Celebrated American Chef Charlie Palmer to be Honored

Celebrated American Chef Charlie Palmer to be Honored as Chef de Cuisine at the 27th Annual Naples Winter Wine Festival on January 29-31, 2027

The Naples Children Foundation (NCF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), today announced that celebrated American Chef Charlie Palmer, the name behind dozens of award-winning restaurants and notable hotels across the country, will be honored as Chef de Cuisine at the 27th annual NWWF on January 29-31, 2027.

Palmer burst onto the highly competitive New York dining scene in the mid-1980s as executive chef of Brooklyn’s legendary The River Café. At just 28 years old, he opened his flagship restaurant, Aureole, earning multiple Michelin Stars and two prestigious James Beard Awards.

Since the beginning of his career, Palmer has earned critical acclaim for his signature Progressive American cooking, a style built on rambunctious flavors and unexpected combinations with a deep and lasting infusion of classical French technique. Among his other innovative restaurants are Akoya and Aperibar in New York City; various locations of Charlie Palmer Steak; Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar in Napa, California; and Dry Creek Kitchen in Sonoma County, California.

Palmer also is co-founder and chief executive officer of Appellation Hotels, a culinary-first, approachable luxury hotel brand with a multitude of projects currently in development, including the newly opened Appellation Healdsburg, Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa, The MOHI by Appellation, Appellation Petaluma, and Appellation Pacific Grove.

“The Naples Winter Wine Festival is renowned as one of the world’s premier charity wine auctions, and I am sincerely honored to have been selected as the 2027 Chef de Cuisine,” Palmer said. “Having participated in the Festival five times previously as a volunteer chef, I have seen first-hand the lasting impact this event has on the most vulnerable children in the local community.”

Palmer’s upbringing on a farm in upstate New York, along with his education in various kitchens in France and at the Culinary Institute of America, provided him with the acumen to form this unique style and ultimately develop the Charlie Palmer Collective, starting in 1988 when he made a significant commitment to creating dishes featuring regional American ingredients at Aureole.

Palmer’s legacy spans culinary excellence and industry leadership and mentorship. He has been honored as “Best Chef in America” by the James Beard Foundation (1997), inducted into both the Gaming Hall of Fame (2011) and National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2017), and is a former chairman of the Culinary Institute of America’s Board of Trustees (2013–2016).

A frequent television guest and author of six cookbooks, Palmer balances his storied career with his roles as a devoted grandfather, father and husband, splitting his time between New York and his home in Healdsburg, California. He also remains actively involved in his joint venture wine, Charlie Clay Pinot Noir, made with acclaimed Sonoma County winemaker Clay Mauritson.

Palmer is a dedicated philanthropist, having served for 25 years on the board of Citymeals on Wheels and as the founder of The Palmer Family Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) championing the next generation of hospitality and culinary professionals. His annual food and wine event, Pigs & Pinot, is a celebration of award-winning Pinot Noirs and heritage pork from Sonoma County that supports wine and culinary scholarships along with community and education organizations.

“Charlie Palmer is one of the most recognizable and influential names in the food and wine industry,” said Kelley Bailey, 2027 NWWF Chef Committee Co-Chair. “An internationally celebrated chef and restaurateur, he joins an impressive list of prestigious winemakers, chefs and sommeliers, setting the stage for a weekend of unique, one-of-a-kind food and wine experiences.”

The 2027 NWWF comes following the successful celebration earlier this year at which over $30 million was raised. Spanning three days, the Festival will once again showcase dozens of award-winning chefs and acclaimed vintners who generously donate their time and talents at intimate private dinners throughout Naples, plus an incredible live auction with one-of-a-kind auction lots.

This year’s theme “Hope Sings” together with the tagline “A brighter tomorrow takes the stage.” celebrates the idea that when a community lifts its voice in support of children, hope doesn’t just exist—it resonates, it inspires and it leads to a brighter future. Festival supporters, vintners, chefs and donors will create a chorus of generosity to transform the lives of children in need.

Ticket packages for the Naples Winter Wine Festival are sold for the entire weekend and start at $17,500 per couple for a Double Magnum package and $40,000 for two couples to experience a Jeroboam package. For further details, please visit: napleswinefestival.com/about-the-festival.

About Naples Children Foundation
The Naples Children Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, creates transformational change and improves educational, emotional and health outcomes for vulnerable children in Collier County. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCF has impacted nearly 90 of the most effective nonprofits in the local community, providing 385,000 children with the services and resources they need to succeed. Through bold investments, collaborative partnerships, and data-driven solutions, NCF supports programs that ensure every child can thrive. NCF’s unique approach, which bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community—one issue at a time.

About Naples Winter Wine Festival

The Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in elegant, private homes and other landmark settings across Naples and are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised more than $366 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Collier County.

For more information on the Naples Children Foundation or Naples Winter Wine Festival, contact Lisa Juliano, SVP, NWWF & Event Production, at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.