south walton beaches wine and food festival

April 26, 2022

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival: Cheers to 10 years!

Celebration returns to streets of Grand Boulevard after two-year hiatus

By Michelle Farnham
April 24, 2023

MIRAMAR BEACH – Like a fine wine aging in the cellar, South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival organizers had an extra two years to plan and improve the 10th annual celebration. The speed with which tickets sold out for the 2022 event showed just how ready people were to pop the cork!

Friday fun

Friday night’s Craft Beer & Spirits Jam April 22 welcomed guests to the streets of Grand Boulevard with 71 booths of beer, booze and bites from near and far. Roux 30A plated pork shank crepes, crawfish beignets came from Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster Bar, and smoked wings from the upcoming Beach Camp Brew Pub.

New this year, the Golden Shaker Award competition pitted 13 Panhandle bartenders against one another. In the gin category, Justin Wilson of Down Island Gulf Seafood took the prize with his drink, The Rite of Spring, featuring Bluecoat American Dry Gin. Representing the tequila division, Corey Jordan of Shades Bar & Grill brought the prize with The Terroir, made with Tequila Ocho Plata.

The big winner of the night was Michael Jones representing Craft Bar, who captured Best Whiskey Cocktail, Best of Show and the People’s Choice Award with his original concoction. Widow Jane Applewood Rye was paired with a cardamom apricot jam, lemon juice, orange peel simple syrup, and aquafaba, sprayed with pear brandy.

“I opened up my fridge to find out what I was going to do and the apricot jam was right there,” Jones said of his initial inspiration. “People know we’re Craft Bar and we make wonderful cocktails, and this is an opportunity for us to show we’re in the forefront.”

Up for consideration from Marchesi Antinori was the Chianti Classico Peppoli 2019.

Saturday sampling

The party started at 1 p.m. with the opening of 600 bottles of wine, assorted beer and spirits, Eats Street, the Minuty Rosé Tent, and the Culinary Village hosted by Wine World Restaurants’ culinary director, Chef Scott Plumley.

Under the big tent, Plumley presented lamb ragout with polenta, rock shrimp with spring pea risotto, and chocolate espresso panna cotta with caramel crunch, to name just a few.

Those wanting to take a deeper dive could enjoy two tasting seminars, starting with “Taste of Santa Barbara” with Brewer-Clifton and Cambria wines, led by Greg Brewer and Jill Russell, alongside cheese pairings from Nathan Aldridge of the Institut Du Fromage.

Later in the day, eighth-generation Beam distiller Freddie Noe Jr. presented the rich history of his family’s whiskey legacy, while offering pours from Knob Creek and Basil Hayden.

Champagne — Philippe Andre and Oyku Saran discussed champagne, including the ideal glass size.

Sunday sunshine

Those ready to do it all again Sunday were treated to a fresh lineup of seminars, kicked off by “Bubbles, Bubbles & More Bubbles” with Philippe Andre and Oyku Saran.

Among the four champagne pours, guests were able to taste the Rare Millésime 2008 Infinite, which retails for $211.99 at 97 points.

“We’re only importing about 2,000 cases of this per year,” Andre admitted. “This is a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes only. It is the epitome of rare.”

Window Jane bourbon — Life is good with limited-release Widow Jane bourbon in your glass!

To close out the weekend, Lisa Wicker, head distiller of Widow Jane Distillery, held a meet-and-greet while offering samples of their 10- and 15-year bourbons, the latter of which retails for $225.

She explained her love of experimentation and blending, including the use of toasted applewood staves sourced from Minnesota.

“I’ve found if you use a flowering treewood, it will come across with those floral notes: cherry blossom, apple blossom,” she explained. “This product has taken off for us, and we sold out at the retail tent in a couple hours after the cocktail event Friday!”

To complete the sensory experience, the Nashville Songwriters Showcase played the main stage Saturday and Sunday as part of the Sunshine Tour.

The 11th South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is scheduled for April 27 to 30, 2023.

Photos by Michelle Farnham

Weekend in photos

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival

Lisa Wicker of Widow Jane Distillery talks bourbon during the tasting seminar.

