Tribute Dinner

Each year, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival® pays tribute to leaders in the wine and food world for their contributions to the industry, the Festival and Florida International University. The Tribute Dinner at which these awards are presented is among the Festival’s most popular event. We raise a glass to all Festival honorees to date!

Dominique Crenn
2025 Honoree
Chef and Owner of Atelier Crenn

Gérard Bertrand
2025 Honoree
CEO, Gérard Bertrand Group & Acclaimed Vintner

Past Festival Honorees

  • 2024 Honorees

    Massimo Bottura
    Chef, Author and Founder of Food for Soul

    Luca Garavoglia
    Chairman, Campari Group

  • 2023 Honorees

    Alex Guarnaschelli
    Chef, Cookbook Author and Television Personality

    Alexandre Ricard
    Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Pernod Ricard

  • 2022 Honorees

    Guy Fieri
    Chef, Restaurateur, Author, Television Host and Producer

    William J. Deutsch
    Founder of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

    Peter Deutsch
    CEO of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

  • 2021 Honorees

    Giada De Laurentiis
    Chef, TV Personality and Restaurateur

    Eduardo M. Sardiña
    Former President & Chief Executive Officer of Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.

  • 2020 Honorees

    Jim Clerkin
    President of Strategic Development and Advisor to the CEO, Moët Hennessy

    Marcus Samuelsson
    Award-winning chef, restauranteur, author and co-owner of Red Rooster Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown

  • 2019 Honorees

    Rhonda Carano
    Owner & Chief Operating Officer, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery

    Nancy Silverton
    Chef, Restaurateur and Co-owner, Pizzeria Osteria, Mozza, Mozza2GO, and Chi Spacca

  • 2018 Honorees

    Michael Clarke
    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Treasury Wine Estates

    Bobby Flay
    Chef, Restaurateur, Cookbook Author and Media Personality

  • 2017 Honorees

    Jean-Claude Rouzaud
    Chairman of the Board, Champagne Louis Roederer Group

    Frédéric Rouzaud
    President & CEO, Champagne Louis Roederer Group

    José Andrés
    Internationally-recognized culinary innovator, author, educator, television personality, humanitarian and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup

  • 2016 Honorees

    Richard Sands
    Chairman, Constellation Brands

    Rob Sands
    President & CEO, Constellation Brands

    Jonathan Waxman
    Celebrated American chef, restauranteur and author

  • 2015 Honorees

    Juan Mari Arzak
    Celebrated chef and acclaimed pioneer of Basque cuisine

    Ted Baseler
    President & CEO, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

  • 2014 Honorees

    Danny Meyer
    Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Union Square Hospitality Group

    Chuck Wagner
    Owner & Winemaker, Caymus Vineyards, and Founder, Wagner Family of Wine

  • 2013 Honorees

    Nobu Matsuhisa
    World-renowned chef and restaurateur, 2013 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Tribute Dinner Honoree

    Christophe Navarre
    CEO Möet Hennessy, 2013 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Tribute Dinner Honoree

  • 2012 Honorees

    Piero Antinori
    “World-renowned Italian winemaker,” 2012 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Tribute Dinner Honoree

    Charlie Trotter
    “Legendary” restaurateur, 2012 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Tribute Dinner Honoree

  • 2011 Honorees

    Alain Ducasse
    2011 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Tribute Dinner Honoree

  • 2010 Honorees

    Burt Cabañas
    Chairman and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality International, FIU School of Hospitality Management Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award

    Daniel Boulud
    2010 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Tribute Dinner Honoree

  • 2009 Honorees

    The Wines and Foods of Spain in the presence of
    Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain

    Emeril Lagasse
    2009 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Tribute Dinner Honoree

  • 2008 Honorees

    Richard E. Rivera
    Then Principal of the restaurant management and development firm Rubicon Enterprises, FIU School of Hospitality Management Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award

    Jamie Oliver
    Recognized for his work on improving the quality of meals offered in the UK school system, South Beach Wine & Food Festival Global Citizen Award

    Mr. and Mrs. José Ferrer Sala
    Honorary Chairman of Spain’s Freixenet Group, Southern Wine & Spirits of America Lifetime Achievement Award

    Jean-Georges Vongerichten
    2008 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Tribute Dinner Honoree

  • 2007 Honorees

    Donald E. Lefton
    Then Founder and Co-Principal of The Continental Companies, FIU School of Hospitality Management Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award

    Martha Stewart
    South Beach Wine & Food Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

    Peter and Robert Mondavi
    Winemakers, Southern Wine & Spirits of America Lifetime Achievement Award

    Eric Ripert and Maguy Le Coze
    Tribute to their restaurant, Le Bernardin

  • 2006 Honorees

    Regynald Washington
    Then Vice President and General Manager Disney Regional Entertainment (ESPN Zone) and former Chairman of the National Restaurant Association, FIU School of Hospitality Management Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award

    Maida Heatter
    Prize-winning confectioner, South Beach Wine & Food Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

    Baron Eric de Rothschild
    World-renowned winemaker, Southern Wine & Spirits of America Lifetime Achievement Award

    Ferran Adrià
    World-renowned Spanish chef, known for his restaurant El Bulli which is located along Spain’s Catalan coast

  • 2005 Honorees

    Richard J. Schnieders
    Then Chairman and CEO of SYSCO Corp., FIU School of Hospitality Management Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award

    Jonathan Tisch
    Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, South Beach Wine & Food Festival Voss Artesian Water Heirloom Award

    Francis Ford Coppola
    Winemaker and Oscar-winning producer, director and writer, Southern Wine & Spirits of America Lifetime Achievement Award

  • 2004 Honorees

    Ralph Brennan
    Then President of the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, FIU School of Hospitality Management Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award

    Jeffrey and Linda Chodorow
    Restaurant pioneers of China Grill Management, South Beach Wine & Food Festival Voss Artesian Water Heirloom Award

    Angelo Gaja
    Then President and Owner of Gaja Winery, Southern Wine & Spirits of America Lifetime Achievement Award

  • 2003 Honorees

    Joseph P. Micatrotto
    Then Chairman, President and CEO of Buca, Inc., FIU School of Hospitality Management Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award

    Alice Waters
    Known for her creation of the Edible Schoolyard program and leader of the international non-profit Slow Food, South Beach Wine & Food Festival Heirloom Award

    Colin Campbell
    Then Managing Director of Sales for Moët-Hennessy, Southern Wine & Spirits of America Lifetime Achievement Award

  • 2002 Honorees

    Robert Mondavi Family
    Renowned family in the wine industry, Southern Wine & Spirits Lifetime Achievement Award

    Joe R. Lee
    CEO of Darden Restaurants, FIU School of Hospitality Management Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award

Photos from past events

  • Chef poses with students
  • Chef with a group of students
  • Chef with a small group of students
  • Students with staff posing for photo
  • Hospitality school dean with guests
  • Dinner event space with many guests socializing