Alys Beach Celebrates the 11th Annual 30A Wine Festival

The 30A Wine Festival, underwritten by The Alys Foundation, returns to the beautiful community of Alys Beach for its 11th year: Wednesday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. The festival showcases renowned distillers, vintners and culinary favorites over five days of celebration – a series of events and workshops where wine enthusiasts and bourbon lovers alike relish in the festivities within the captivating town of Alys Beach. All proceeds from the festival benefit the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, a local charity that provides health services to uninsured or underinsured school children in Walton and Okaloosa Counties.

Cultural experiences are written into the master plan of Alys Beach through the dictates of The Alys Foundation, the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that underwrites the 30A Wine Festival and the other Alys Beach signature festivals. These events and festivals are designed to bring the Alys Beach community, with an emphasis on its homeowners and their families and friends, together around a shared cultural experience. In its 11 years, the 30A Wine Festival has become a series of events that gather the adult community for exquisite food, drink, music and revelry. As the town grows and the footprint of the festival remains fixed, and as ticket sales are released to Alys Beach homeowners first by design, the events are organically transitioning into experiences exclusive to our owner community, an added amenity for our Alys Beach homeowners.

The 30A Wine Festival will continue to release any remaining tickets to our Alys Beach vacation rental guests and the larger community in the years ahead and invites both festival goers and the larger community to participate in the event that is always open to the public – the 30A Wine Festival Silent Auction benefiting the Children’s Volunteer Health Network. No tickets are required to bid on auction items.

Sponsors of the 11th Annual 30A Wine Festival include Brown, Burns & Associates, Inc. Financial Advisors, BALCONES Distilling, Alys Beach Construction, Alys Beach Real Estate, Driftwood Wine & Spirits, Laurent-Perrier, The Jewel, Scenic Stays, and Galvas Construction.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Tour of The Rhône Valley Wine Dinner
The Beach Club | 6–9 p.m.

This special Rhône Valley wine dinner will be held in the Lounge of the Beach Club exclusively for Alys Beach property owners. Beach Club Chef Renato Falconi will prepare a four-course dinner in the French tradition, in tandem with beautiful pairings from the cellars of Rhône Valley’s finest, M. Chapoutier, E. Guigal, and Chateau de Beaucastel. The live music performance of Cam Ray will accompany the event.

Paul Hobbs Wine Dinner
Caliza Restaurant | 6–9 p.m.

At the onset of this year’s 30A Wine Festival, Caliza’s Red Loggia sets an elegant tone for an intimate evening with Paul Hobbs Winery (@phwinery, @paulhobbswines, @crossbarnwinery, @hillickhobbs, @vina.cobo). Agustina Hobbs will share the Winery’s finest offerings paired perfectly with four courses from Alys Beach Executive Chef Kevin Cavanaugh. This evening is sure to be an experience to remember. The live music performance of Mari Gleason will accompany the event.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

Oysters + Champagne
The Beach Plaza | 6–9 p.m.

Oysters + Champagne. Photo by Bryan Johnson courtesy of Alys Beach

An evening on the Beach Plaza featuring the most exceptional oysters harvested throughout the southeast. Accompanied by champagne and live music, the Oysters + Champagne event is always a beautiful evening of celebration. The live music performance of the Lilli Lewis Trio will accompany the event. Oysters will be provided by Cypress Point Oyster Co. (Spring Creek, FL; @cypresspointoysterco), Pelican Oyster Farm (Spring Creek, FL; @pelicanoysterco), Serenoa Shellfish Co. (Sopchoppy, FL; @serenoa_shellfish); a food station will be provided by The Citizen (Alys Beach, FL; @thecitizenalys); Champagne stations will feature Laurent-Perrier, Laherte Frères, VINTUS Wine Imports, Champagne Delamotte, and Piper-Heidsieck – Charles Heidsieck.

Leyenda de México Tequila Dinner
Papilio Park | 6–9 p.m.

A new addition to the 30A Wine Festival, the Leyenda de México Tequila Dinner features a four-course dinner alongside neat tequila tastings and uniquely crafted cocktails from this beautiful tequila from Jalisco. Set in the enchanting canopy of Papilio Park, this dinner is a welcomed addition to the festival repertoire and is sure to be a memorable evening of food, drink, and revelry. The live music performance of Jeff Taylor will accompany the event. (Jalisco, Mexico; @tequilaleyendademexico)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023

Mixology Seminar
Red Loggia | 5–6:30 p.m.

