South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival: Tasting of Champions

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival presents its first festival event of the year, Tasting of Champions, on Friday, February 15 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 & Food Festival, April 25-28.

“This is a convivial gathering of wine lovers to 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 500 wines entered in the competition and there will be approximately 200 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 65 categories.

Tasting of Champions allows the public to taste all the wines entered in the competition, including “Best in Show Red,” “Best in Show White” and “Best in Show Sparkling” 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 Tanner Gray, passed hors-d'oeuvres 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 $125/night. To reserve a room, click here and input group code “TOC.”

The event is a prelude to the 2019 Northwest Florida Beaches Ultimate Wine Week, April 25-28. Wine, charity and fun converge as the world’s most preeminent winemakers and wine enthusiasts gather for South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and Destin Charity Wine Auction.

Proceeds from Tasting of Champions as well as South Walton Beaches Wine & 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.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
This year’s annual South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will be held April 25-28, 2019 throughout the Town Center of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. The festival features a stunning showcase of the best wines in the world. Meet the celebrity wine producers and master distillers presenting their fine wine and spirits from around the world. 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. Visit the Rosé All Day walk-about, Spirits Row and Nosh Pavilions and enjoy live entertainment throughout the weekend. The Craft Beer & Spirits Jam and Winemakers & Shakers events round out the extended festival weekend. 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.

Tickets and info at sowalwine.com.