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Harvest Wine & Food Festival at WaterColor Oct 25-27

October 24, 2018 by SoWal Staff

Welcome to 2nd Annual Harvest Wine and Food Festival weekend in WaterColor, Florida. Saturday afternoon's Grand Tasting takes place in Cerulean Park from 1-4pm.

Produced by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), Harvest Wine & Food Festival provides patrons the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections while enjoying the iconic beach town of WaterColor. Tickets available online at www.dcwaf.org/tickets. Weekend passes and lodging packages are available.

Harvest Wine & Food Festival will feature some of the world’s premier vintners, proprietors, and award-winning chefs showcased throughout four eventful days that are sure to delight food and wine enthusiasts alike. The festival kicks off Thursday evening with a variety of wine dinners held along iconic Highway 30a each featuring a celebrity winemaker.

Thursday, Oct. 25th, 6-9pm - Celebrity Winemaker Dinners  - Tickets: $150

Friday, Oct 26th, 6-8 pm - Al Fresco Reserve Tasting  - Tickets: $200
The Al Fresco Reserve Tasting held at Marina Park will offer festival-goers a selection of library wines that feature rare vintages not easily accessible to the average consumer. An array of perfectly paired hors d’oeuvres and live music all set to a breathtaking Gulf coast sunset will make for a memorable and elegant evening.

Saturday, Oct. 27th, 1-4 pm - Grand Tasting - Tickets: $150 General Admission | $300 VIP 
The Grand Tasting, held in Cerulean Park, is the festival's main event and is designed to highlight harvest season at the beach. Large seafood, barbeque and provisional stations manned by celebrity chefs and supplemented by the best restaurants along the Gulf Coast are combined with tasting stations featuring over 400 wines from around the world. Craft beer and spirit tents and an exclusive VIP activation will also be available. 

VIP tickets include a private entrance to the festival and access to the exclusive VIP lounge featuring elevated wines, additional food, and access to Saturday college football.

Silent Auction:
It wouldn’t be a DCWAF event without the opportunity to bid high and bid often. A silent auction featuring a variety of rare wines, staycations and unique experiences will open Friday, November 2 at 6:00 p.m. and will run through Sunday, November 4 at noon. The opportunity to purchase wine and other merchandise on-site will also be available throughout the festival. 

The opportunity to purchase wine and other merchandise on-site will also be available throughout the festival. 

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s (DCWAF) mission is to connect wine enthusiasts to raise money to benefit children in need in Northwest Florida. Founded in 2005 and currently ranked #3 on Wine Spectator Magazine’s “Top Charity Wine Auctions in the US,” DCWAF has donated more than $13 million to Northwest Florida charities by hosting world class wine and culinary events. These funds have impacted the lives of over 75,000 youth, including those afflicted by health issues and abuse. Learn more at DCWAF.org or facebook.com/DCWAF.

WaterColor is nestled between Grayton Beach State Park, Western Lake and Seagrove Beach, and wraps around the neighboring town of Seaside. Watercolor is one of a handful of planned “New Urban” communities that define Scenic 30A. The picturesque neighborhoods and storefronts integrate with our beautiful natural landscape. Elegant homes line the beach next to the stately WaterColor Inn, and residential streets fan out into the beautiful coastal forest of oaks, pines, magnolias, cypress and palmetto.

The Town Center extends north and south of Scenic 30A. It's a lively area that hosts all types of events, from art shows, to wine tastings, to kid-centered fun. Here, you can rent a bike, visit a gallery, do some shopping or grab a delicious meal. Fish out of Water is a centerpiece restaurant with a great Gulf front view located in the WaterColor Inn.

WaterColor is home to many of our favorite community festivals and events open to the public such as Art in the Park (Mar), Easter Celebration, Easy on 30A Concert (Jul), Fall Festival, MountainFilm Tour (Nov), Turkey Trot, Old Florida Holiday Winter Market and even more town happenings for resort guests such as concerts and movies in the park.

More info at SoWal Towns & Beaches: WaterColor

Update 10/15/18:

 In light of the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Michael, the team at Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) is breaking from tradition to raise funds in support of the Florida Disaster Fund via a virtual paddle raise during Harvest Wine & Food Festival October 25-27. The paddle raise will be available throughout the festival through DCWAF's official mobile bidding platform, Give Smart.

Bidders do not need to have a ticket to the festival to participate in the virtual paddle raise or the silent auction. Registration is available at https://HWFF.givesmart.com. DCWAF serves 16 children's charities in Northwest Florida, many of whom are actively engaged in relief efforts with their sister organizations in Bay and Gulf counties. In addition to the virtual paddle raise, DCWAF will continue to be a resource for those searching for ways to get involved while standing in support of each charity's efforts.

"There is incredible need for our friends and neighbors in Bay, Gulf, and the surrounding eastern counties who have a long journey on the road to recovery," said Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation President, John Russell. "It is incumbent upon DCWAF to take advantage of the opportunity of Harvest Wine & Food Festival to offer assistance in that journey."

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