This hands-on mixology seminar will take you through the creation of three perfect craft cocktails that are sure to impress even the most avid cocktail connoisseurs. Our experts, Christine Tarpey of Better Together Beverage (@better_together_beverage) and Christopher Ritch of Maverick Beverage Company, share their expertise, insights, and instructions to impart participants with a fresh new lineup to replicate at home.

Bourbon, Beer & Butts
Kelly Green| 6:30–9 p.m.

Enjoy a night of bourbon, beer, and barbecue with bourbon tastings from distilleries across the country, craft brews from local and national breweries, and savory barbecue creations showcasing the top culinary talents in the Southeast. Breweries include Grayton Beer Company (Santa Rosa Beach, FL; @graytonbeer), Wicked Weed Brewing Company (Asheville, NC; @wickedweedbrewing), Tin Roof Brewing Company (Baton Rouge, LA; @tinroofbeer), Pensacola Bay Brewery (Pensacola, FL; IG @pensacolabaybrewery, FB @pbbrew), Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn, NY), Goat Island Brewing (Cullman, AL), Idyll Hounds Brewing Company (Santa Rosa Beach, FL).

Participating culinary talent represents Alys Beach (Alys Beach, FL; @alysbeach), Marrow Private Chefs (Santa Rosa Beach, FL; @marrowprivatechefs), Saw’s BBQ (Birmingham, AL; @sawsbbq), The Hound (Auburn, AL; @auburnhound @chefcrnicolaisen), The Perfect Pig Grill and Fish House (Santa Rosa Beach, FL), Treaty Oak Distilling (Dripping Springs, TX; @treatyoak @waterloogin), Southern Soul BBQ. RC Weddings + Events Professional Catering (Panama City Beach, FL; @RCweddingsandevents), and Cookie Fix (Birmingham, AL; @cookie_fix).

Bourbon distilleries include Treaty Oak Distilling (Dripping Springs, TX; @treatyoak @waterloogin), Lexington Brewing & Distilling (Lexington, KY; @lexingtonbrewingco), Dettling Bourbon (Atmore, AL; @DettlingBourbon), Doc Swinson’s Whiskey (Ferndale, WA), Savage & Cooke (Vallejo, CA), Michter’s Distillery (Louisville, KY), Paul Sutton Bourbon (Danville, KY; @paul_sutton_bourbon), Superb Spirits (@capefeardistillery, @walkerscaybourbon, @deepdropbourbon), and Balcones Distilling (Waco, TX; @balconesdistilling, @balconeswaco). The Cleverlys (@thecleverlysofficial) are sure to keep the party rockin’; all night!

Photo by Bryan Johnson

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2023

Grand Tasting
South Charles Street | 3:30–6:30 p.m.

Immerse yourself in the streetscapes of Alys Beach as you stroll down South Charles Street for the Grand Tasting. Between tasting more than 80 wines from around the globe and light bites to accompany you along the way, this is sure to be a stroll like no other. The live music performances of Jared Herzog, Mike Whitty, and Tanner Gray will accompany the event.

Participating culinary talent represents Ravello Ristorante (Montgomery, AL; FB @ravelloRistorante), The Salty Butcher (Seagrove Beach, FL; @saltybutcher), George’s at Alys Beach (Alys Beach, FL; @georgesatalys), The Depot (Auburn, AL; IG @theauburndepot, FB @auburndepot), Pescado (Rosemary Beach, FL; @rooftop30a), Farmer’s Feast (Cleveland Heights, OH; @farmersfeast), Alys Beach Culinary (Alys Beach, FL; @alysbeach), 2 Birds Café (Miramar Beach, FL; @2_birds_cafe), Seabear (Athens, GA; @seabearoysterbar), Chocolatá (Birmingham, AL; IG @chocolata_bham, FB @Chocolata Artisanal Chocolatier), Black Bear Bread Co. (Santa Rosa Beach, FL; @blackbearbreadco).