Crawfish beignets from Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House.

Santa Rosa Beach newcomer Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant offered a ceviche with gulf snapper, sweet potatoes and fried plantains.

April 15, 2022

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival: Ready to pour once more!

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10th annual festival runs April 21-24

By Michelle Farnham
April 15, 2022

SANDESTIN – Canceled the past two years due to public health concerns, the South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival is back in 2022, and ready to pour once more!

The decision to shelve the 2020 and 2021 installments of this annual celebration was a difficult one, according to festival executive director, Stacey Brady.

“We were about five weeks out and we just had to dig in and do the work to cancel it, and refund a lot of money,” Brady explained. “Some folks opted to hang onto their tickets and they will still be good for the 2022 festival, even though ticket prices have increased. Their optimism paid off!”

Now set to mark its 10-year anniversary this spring – complete with individual hand sanitizers for guests – the three-day VIP package sold out months in advance. As of press time, individual tickets were still available to all four days’ events.

Wine & Spirits Jam — The Craft Beer & Spirits Jam runs Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Early events

The party gets started with the Winemakers and Shakers bash Thursday, April 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Wine World Destin. Taste bottles from some top wineries, poured by the winemakers themselves at this opening soiree.

Friday things get underway at Grand Boulevard’s Grand Park with the Craft Beer & Spirits Jam from 6 to 9 p.m. Here guests balance craft beers and spirits with food from Eats Street – an eclectic mix from 10 different South Walton restaurants – all to the beats of a live DJ.

A little competition helps to stir inspiration, and new this year, organizers are hosting the first annual Golden Shaker Award for Best Craft Cocktail Bartender in the Florida Panhandle.

“There are 12 mixologist finalists who will make amazing original craft cocktails, competing for the $1,000 first prize, the Golden Shaker Award and name inclusion in a nationally distributed press release,” Brady said. “The People’s Choice winner walks away with $500. It’s going to be quite a show!”

Eats — The Savor South Walton Culinary Village features a pairing menu along with bites from local restaurants.

Grand Tastings

Saturday and Sunday are the premier events with the Grand Tastings, held from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit the rows of tents offering more than 600 wines, Spirits Row, and enjoy a lineup of tasting seminars and chef demonstrations. The Nashville Songwriters Showcase takes the main stage for your enjoyment all day long.

“For our festival, the quality of the wine is very important, especially to knowledgeable wine drinkers,” Brady acknowledged. “We want to pour wines that you can’t necessarily buy in the grocery store. Our attendees look forward to tasting wines they’ve never tasted before or that are too expensive to buy before tasting.”

Brady was particularly excited to welcome a lineup of featured winemakers, especially Jill Russell of Cambria Estate Winery, and Greg Brewer of Ex Post Facto.

“In 2020, Greg was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Wine Star Awards. It doesn’t get much better than that!” Brady added.

The Savor South Walton Culinary Village features a pairing menu from festival Executive Chef Scott Plumley, while annual favorite Yoshi Eddings of Harbor Docks will be back with her team, rolling sushi on-site, just to name a few food options!

Impress friends with the knowledge you pick up from any of the four tasting seminars, included in your ticket price.

Saturday’s presentation by eighth generation Beam Distiller Freddie Noe will be representing Knob Creek and Basil Hayden.

“Suffice it to say that Kentucky bourbon will be tasted!” Brady assured.

Kick off Sunday with champagne from Heidsieck-Piper, then enjoy the chat with Lisa Wicker of Willow Jane on their small batch bourbon.

A toast to charity

Running concurrently with Saturday’s grand tasting is the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s annual auction, held in a separate tent on the grounds. Brady said these two non-profit powerhouses come together each year to create the ultimate wine week – for a good cause.

“The auction is the major fundraiser for DCWAF, yet the net proceeds from the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival are also given to DCWAF to benefit the children’s charities,” Brady said. “DCWAF has donated more than $25 million to Northwest Florida charities … and impacted the lives of over 90,000 youth, including those afflicted by health issues and abuse.”

Brady and her team couldn’t be more pleased to see the return of the festival weekend.

