We Love to See It: The First Puerto Rico Wine and Food Festival Is Empowering Local Small Businesses and Highlighting Island Talent

We Love to See It: The First Puerto Rico Wine and Food Festival Is Empowering Local Small Businesses and Highlighting Island Talent
Credit: Puerto Wine and Food Festival

The Caribbean sun casts its golden glow over La Isla del Encanto, where palm trees sway in the warm breeze, and the ocean shimmers under blue skies. This setting, a vision of paradise, will soon host an unprecedented celebration of food and culture. For the first time in history, Puerto Rico welcomes the Wine and Food Festival, a global event that has brought together culinary masters from every corner of the world. The island’s rich heritage, flavors, and traditions will stand at the forefront, joined by an array of acclaimed chefs, mixologists, and sommeliers. 

What to Expect

San Juan’s La Concha Resort, an architectural icon along the coastline, serves as the heart of the four-day festival, which takes place from April 3 to 6, 2025. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company presents the event, with Visa Banco Popular as the official credit card sponsor. Tickets are now on sale for a gathering that promises not only world-class dining but also an exploration of the island’s gastronomic soul. Entrepreneur and restaurateur Robert Weakley, the festival’s creator, envisions it as both a showcase of Puerto Rico’s culinary excellence and a platform to celebrate the rising talent shaping its future. 

“Puerto Rico’s incredible culinary culture and heritage are at long last receiving global recognition,” says Weakley. “We are thrilled to spotlight the exceptional talent that makes this island a must-visit destination while welcoming some of the most renowned names in the culinary world to collaborate and create unforgettable experiences.” 

The festival’s schedule unfolds with an array of events designed to immerse guests in the flavors of Puerto Rico. Attendees will experience wine tastings, mixology seminars, and the Power Lunch Series, where top personalities pair with local chefs and sommeliers. Intimate, multi-course dinners will be hosted across the island, while larger gatherings, such as the Thursday Night Opening Reception, Barrio Bites, and Ritmo y Raíces, invite guests to explore the culinary landscape through dynamic, interactive experiences. The weekend culminates with La Gran Placita at Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, where more than 20 celebrated chefs will cook and share their dishes alongside wineries, mixologists, and sommeliers. 

A roster of culinary luminaries arrives in Puerto Rico for the occasion. Among them are Mario Pagán, Andrew Zimmern, Michael White, José Santaella, Anne Burrell, Antonia Lofaso, and Maneet Chauhan, joining a collective of more than 50 distinguished chefs. These names, known across the culinary world, will share their expertise, collaborate with local talent, and honor the island’s traditions through their craft. 

Philanthropy also plays a role in the festival’s mission, supporting locally sourced products such as coffee, produce, and artisanal goods while uplifting small businesses and farmers. The event’s nonprofit initiative, Puerto Rico Eats for Good, extends these efforts year-round, offering scholarships and career development opportunities to culinary professionals. 

Experience the Beauty of the First-Ever Wine and Food Festival in Puerto Rico

Tickets start at $125, with festival packages available online. Guests using a Visa Banco Popular Credit Card receive an exclusive 15 percent discount on all events. 

Puerto Rico, long known for its hospitality, music, and cuisine, steps onto the world’s culinary stage with an event that invites visitors to experience paradise through its flavors. The festival’s debut marks a moment in history, a celebration of tradition and innovation set against the backdrop of an island where the sun never fails to shine. 

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