Fun and glamour of the disco era comes to Nashville’s Ultimate Wine & Food Weekend
January 5, 2026 (Nashville, TN) — Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend returns February 26-28, 2026. This unparalleled three-day charity wine auction event will bring the fun and glamour of the disco era to Nashville, featuring over 32 wineries from the West Coast.
“What I love most about Pairings is that every year, there’s something new and exciting for every wine enthusiast,” Nashville Wine Auction President/CEO Loren Chumley says. “Whether it is something eye-opening or new at a private dinner, the walk around tasting or the Saturday night dinner and auction, guests are guaranteed a memorable experience.”
Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $43 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to cancer research, innovative patient treatment, and caregiver/patient support. Pairings is one of Nashville Wine Auction’s signature events, bringing together the wine community to fund the fight against cancer.
Nashville Wine Auction is thrilled to welcome renowned Guest Chef Dustin Valette, Chef/Owner of Valette, The Matheson, Roof 106, and Valette Wines, to prepare an exquisite 5-course meal for Saturday evening to top off the three-day event. In addition to his restaurants, Chef Valette is a vintner who partners with a remarkable lineup of world-class winemakers to craft the Valette Wines portfolio. Known for his creative California cuisine and community spirit, Chef Valette continues to celebrate the connection between land, food, and people.
Pairings will be co-chaired by long-time Nashville Wine Auction supporters Carrie Kitko & Matt Leavitt and Jennifer & Chris Cordes. Carrie, who served as Nashville Wine Auction Board Chair in 2025, and Matt bring warmth, generosity, and heart to everything they do. Jennifer, who also serves on our Board of Directors, and Chris share that same spirit of community and philanthropy.
“It is my honor to be one of the co-chairs of this year’s Pairings: Solid Gold. This will be an absolutely amazing weekend filled with great wines, delicious food and fabulous friends, new and old,” Kitko says. “Each and every one of us have personal stories about how our lives have been impacted by a loved one who was diagnosed with cancer. Let their memories be a blessing and inspire your heart of gold to give generously to fund our fight against cancer. With your generous support attending the events and bidding in the auction, you can have a major impact on Middle Tennessee organizations supporting research as well as patient and caregiver resources. I hope you can come and help us set a new gold standard.”
Pairings Weekend consists of three exciting nights of wine-focused events.
Private Vintner Dinners – Thursday, February 26
Private Vintner Dinners take place in private homes and restaurants throughout Nashville. More than a dozen Nashville chefs volunteer their time this evening to curate cuisine paired with wines from our featured vintners. Tickets for these dinners are $375 per person and go on sale January 6, 2026.
Featured vintners for Thursday’s dinners include: Aperture Cellars, CHEV Wines, CIRQ Estate, Clos Solène Winery, Col Solare, Covert Wines, Dakota Shy Winery, Domaine de la Rivière, Hyde
de Villaine, Innumero, Kelly Fleming Wines, L’Aventure Winery, Limerick Lane Cellars, Linne Calodo, Lombardi Wines, Nysa Vineyard, Outpost Wines, PATEL Napa Valley, Peay Vineyards, RAEN Winery, Ramey Wine Cellars, Small Vines, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, The Setting Wines, Stonestreet Vineyards, Valette Wines and Zena Crown Vineyards.
Featured chefs for Thursday’s dinners include: Lockeland Table Culinary Team; Chef Alyssa Gangeri of Butter Milk Ranch; Chef Burke Conley of Cater615; Chef Kristin Beringson of Henley; Chef Tony Galzin of Nicky’s Coal Fired; Chef Brack May of Marsh House; Chef Dustin Valette of Valette; Chef Joe Townsend of Chef Joe’s; Chef Bryan O’Kelly of Husk; Chef Vincent Guiheneuf of My French Chef and Kristen Winston Catering; Chef Kevin Ramquist of Unicorn Catering; and David Leathers of Foodsmith.
