A dazzling roster of more than a dozen celebrity winemakers, brew masters, distillers, chefs and entertainers, will converge in Miramar Beach to wine, dine, educate and entertain guests as part of the four-day celebration of wine during the 2015 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival held April 23-26 in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin.
The event is a fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. Coming in at No. 4, Destin Charity Wine Auction was recently named a “Top 10 charity Wine Auction” charity auction in the United States by Wine Spectator Magazine.
Building upon nearly 30 years of long-lasting relationships forged with the industry’s top winemakers and distributors, the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will help to shine a spotlight on the beach communities of idyllic South Walton in Northwest Florida.
Highlights of the area’s premier signature wine event centered on sipping, swirling and savoring more than 800 domestic and imported wines, including 216 medal winners, follows:
Celebrity Appearances
The star-studded celebrity roster includes winemakers, chefs, craft beer brew masters and other special guests who will be mixing, mingling and meeting with festival guests includes: Marc Perrin with Chateau de Beaucastel; Jean-Charles Boisset with Boisset Family Estates and La Famille des Grands Vins; Chef Gary Serafin with Emerald Coast Catering and The Craft Bar; Chef Laurent Deconinck of L’Oustalet; Chef Michel Cornu of Boisset Family Estates; David Blossman of Abita Brewing Company; Chef Yoshi Eddings with Harbor Docks; David Laird with The Balvenie Distillery; Andy McAlexander with Mac Farms; Bob Williamson with Ideology Cellars; Amy Watson with Macauley Vineyard; Jill and Allen Methven with Methven Family Vineyards; Sean Minor with Sean Minor Wines; Thomas Woodley with Woodward Canyon Vineyard and Wes Henderson with Angel’s Envy.
Craft Beer & Spirits Jam
On Friday night food and beverage industry “celebrities” representing some of the hottest breweries and happening distilleries from across the country will be pouring more than 100 different kinds of specialty craft beers and spirits samples in the Culinary Village. Along Eats Street, guests will be able to nibble a smorgasbord of savory small plate menu items prepared by a range of award-winning restaurants, eateries and food trucks including Another Broken Egg, Cabana Café, Cantina Laredo Mexican Gourmet, The Craft Bar, Long Leaf, The Marigny, Greek Gourmet, Roux 30A and Raw & Juicy. The event is made possible with generous support from the Abita Brewing Company.
Culinary Delights
Foodies will delight in the delicious dishes prepared by both local and celebrity chefs specially designed to pair with the impressive roster of imported and domestic wines being poured. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village, artfully orchestrated by local chef Gary Serafin, will include an array of food tastings that will both satisfy and surprise the palate. Culinary delights will include a Creamy Risotto with Roast Duck and Mushrooms and a traditional Tartiflette, a French potato, bacon and cheese dish. Also on the menu are artisan cheeses and Marcona almonds and olives by ANCO Fine Cheeses, sushi creations by Yoshi Eddings of Harbor Docks in Destin as well as gourmet olive oils and fresh nibbles harvested from the organic gardens of Mac Farms in Santa Rosa Beach. Foodies can also tuck into a series of educational tasting seminars and cooking exhibitions given by noted experts and celebrity chefs.
Wine & Food Tastings & Seminars
Throughout the Grand Tastings on Saturday and Sunday, head to the Savor South Walton Culinary Village to take in “celebrity” tasting seminars. Listen in to educational and informative seminars presented by wine star Marc Perrin with Chateau du Beaucastel, 1 p.m.; David Laird with Balvenie Single Malt Scotch, 2 p.m.; Pierre De Angostini from ANCO Fine Foods presenting “How to Select Cheese to Pair with Wine,” 3 p.m. Sunday Seminars include the “James Bond” of Napa Valley, Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Collection, 2 p.m.; Wes Henderson of Angel’s Envy Bourbon. Seminars are included in ticket price and seating is first come, first served.
Ticket Prices & Event Times
The Craft Beer & Spirits Jam kicks off the festival Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; the Grand Tastings are on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 for Friday; $85 for Saturday and Sunday; festival VIP Tickets are SOLD OUT. Savor South Walton Culinary Village events, Wine & Food Seminars and Nashville Songwriters performances are all part of the Grand Wine Tasting ticket price. To purchase tickets and view the full festival schedule visit www.sowalwine.com.