This photo shows the Batalla de Vino (Spanish wine fight) in 2013. This year’s event is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at Francis Field. Contributed image
I’ve been asked to be a judge for the team competition of the Batalla de Vino (Spanish wine fight) on Sept. 13 at Francis Field, part of this year’s St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival. The festival includes fundraising events from Sept. 9-13 in various St. Augustine locations. See other “celebrity judges” below and more on the Batalla …
Judges
The judges for the team competition include Allie Olsen with Simply St. Augustine (www.simplystaugustine.com), Lura Readle-Scarpitti with Old City Life Magazine (oldcitylife.com), and Chad Light, a local re-eanctor who portrays Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, and me (Renee Unsworth of  totallystaugustine.com). A fifth judge will be added soon.
This is the biggest wine fight in American history — where squirting wine on strangers is the name of the game! Join participants willing to wear white and be squirted with red wine while decorating the white clothing of others. Wine squirters are provided for use to each participant.
The Batalla de Vino is scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 13 at Francis Field, 29 W. Castillo Drive, across from the parking garage in downtown St. Augustine. Batalla de Vino is literally translated as wine battle. The event will benefit Fresh Starts in the Culinary Arts at First Coast Technical College.
Team Competition
The batalla consists of two parts. It begins with a team competition where each team’s goal is to PROTECT THE KING OR QUEEN! Each team of five (men and/or women 21+ years old) will try to get the king or queen of the other teams as red with wine as possible while protecting its own king or queen. The team with the whitest-clothed king or queen at the end of the competition wins. The victorious team receives a $500 check to the charity of its choice.
The batalla team competition is a perfect team building activity for companies, corporations and organizations. It’s also a fun activity for clubs, sororities, fraternities and other groups. Space is limited for the batalla team competition … there are only 10 team spaces. Sign up teams by calling 904.209.4227 or register online here. Each team member will receive a bandanna, sunglasses and commemorative shirt — as well as the use of a wine squirter. Each team member also gets to participate in the individual battle after the team competition. Don’t forget to think of a catchy name for your team. The cost per team is $250.
Individual Battle
After the team competition is complete, it’s time for the individuals to take the field and squirt wine on complete strangers! The battle field has barrels of wine at each corner where participants can quickly reload the squirters to never miss a minute of the batalla. The cost per individual to participate is $10 in advance online or $20 on the day of the event. Each participant will receive keepsake protective sunglasses as well as the use of a wine squirter. “I survived the batallaâ€Â T-shirts will be available for $15 each.
Benefiting organization
All proceeds from the Grand Tasting benefit Fresh Starts in the Culinary Arts, a program that provides homeless people in St. Augustine with relevant training and certifications that make them immediately employable after graduating from the program in the food service industry. Other wine festival events include a benefit lunch, grand tasting, and Vine Veritas (recipes & pairings). For details, go to spanishwinefestival.com
Here’s a video clip about the event:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=336717919837050&set=vb.191641131011397&type=2&theater
