October 18th, 2023 – Nassau, Bahamas

Hundreds of visitors poured through the gates of The Retreat Garden for a celebration of culture and conservation at The Bahamas National Trust’s (BNT) 31st Annual Wine & Art Festival last weekend.

Over three decades, the prestigious Wine & Art Festival has become a community staple and the official kickstarter of the BNT’s much-anticipated fall event season. This year’s event featured a sampling of more than 60 wines from all over the world, premium champagne, and unlimited beer – courtesy of event partner and title sponsor Commonwealth Brewery Limited (CBL); as well as diverse culinary delights from food vendors and celebrity chef demonstrations; and a showcase of Bahamian talent, fine art, crafts, and other locally-made products from over 40 artists.

Patrons savoured and shopped from a vast portfolio of wine, art, and local products over the course of the three-day event – one of which was an exclusive BNT Members-Only Night. Expressions Entertainment provided live music and entertainment to an audience of locals and visitors, ranging from first-time attendees to longtime supporters. The return of the event’s signature Champagne Lounge offered guests a luxury experience by treating them to Moët Chandon champagne and champagne cocktails; and the Heineken Beer Garden Afterparty closed the event each night with unlimited Heineken Silver while Playhouse DJs played to a huge crowd.

For the first time, 700 Wines & Spirits’ on-site retail popup store provided patrons with the opportunity to purchase any of the wines featured at Wine & Art at a 20% discount, giving them the chance to take home their favourites from among the samples at an incredible price.

One of several annual events hosted by the BNT, Wine & Art is a celebration of The Bahamas’ natural and cultural heritage and an important fundraiser for the organisation. All proceeds directly support the management of Bahamian national parks – of which there are currently 33, covering more than two million acres of land and sea throughout The Bahamas.

In addition to supporting the environment, the Wine & Art Festival also supports the creative community and local small businesses. It provides a platform for upcoming as well as experienced artists to showcase and sell their work and reach new audiences.

Kimberly Knowles, BNT Events Coordinator, said: “We love seeing the crowds that come out to support our events. Wine & Art specifically is such an important contributor to the BNT’s conservation efforts and our mission to protect and manage The Bahamas’ unique national parks. Having hundreds support and enjoy this amazing celebration of culture and conservation makes hosting it so worthwhile and fulfilling. We thank our partners, sponsors, and the attendees for making Wine & Art a success, and we can’t wait to see the crowds at our next event, Jollification, in November.”

Wine & Art 2023 was sponsored by Commonwealth Brewery Limited; The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty; Auto Mall; SandDollar; SunCash; CBS Bahamas; The Current Art Gallery at Baha Mar; Atlantis; Nassau Paradise Island Promotional Board; Aliv; Bahamas Waste; Bahamia Rental; Expressions Entertainment; Caribbean Bottling Company; and Bahamas Ferries.

To learn more about the role the BNT plays in managing terrestrial and marine national parks, conserving wildlife, and informing environmental policy, please visit its website: www.bnt.bs and follow/subscribe to its various social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.