“We are back! At our 10-year anniversary, our team is committed to producing the best ever South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival – and that is saying something,” Brady exclaimed. “Cheers to 10!”

The South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival takes place April 21 to 24, 2022, in the Grand Boulevard complex at Sandestin. For more information, visit www.sowalwine.com. Read coverage of the 2019 event from 30A Food & Wine.

File photos by Michelle Farnham

March 13, 2020

South Walton Beaches wine fest cancelled

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Director cites national recommendations, ‘abundance of caution’

March 13, 2020
Courtesy of Stacey Brady, executive director
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. This is not a decision we made lightly, yet in light of the national and state recommendations to not hold large-scale events, we are following their directives.

At this time, we do not have a specific issue with the COVID-19 virus in our area, however; we believe the prudent choice is to not hold our festival – which attracts more than 5,000 – out of an abundance of caution.

Our sister event and the recipient of our festival proceeds, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, has postponed their immensely popular auction until Aug. 22. This is great news since their auction fundraising is critical to support 16 charities in Northwest Florida. Their event takes place in a huge air-conditioned tent that is very comfortable. Unfortunately, the significant heat and humidity we get here at the beach in August is not conducive to an outdoor wine event.

We are currently working with our ticket agency on refund messaging. We are planning a great incentive to induce ticket holders to keep their tickets which will be good for next year’s festival.

We are disappointed, too! We are also very grateful to our long-time attendees, distributors, suppliers, vendors and especially our sponsors and founding partners. We will be contacting sponsors and ticket holders shortly with options.

A very special thank you to our very sad festival staff who are actually the best staff in the world!

Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to presenting a fabulous charity wine festival for 2021.

Sincerely,

Stacey Brady

May 2, 2019

Drinks pour and pour some more!

Blog

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival raises millions for kids

By Michelle Farnham

If you can’t find a wine you like at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, it
doesn’t exist. With more than 800 bottles spread across more than 100 booths –
including a 22-table Rosé All Day Garden – there is something to please every palate.

SoWal Wine — Offering something a little different, the Craft Beer & Spirits Jam
rocked Grand Boulevard Friday night.

Friday night’s Craft Beer & Spirits Jam kicked off the Grand Boulevard festivities,
with 59 stations pouring everything from Kerry Gold Irish Cream to Boggy Bayou
Stout to Rattlesnake Rosie’s Apple Pie Whiskey.

Eats Street gave tasters a chance to sample food, like the pecan-smoked chicken
wings with Alabama white sauce slaw from Grayton Beer Brewpub, shrimp rolls
from Roux 30a, and the slow-roasted Chinese-style spare rib from South Walton
newcomer Nanbu Noodle Bar.

The crew from La Cocina Mexican Grill & Bar wowed the crowd with crispy tuna tacos.

Roux 30a kept seafood lovers satisfied with their shrimp rolls.

One guest returned to the La Cocina Mexican Grill & Bar station to rave about the
tuna tacos with pear and pineapple kimchi and charred tomatillo salsa.

“Listen, I don’t eat tuna or kimchi or cilantro, and look: I have a clean plate,” she
admitted. “This is delicious!”

Popping bottles

The Grand Tastings Saturday and Sunday gave winemakers their chance to shine,
including a special selection of Jackson Family Wines inside the Culinary Village.

The South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival delighted April 25 to
28.

Haley Wells with Artisans & Estates was on hand pouring Matanzas Creek
Sauvignon Blanc, Ex Post Facto Syrah and – the fan favorite – the Hartford Court
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

“This event is incredible. I’ve done a ton of these festivals with Jackson Family and
I’ve never seen anything to this extent before,” she said. “Everyone keeps coming up
saying, ‘I want the Russian River!’ The valley has a really well known presence when
it comes to Pinot Noirs, and they’re well-trusted. This one is very well accoladed by
(wine advocate) Robert Parker.”

Tasting seminars give festival-goers a chance to dig deeper into the flavors they
love. Bill Samuels Jr., retired president and chairman emeritus of Maker’s Mark,
shared glimpses of his incredible life at the center of the Kentucky bourbon scene.