Wined Up! & Collectors’ Showcase – Friday, February 27
Wine lovers are invited to experience Wined Up! & Collectors’ Showcase, Nashville’s premier upscale wine-tasting celebration. The evening brings together more than 32 acclaimed West Coast vintners for a lively night of exceptional pours, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a wine-focused Silent Auction.
Wined Up! begins at 6:00 pm and offers guests the opportunity to sip and swirl exceptional wines at this lively walk-around tasting while mingling with the vintners and bidding on the Silent Auction. Tickets are $195 per person.
Featured vintners for Wined Up! include: Aperture Cellars, Arrington Vineyards, CHEV Wines, CIRQ Estate, City Winery, Clos Solène Winery, Col Solare, Compris Vineyard, Dakota Shy Winery, DuMOL Winery, Hyde de Villaine, Innumero, Kelly Fleming Wines, Limerick Lane Cellars, Linne Calodo, Lombardi Wines, Nysa Vineyard, PATEL Napa Valley, Peay Vineyards, RAEN Winery, Small Vines, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, The Setting Wines, Three Sticks Wines, Valette Wines and WillaKenzie Estate.
For collectors seeking an elevated experience, the Collectors’ Showcase offers early access beginning at 5:30 pm in a more intimate, private upstairs setting until 7:45 pm. Designed specifically for serious wine enthusiasts, this tasting experience features a curated selection of rare, limited-production, and collectible wines available only in the Collectors’ Showcase and not on the
main tasting floor. Guests will taste distinctive offerings from vintners representing CIRQ Estate, Col Solare, Covert Estate, Hyde de Villaine, Kelly Fleming Wines, L’Aventure Winery, Outpost Wines, Ramey Wine Cellars, and Stonestreet Vineyards. Collectors’ Showcase tickets include full access to Wined Up! and are extremely limited, priced at $325 per person.
Pairings Dinner & Live Auction – Saturday, February 28
The weekend’s highlight for many is the Pairings Dinner and Live Auction, which will take place on Saturday, February 28 at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Guests will indulge in a five-course gourmet dinner featuring West Coast wines while raising their paddles in the always-exciting Live Auction. Each course of the Pairings dinner offers a carefully prepared “Pairing” created by Chef Valette.
Guests are encouraged to enjoy the wine available at each table, graciously donated and presented by winemakers including Gran Moraine, Peay Vineyards, Innumero, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Clos Solène Winery.
The event starts at 5:45 pm with a Wine Reception and hors d’oeuvres, and the Dinner and Live Auction starts at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $375 per person. During the reception, featured wineries will include CHEV Wines, Dakota Shy Winery, DuMOL Winery, Hyde de Villaine, L’Aventure Winery, Limerick Lane Cellars, Nysa Vineyard, Ramey Wine Cellars, The Setting Wines and Three Sticks Wines.
Pairings sponsors confirmed at this time include Amy & Brannan Atkinson Giving Fund, Clinical Solutions Pharmacy, Husch Blackwell, The Navin Group, Parker’s Paws, Tennessee Oncology, Maryland Farms Wine & Spirits, and Clear 360.
Sponsorships are still available and may be secured by emailing info@nashvillewineauction.com.
Tickets are on sale now for Wined Up! and Pairings here. For more information, go to nashvillewineauction.com/pairings/.
ABOUT THE NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION
Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. In 2026, Nashville Wine Auction will celebrate Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend on February 26 – 28 and the 47th Annual l’Eté du Vin on July 30 – August 1 at JW Marriott. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $43 million for
organizations whose purpose is directly related to cutting-edge research, innovative treatment, and family/patient/caregiver support. www.NashvilleWineAuction.com
NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION BENEFICIARIES
American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation, Blood Cancer United, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, The Heimerdinger Foundation, HopeKids, Inc. Nashville General Hospital Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Survivor Fitness Foundation, and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
