Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. is throwing open its doors next week for the third annual Wine and Dine event, a two-day fundraiser built around chef stations, wine pairings and a formal dinner for 150 guests, all in support of lung cancer research. The event runs Thursday, Nov. 12, and Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, bringing together winemakers, chefs and donors for an annual fundraiser supporting lung cancer research.
According to DC News Now, the event benefits lung cancer research through MedStar Health, with proceeds directed to work at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute. Head sommelier Winn Roberton announced the upcoming two-day gathering, and the outlet reports that Four Seasons has now partnered with MedStar Health on lung cancer research three times.
The first night is built for mingling: casual outdoor chef and winery stations where guests can taste dishes paired with wines and talk shop directly with the winemakers and cooks behind them, per the station's report. Those outdoor setups will be heated, and organizers are including a dedicated station for guests who want non-alcoholic options alongside the wine pours.
From Street-Side Tastings to a Five-Course Dinner
Friday night shifts gears entirely, transitioning into a formal five-course dinner that will seat 150 guests, with wine pairings selected for each course. The overall program folds in culinary sampling, wine pairings and cocktail presentations, all aimed at raising funds for cancer researchers, the same report notes. Laurent-Perrier serves as the house champagne for the weekend, and Virginia's Lost Mountain winery, based in Middleburg, is featured pouring a 2022 merlot-heavy blend.
Organizers also tossed in a bit of wine trivia for curious guests: the deep indentations found at the bottom of many wine bottles were historically designed to strengthen the glass structure, not to signal quality, according to DC News Now. Registration information for the event is available online by searching for the MedStar Health Wine and Dine event.
Where the Money Actually Goes
MedStar Health is specific about what Wine and Dine proceeds have paid for in years past. The health system says the event brings together culinary artistry for, in its words, “supporting innovative lung cancer research at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute,” according to MedStar Health. Philanthropy from the event has funded the salaries of two full-time clinical research coordinators, the health system says, and has enabled its continued participation in studies sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.
MedStar also credits event-driven giving with increasing access to cutting-edge treatments for patients who are historically underrepresented in clinical research. That kind of staffing and trial access matters in a city where the gaps in lung cancer care are measurable. The American Lung Association reports that 23.9% of lung cancer cases in the District of Columbia received no treatment at all, a rate significantly higher than the 21.0% recorded nationally.
A Mixed Picture on Local Lung Cancer Trends
The district's numbers aren't uniformly worse than the national picture. The American Lung Association reports D.C.'s lung cancer incidence rate at 44.7, significantly lower than the national rate of 52.8, and says the district's rate of new cases improved by 18% over the last five years. Early detection also looks roughly on par with the rest of the country, with 28.3% of district cases caught at an early stage compared with 28.1% nationally.
Screening rates tell a more hopeful story too, with 25.3% of those at high risk in D.C. getting screened versus 18.2% nationally, though the American Lung Association says that gap isn't statistically significant. The organization also notes that, as of August 2025, the District of Columbia had not required insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing for lung cancer. It adds that D.C. is one of 12 jurisdictions where lung cancer survival data isn't available because the district doesn't track cases after diagnosis, and reports smoking rates of 9.8% in D.C. and 11.4% nationally.
How This Year Compares to Last
Last year's fourth annual Wine and Dine, held Nov. 13-14, 2025, followed a similar outdoor-to-formal-dinner format. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts described that event's opening showcase as featuring premium chef action stations, passed hors d'oeuvres and wine and spirit tastings, followed by what it called an intimate, four-course seated Fine Wine and Celebrity Chefs Dinner with pairings curated by Company Fine Wine. Four Seasons said at the time that proceeds would benefit cancer research at MedStar Health, the same framing carried into this year's third edition, which expands to a five-course dinner for 150 guests.
