitely return!
(For a point of reference, this event reminded me of how awesome the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival used to be before they started selling too many tickets and took away the audience voting. Please don’t change, Wine & Swine!)