MIssion
The festival's mission is to connect St. Augustine to our city’s Spanish history through a series of special events that feature Spanish wine, cuisine and culture. The festival serves to raise money for local charities, provide memorable experiences for visitors, foster international economic development, and enrich the quality of life in our community.
about
St. Augustine history encompasses many cultures and ethnicities, but our primary history involves Spanish exploration and colonization. When Pedro Menéndez and the first 800 European settlers landed on our shore nearly 454 years ago, his ships carried survival provisions. Among his most treasured stores was Spanish wine.
Spain has cultivated wine grapes for more than 4,000 years. The Romans fell in love with Spanish wine and exported it throughout the Roman Empire. Spanish wine is the most popular wine in Europe and the fastest-growing segment of the American wine market. The St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival is an opportunity to promote our city regionally, nationally and internationally, to help local charities and connect with our founders through products that are as relevant today as they were when the early Spanish explorers came to America.
Spanish culture, music, food and wine defy space and time. The festival and all of its events are designed to promote St. Augustine as the Spanish Wine Capitol of America and to facilitate historical-destination tourism.
Board of directors
Joseph Boles, President
Joe, attorney and former mayor of the City of St. Augustine, was asked to join the board in 2015 following his many years of service to the city and its residents and businesses. Joe, who moved to St. Augustine as a youngster, has long been involved in local charity work and served on numerous boards within the community. Joe’s many years of service to the community, his passion for helping others and his lifelong connections to and friendships with local residents make him an ideal board member. It doesn’t hurt that he is a prolific consumer of fine foods and beverages!
James (Jim) W. Babcock
Jim has been a resident of St. Johns County for more than 30 years and is one of the original members of the board. While Jim’s career revolved around logistics and the construction and lease of millions of square feet of warehouse space across the country, his love of food and wine made him a logical choice as a founding board member. Jim previously owned and operated two restaurants in St. Augustine and is a collector and connoisseur of fine wine. Since retirement, Jim has focused on philanthropy as well as educational and artistic endeavors.
Shannon Spalding
Shannon is originally from Charleston, SC but residing in Jacksonville for the last 30 years. She is currently the North Florida Sales Manager with Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits and has been working for them for 13 years. Shannon has assisted in executing the Spanish Wine Festival for 12 years and has a passion for Spanish Wines. Through her position at Southern Glazers she is able to participate and provide support to over 100 charity events each year spanning all of North East Florida. She has a 5-year-old son and enjoys fishing both for leisure as well as competitively.
Harold Weisstein
Harold, originally from Jacksonville, has been on the board since the inception of the Spanish Wine and Food Festival. He was with Southern Glazer Wine and Spirits for 41 years until his retirement in 2018. Having lived in the Panhandle of Florida for 20 years, he was instrumental in development of the Sandestin Wine and Food Festival as well as the Seaside Red Wine Festival and Seaside Spring Wine Festival over that time. Harold also served on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Florida Chapter of Big Brothers and Big Sisters upon returning to the North Florida area in 2003. He loves giving back to the community especially in the education of fine wine and foods.