A five-course dinner pairing wines from five Mediterranean countries with chef-curated dishes will cost Lakewood Ranch diners $125 per person when GROVE hosts "A Taste of the Med" on Friday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. in its ballroom at 10670 Boardwalk Loop.

Wine professional Courtney Cooper, a Bradenton-based sales consultant at Winebow Fine Wine & Spirits, will guide guests through selections from Spain, Greece, France, Lebanon and Italy, explaining each region and the reasoning behind the pairings, according to Bradenton Magazine.

The evening opens with doors at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception with hors d'oeuvres at 6:45 p.m. Introductions begin at 7 p.m., with the first seated course arriving shortly after.

What's on the menu

The reception course draws from Catalonia, Spain: Los Dos Cava Brut paired with Marcona almond and Manchego gougères, whipped goat cheese crostini with fig and pistachio, and crispy jamón and melon skewers with sherry gastrique.

From there, the menu moves to a charred octopus and Greek citrus salad paired with a 2025 Papagiannakos Assyrtiko, then seared Gulf shrimp Provençal alongside Maison Mirabeau "Pure" Rosé. The main course features spiced lamb loin and braised shoulder croquette matched with a 2018 Château Musar Rouge from Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Dessert closes with dark chocolate olive oil cake and a 2024 Li Veli Primitivo "Orion" from Puglia.

Seating and logistics

Seats are limited.

Community-style tables allow Cooper to move through the room and interact with guests one-on-one, according to the event listing on lakewoodranch.com. Guests purchasing multiple seats in one transaction will be seated together.

Tickets are $125 plus tax and a 20% service charge. GROVE may release additional seats based on demand. Cancellations require 72 hours' notice for a full refund.

GROVE's wine program earned Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for the third consecutive year in July. Director of marketing Claudia Potes said the dinner brings together five wine regions in a single evening and gives guests a chance to try something new.

Tickets and details are available at grovelwr.com/events or by calling 941-893-4321.