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Wine Wednesday – A Family Affair

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Story by Sarah Murphy Robertson

For five generations, Marc Perrin’s family has enjoyed the finesse and the art of wine making while always taking the business of running their treasured vineyards very seriously. Marc, along with his brothers and cousins, ensure Famille Perrin is always forward thinking while staying close to tradition.

Famille Perrin is the top organic wine grower of the Southern Rhône Valley and they are steadfast in their commitment to organic viticulture. Marc’s grandfather was Jacque Perrin, a well-respected winemaker who was one of the first to employ organic practices in his vineyards. Jacque held a real respect for the role of terroir and he embraced the significance of organic ways of thinking back in the 1960’s.

Winemaker Marc Perrin shares insight into his family's winemaking strategy.
Winemaker Marc Perrin shares insight into his family’s winemaking strategy.

Marc recognizes his role of creating a legacy for the next generation. He knows the vines he cultivates now and the wine he makes today will fuel and feed his children and the next generations of Perrins. He is reverent with this sentiment and his role as a current patriarch.

In an effort to branch out, in 2013 he began a new partnership with celebrity superstars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the creation of a premiere rosé wine. The Pitt-Jolies purchased the Chateau Miraval estate in Provence and sought out the Perrin family to help establish a winner. After their careful collaboration, Wine Spectator and Decanter gave first their first vintage of rosé rave reviews. Wine Spectator listed it as the only rosé of the best 100 wines of 2013. It is an organic blend of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, and Rolle grapes and is exquisitely well rounded.

Rosés have sometimes gotten a bad reputation as many can be overly sweet. A great rosé, according to Marc, is first and foremost well balanced and on the dryer side. His chef, Laurent DeConinck agrees and creates menus to highlight the delicate peach, berry, and floral notes to Miraval. Chef DeConinick praises this wine’s versatility and comments in France people drink it with foods from breakfast to dinner and all meals in between. He recommends a pairing with an Asian-influenced salmon: marinated lightly with a little fresh ginger, soy sauce, and olive oil. The visual link between the pink of the wine and the fish adds to its allure.

Marc Perrin is also serious about giving back and his philanthropic efforts are impressive. At the 2015 Destin Charity Wine Auction, the highest grossing lot was a trip to Château de Beaucastel, donated by Perrin. It included a stay at the Beaucastel guest house, exclusive wine tours, and a rare VIP tour of Chateau Miraval tasting room. His generosity will impact children in need in the South Walton area for years to come.

As you can imagine, Marc Perrin’s world unequivocally revolves around wine. He enjoys buying cases of a new favorite and sharing those bottles with his wine lover friends. As the years pass by, these wines as well as the friendships age, evolve, and shift. There is certainly a special parallel to this lovely tradition Marc keeps. Famille Perrin is a deep rooted institution who is still continuing to flourish.

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Tasting Triumph

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Story by Sarah Murphy Robertson

South Walton hosted a diversely rich and exceptional experience this weekend as both visitors and locals were drawn to one of our area’s premiere events. The 2015 South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival virtually overflowed with culinary camaraderie, education, philanthropic feats, and let’s not forget the fantastic wine and food themselves!


To wine aficionados and novices alike, the wine celebrities at this year’s festival were magnetic. With knowledge, grace, and enthusiasm in spades, both Marc Perrin and Jean-Charles Boisset charmed the crowds and brought a level of sophistication and expertise to the event. Several unique seminars were offered Saturday and Sunday, much to the delight of true wine enthusiasts. The thought-provoking sessions touched upon the art of family wine making, cheese and wine pairings, comparing wines from two sides of the world: France and California, and bonus discussions highlighting craft scotch and bourbon production and distillery.


The festival’s lively, joyful music erupting from a talented Nashville Songwriters showcase definitely set the stage, so to speak. The rain stayed away and guests were gifted cool gulf breezes as they sipped, chatted, and tapped their toes to the melodies. The resulting vibe was carefree and jovial; with everyone in high spirits.


Established in 2005, the tenth annual Destin Charity Wine Auction dinner Saturday evening was the crown jewel of this amazing weekend. With aspirations of reaching the coveted milestone of ten million dollars in this tenth year, hardworking organizers and volunteers went above and beyond to ensure the event was flawless. Guests were energetic and engaged in the cause of supporting 14 children’s charities and within a few short hours over $2.3 Million was raised! Trips to famed French wineries or the stunning British Virgin Islands, one of a kind artwork, and case lots of rare wine were auctioned off to this dynamic and dedicated crowd. The atmosphere was aglow with smiles, cheers, music and confetti. It was a night of achievement for all the generous benefactors and the resulting benefiting kids in need.


Of course among all this positive energy wine and spirits poured from nearly one hundred vendors. Guests enjoyed exquisite sips from every varietal and regional imaginable. Champagne Lane was appropriately effervescent and the Savor South Walton Tasting Village housed food vendors providing delicious tastes of treats such as expertly crafted sushi, creamy roasted duck risotto, and peppery arugula and fresh parmesan salad.

The weekend was a memorable experience for anyone involved and as the French would say of a wildly successful endeavor, this year’s South Walton Wine and Food Festival was a true “Tour de Force!”

Photography and Video by Phil Heppding

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Wine Wednesday on 30a

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Story by Sarah Murphy Robertson

In keeping with April’s theme of bringing some unique insight in the upcoming South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival, enjoy our latest installment of Wine Wednesday on 30a.

South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival is excited to announce Marc Perrin of Château de Beaucastel Wines will be joining this year’s festival. Marc is a fifth generation wine maker whose family revolutionized the industry and he has carried on this storied tradition while also gaining celebrity-status working with Hollywood elite like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The Perrin family has become the largest owner of vineyards in France’s Rhone Valley and they consider winemaking a true lifestyle and an art form as well as a business.

The Perrin name as associated with wine dates back to 1909 and represents a philosophy to winemaking that is both new and innovative while also first and foremost honoring tradition. Marc Perrin is grandson to Jacque Perrin, a talented winemaker who was one of the first to employ organic practices in his vineyards. Jacque held a real respect for the earth and the soil and he embraced the importance and value to organic ways of thinking long before it was a modern trend.

Marc Perrin has eagerly followed his grandfather’s path and has now also formed a partnership with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who own Miraval vineyards in Provence, France. Together they created Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé. It will be available to sample at the festival and South Walton’s wine lovers will enjoy firsthand this charismatic, aromatic, and dry rosé wine. As an added treat, food pairings created by renown Chef Laurent Deconinck of Gigondas, France will be available. And wine collecting enthusiasts can purchase their own bottles of this favorite label.

South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival will showcase 800 plus domestic and imported wines and in addition to wine tastings, guests will enjoy food pairings, seminars, and wonderful live entertainment. To purchase tickets or to see the full festival schedule, visit www.sowalwine.com.

Photo courtesy of South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival