Miami has never been shy about excess. So where better for the Golden Vines, the world’s most exclusive three-day celebration of fine wine and rare spirits, to make its American debut? Exactly how exclusive are we talking? Tickets are $15,000 per person for the November 7–9 event.
RECOMMENDED: The best wine bars in Miami for solid sips, moody vibes and great tapas, too
Often called "the Oscars of the fine wine world," the Golden Vines isn’t just another vino festival. Think Michelin-starred dining in historic venues, intimate masterclasses with the world’s most legendary producers and enough rare pours to make a seasoned sommelier’s head spin.
Things kick off Friday with a suite of themed sessions, including “Iconic Women in Wine” and “South American All Stars.” The day ends in a gala at the Alfred I. DuPont Building, where dinner is served with once-in-a-lifetime bottles like Krug, Ridge Vineyards and Graham’s Port, plus a Sotheby’s live auction benefiting the Gérard Basset Foundation, dedicated to funding education and mentoring programs for young people in hospitality.
Saturday will take indulgence to new heights, starting with sponsor-hosted lunches that will feature producers like Château Lafite Rothschild and Dom Pérignon, with the evening dedicated to the Golden Vines Awards Gala at the Faena Forum. There, chef Kyle Connaughton (the three-Michelin-starred SingleThread) will present a mouth-watering menu paired with astonishing vintages, including Dom Pérignon 2008 Plénitude 2.
The grand finale on Sunday is when that $15,000 ticket price really starts to make sense. Guests can choose from a menu of decadent adventures: Would you like to spend the afternoon sipping Champagne alongside Aaron Paul’s caviar brand? Or perhaps you'd be happier boarding a private jet to the Exumas for a lunch from Chef Masayuki Komatsu of Ogawa Restaurant in Miami? You can always stay closer to home with an afternoon of rare watches and a lunch of white truffles and primo vino with Italian winery Masseto at master watchmaker F.P. Journe, or a meal with Artemis Domaines, Château Latour, and the largest collection of supercars in the U.S.
Those $15,000 tickets (80-percent of which is tax-deductible, FYI) also include VIP concierge service from Knightsbridge Circle, plus a bespoke Golden Vines suitcase to take home. Rare vintages amid Michele-starred meals, caviar, a private jet to the Bahamas and a suitcase? That $15,000 is looking more and more doable.