“Pappy Van Winkle gave me my first drink – I was 12,” Samuels admitted. “He said
‘just two fingers’ and I didn’t know what he was talking about.”

He expanded on his mission to evolve Marker’s Mark, moving the flavor profiles by
changing ingredient ratios to create Maker’s 46 Bourbon.

Other presenters included Michael Landis of the Institut du Fromage, pairing meats
and cheeses with Jackson Family Wines; and Eugenia Keegan, Erik Kramer and
Mollie Battenhouse, speaking on “The Origin and Evolution of Oregon Wines.”

Wine-tasters Marie and Jonathan Wilson were in town from Atlanta, celebrating
Marie’s birthday.

“I am super excited to be here,” Marie said, admitting she’d found a new favorite
Riesling. “Everything is so nice, and the variety of wines is impressive.”

Late Sunday afternoon, Steve Jager of Birmingham was enjoying his final sips with
wife Annalisa, as a breeze blew through the Rosé pavilion.

“It’s hard to pick a favorite, there’s a lot of great things. On the wine side, probably
the Krupp from the VIP tent Friday night. After three days of this, it’s hard to keep
track! Friday night was enjoyment to excess!“ Jager admitted, recalling that this was
his fifth time in town for the festival.

“We were surprised by the Argentina wines, they were always good,” added his
friend Ted Stuckenschneider. “The Rosé tent was wonderful; everybody is enjoying
this and the weather was delightful. As past president of the International Food and
Wine Society in Birmingham, I had to plan 22 wine events a year for two years, and
so, I think I can tell you this was a good one.”

Paddles in the air

As if a 3-day wine and food festival isn’t enough for one weekend, the Destin Charity
Wine Auction is held concurrently at Grand Boulevard, all working to raise funds for
more than a dozen local children’s charities.

A pre-auction reserve tasting gave patrons a chance to meet and mingle while
sampling elevated wines and bites, like the pan-seared scallops with mango beurre
blanc from Vue on 30a, the New York strip with mushrooms and apricot demi gloss
from Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood, and the poached Gulf shrimp with English
pea puree by Caliza Restaurant.

Once the party got started in the auction hall, DCWAF President John Russell
reminded the crowd that in the auction’s 13-year history, the foundation has raised
over $18 million for Northwest Florida children’s charities.

“We’re going to drink wine, but our mission is clear,” Russell said. “There are a lot of
children in need … if you stay committed, we’ll break $20 million today.”

Combining the $685,000 raised during the previous night’s patron dinners,
combined with winning bids like $55,000 for the 50-bottle Magnum Force lot,
$40,000 for a trip to Sea Island, Ga., and $36,000 to make your own barrel of Maker’s
Mark bourbon in Kentucky, that mark was quickly surpassed.

The DCWAF’s next event is the Harvest Wine & Food Festival, scheduled for Oct. 24
to 26, 2019. The 15 th annual Destin Charity Wine Auction weekend is April 24 to 26,
2020.

Photos by Michelle Farnham and Phil Heppding

Banner ad for Wine Enthusiast Mag 2015[3]

April 15, 2015

Wine Wednesday South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival Preview

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South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival Preview

Story by Sarah Murphy Robertson

The extensive schedule for this year’s South Walton Food and Wine Festival is teeming with many (many!) wonderful features. Locals and visitors will surely be buzzing about all these fantastic events. And, we here at www.30afoodandwine.com will be running a giveaway for two tickets as well! Stay tuned for details.

Come out enjoy the fun at the 2015 South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival.

