Tasting of Champions at Hilton Sandestin

South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival presents its first festival event of the year, Tasting of Champions, on Friday, February 2 at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Guests will have an exclusive “first taste” of the medal winning wines that will be featured in the upcoming South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival, April 26-29.

“This is an exclusive opportunity to get a preview and taste the festival wines in advance of the actual event in April,” said Stacey Brady, executive director of South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. “Those who attend Tasting of Champions will be among an elite group who get to preview the medal winning wines first. In addition, the event is a great value. For the price of a couple of bottles of wine, wine lovers will have the opportunity to sample many varietals of wine from the most popular vineyards and wine growing regions around the world.”

Volunteers will be pouring more than 600 wines entered in the competition and there will be approximately 250 medal winners that are judged just prior to the event by a panel of 21 wine experts from around the country. The judges select a gold, silver, and bronze medal winner in each of approximately 80 categories.

Tasting of Champions allows the public to taste all the wines entered in the competition, including “Best in Show Red” and “Best in Show White” winners. The event is structured in a walkabout format with the wines grouped by category, making it an ideal event for wine aficionados and beginners alike. In addition, the event will feature live music by local favorite Mari Gleason, passed hors-d'oeuvre and a dessert display.

For those wishing to continue enjoying the weekend, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa is offering special room rates, starting at $129/night. To reserve a room, click here and input group code “THE.”

The event is a prelude to the 2018 Northwest Florida Beaches Ultimate Wine Week, April 26-29. Wine, charity and fun converge as the world’s most preeminent winemakers and wine enthusiasts gather for South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival and Destin Charity Wine Auction.

Proceeds from Tasting of Champions as well as South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival benefit Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, helping children in need in Northwest Florida. Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased at SoWalWine/tickets.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is an annual charity event held the last weekend of April. The festival features a stunning showcase of the best wines the world has to offer. Celebrity wine producers and chefs present fine wine and food pairings from the world’s most famous appellations. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food tasting seminars and live entertainment. 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.

South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival takes place April 26-29, 2017 at Grand Boulevard!  Tickets available now.