Vintners represented include Soter Vineyards (Carlton, OR; @soterwines, @planetoregonwines), Wrath Wines (Soledad, CA; @wrathwines), Michael Corso Selections (Chicago, IL), Thompson 31Fifty Wines (Healdsburg, CA; @thompson31fiftywines), Ill Rows (St. Helena, CA; @iiirows), Maverick Beverage Company (@maverickbevfl), Drink the Rent (Miami, FL; @erinkjolley), Banville Wine Merchants (@banvillewine), Tarpon Cellars (Charleston, SC; @tarponcellars), Covert Estate/Nicholson Jones/Julien Fayard Wines (Napa, CA), Vino del Sol (Orlando, FL; FB/Twitter @vinodelsol, IG @vinodelsolwine), Winebow Imports Pioneer Division, Elk Cove Vineyards (Gaston, OR; @elkcove), Presqu’ile Winery (Santa Maria, CA; @presqueilewine), Kokomo Wines (Healdsburg, CA; @kokomowinery), Cantina La Marchesa (Lucera, Italy; @cantinalamarchesa), Grupo Pierola Finca Peñamayor (Rioja, Spain), La Grande Sieste (Aniane, France; @lagrandesieste), Paul Hobbs Winery (N-Sebastopol, CA; @phwinery, @paulhobbswines, @crossbarnwinery, @hillickhobbs, @vina.cobos), Fess Parker Winery (Los Olivos, CA; @fessparkerwinery), JONATA/The Hilt Estate (Lompoc, CA; @jonataestate, @thehiltestate), La Fête Wine Co. (Miami Beach, FL; @lafeterose), Folio Fine Wine, Winebow Imports (Tampa, FL), Sandhi Wines/Evening Land Vineyards (Lompoc, CA; @sandhiwines, @elvwines, @brooklynwine), Felipe Villaveces & Chris Birnie-Visscher (Winter Park, FL; @vineyardbrands, #vineyardbrands), The Vines/Bespoke Collection (Napa, CA), Superb Wines, Finca Ambrosia (Argentina), VINTUS (@vintuswines).

Cocktail station participants include Leyenda de México (Jalisco, Mexico; @tequilaleyendademexico), Campesino Rum (Birmingham, AL; @campesinorum), Wonderbird Spirits (Taylor, MS; @wonderbirdspirits), Vulcanica Vodka (Sicily, Italy; @vulcanicavodka).

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2023

Gospel Brunch
Gulf Green | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

We’ll keep the mimosas, Bloody Marys, and coffee cocktails flowing while you enjoy a lively, delicious brunch in one of Alys Beach’s most beautiful and iconic settings, Gulf Green. Feel the joy as the sounds of the gospel choir fill the space for this celebratory Sunday event. The live music performance of the Soul Sensations will accompany the
event. The brunch cocktail station will feature Treaty Oak Distilling (Dripping Springs, TX; @treatyoak, @waterloogin).

Rosé & Croquet
Kelly Green | 12–3 p.m.

Rosé & Croquet

Rosé & Croquet is one of the most beloved of the festival events. Wear your croquet whites and enjoy a festive gathering featuring a beautiful brunch spread and an elegant selection of rosés. Rally your best mates and fuel up for the ninth annual Croquet Tournament (each player must purchase an individual ticket + an additional $200 for a four-person team ticket is required to play in the tournament), or just sit back, sip some sparkling rosé, and watch the games. It’s always a fun finale for the 30A Wine Festival! The live music performance of Ken & Andi will accompany the event.

Participating culinary talent represents Raw & Juicy (Alys Beach, FL; @rawandjuicyalysbeach), Big Bad Breakfast (Inlet Beach, FL), Biscuit Love (Nashville, TN; @biscuitlovebrunch), Parlor Doughnuts (Miramar Beach, FL; @parlourdoughnut), Fonville Press Market + Café (Alys Beach, FL; @fonville.press).

Vintners represented include Wrath Wines (Soledad, CA; @wrathwines), Ill Rows (St. Helena, CA; @iiirows), Slay Rose (Santa Rosa Beach, FL; @slay_rose), Tarpon Cellars (Charleston, SC; @tarponcellars), Winebow Imports Pioneer Division, Cantina La Marchesa (Lucera, Italy; @cantinalamarchesa), La Grande Sieste (Aniane, France; @lagrandesieste), POGGIO COSTA (Charleston, SC; @poggiocosta), La Fête Wine Co. (Miami Beach, FL; @lafeterose).

The cocktail station will feature Treaty Oak Distilling (Dripping Springs, TX; @treatyoak, @waterloogin).