• Beginning Thursday April 23rd is the VIP Meet and Greet. From 4 until 8 pm at the Sandestin Hilton, this invitation-only reception will treat guests to fabulous local food – including freshly shucked oysters – and of course premiere wine and craft beers. Live entertainment will round out the reception and kick off to the wonderful weekend ahead.
• Wine World in Destin will host Friday April 24th’s event, known as Winemakers and Shakers. From 4 pm until 6pm, world-known winemakers will enjoy incredible sips.
• Also, on Friday April 24th, is the Craft Beer and Spirits Jam. From 6 – 9pm at Town Center and Grand Park, guests can sample specialty craft beers and sprits from breweries and distilleries, sample yummy eats, and enjoy live music by Boukou Groove.
• Saturday April 25th is when the things really get rolling. Starting with a VIP Wine Tasting at Grand Park from 11 am to 1 pm, this experience will feature top wine celebrities sharing rarely encountered wines. Food tastings from local restaurants and celebrity chefs Laurent Deconink and Michel Cornu.
• From 1 until 3 pm Saturday the annual Destin Charity Wine Auction will allow guests to bid on silent auction items including vacations and collectable wines while supporting dozens of local children’s charities.
• Between 1 and 5 pm Saturday is the Grand Tasting at Town Center and Culinary Village. Over 800 wines will be available at the Grand Tasting, much to the ultimate enjoyment of ticket purchasers.
• Also on Saturday between 1 – 5 pm is Champagne Lane, featuring the finest Champagnes and sparkling wines. In addition to tasting delicious bubbles, you can watch art demonstrations by South Walton Artist of the Year.
• Tasting Seminars will take place between 1 – 5 pm throughout the Grand Tastings in Culinary Village. Learn how best to pair wine with food while sampling fine wines and spirits.
• Hey, let’s do it all over again! From 1 – 5 pm at Town Center Sunday April 26th brings the second day of Grand Tastings, bubbly Champagne Lane strolls, and fabulous Tasting Seminars. Culinary Village will have more delicious food bites, selected to go with all varietals of these fine wines. Keeping everyone tapping their toes, both on Saturday and Sunday, talented songwriters from Nashville will perform their hits.

With numerous wines to choose from, there is something for everyone at this year's festival. — With numerous wines to choose from, there is something for everyone at this year’s festival.

What an incredible weekend just around the corner for wine and food lovers alike! Be sure to secure your tickets today and get ready for a world-renown experience here in South Walton. For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit www.sowalwine.com.

Photography Courtesy of South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival

April 1, 2015

Wine Wednesday on 30a

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Posted by Phil Heppding
Story by Sarah Murphy Robertson
Photography of Jean-Charles Boisset courtesy of Moanalani Jeffrey Photography
Additional Photography courtesy of South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival

Welcome to Wine Wednesday on 30A. For the month of April, the team here at 30afoodandwine.com will bring you some unique insights into to vintners, chefs and events of the South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival that takes place April 23-26. As we get closer to the event, we will be giving away tickets to the festival. Want a chance to win? Make sure you are signed up for our email updates and stay tuned for a few ways to wine tickets to this world-class event.

South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival is fast approaching and for the first time ever, esteemed winemaker, Jean-Charles Boisset will join the list of a dozen celebrity featured guests.

Born in Burgundy, France into a family tradition of winemaking, Jean-Charles has forged his own path by implementing biodynamic and organic farming and expansion into twelve vineyards in France and seven in California. Since 2007 he has been listed as one of the fifty most important people in wine by Decanter magazine and having access to him at this local festival is a true honor. He will be on hand to sign bottles from winners of the live auction and his personal chef will be preparing tastes; pairings that are sure to enhance and elevate these exquisite wines to thrilling heights.

Boisset’s knowledge and passion for winemaking fueled him to elevate his family’s winery into a premiere and innovative boutique experience. He reveres all of his collection’s creations and each of Jean-Charles Boisset’s JCB wines is referenced by a number. Pinot Noir Cremant de Bourgogne No. 69 refers to the year of his birth in 1969. It is crafted with Pinot Noir grapes from the Burgundy region of France, and is an aromatic rosé brut – dry, light, and crisp with vibrant, thirst-quenching appeal and raspberry notes. It would pair well with a brunch of delicately caramelized shallot frittata or as an apéritif with a freshly grilled shrimp appetizer.

This year the South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival will be held April 23rd-26th at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin and on Saturday will highlight the Destin Charity Wine Auction where attendees can bid on rare collectible wines, vacation packages, and other luxuries. The proceeds will benefit local children’s charities and we feel privileged to keep you informed on the incredible experiences this esteemed four day festival has to offer. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit www.SoWalWine.com