One of the most exciting additions to the 2024 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is the partnership with the Willamette Valley Wineries Association (WVWA). The WVWA is bringing 15 of their prestigious wineries to the festival this year. Vineyard owners and winemakers will pour their award-winning wines and be able to converse directly with attendees in a relaxed manner. Willamette Valley Wineries Association is celebrating their 40-year anniversary with South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and it’s going to be a very special celebration for all! In addition, another 500 wines from around the world and 100 craft spirits will be poured at the 2024 event at the beach.
The featured Grand Tasting Tent will showcase Willamette winemakers, including some of the most important winemakers of Oregon wines. David Adelsheim, of Adelsheim Vineyard, is the original petitioner of the Willamette Valley AVA will be on hand for the weekend festivities. The esteemed Eugenia Keegan of Willakenzie Estate will participate, as will winemaker and co-owner Ben Casteel of Bethel Heights Vineyard, Max Bruening from Ponzi Vineyards, Jim Bernau of Willamette Valley Vineyards, Bethany Ford of Illahe Vineyards and many more.
Expect a big demand for the tasting seminar presented by Myra Barginear, co-founder and CEO of Paul Sutton Bourbon, who was named a leading “Women in Whiskey” by Forbes. Her award-winning bourbon has received major industry recognition. Other weekend seminars include a Banfi wine tasting presented by Jgor Marini and a panel discussion with a selection of the WVWA wineries. Sunday’s seminars kick-off with a sparkling tasting by Celene Lannoye of Celene Bordeaux – we love our bubbles on Sunday!
Creative large-scale interactive activations presented by in-demand spirits are an exclusive way for attendees to meet distillers and industry insiders, who are eager to talk about their distilling practices. Expect engaging activations from On the Rocks Cocktails, Mijenta Tequila, Bardstown Bourbon, Garrison Brothers Bourbon and more.
The festival kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. with Winemakers & Shakers, held at Wine World in Destin. The VIP Wine Tasting takes place Friday, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., followed by the Friday night Craft Beer & Spirits Jam, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. The Grand Tastings are Saturday, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. (note the new Saturday time) and Sunday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. The VIP Tasting can only be attended by purchasing the VIP Wine Festival 3-Day Package that includes most festival events as well. All Friday, Saturday and Sunday events are held at Grand Boulevard’s Town Center.
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is an annual charity event held the last weekend in April. The festival features a stunning showcase of some of the best wines in the world. The Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair. The event is a major fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.SoWalWine.com.
Author: Sowal Editor
Visits: 4
