South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival

The beloved South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is leveling up this year, filling attendees’ cups with wines from the prestigious Napa Valley Vintners. As a premier wine and food festival in the region, guests can sip and sample over 600 fine wines, spirits, and cuisine with a featured tent dedicated to bringing the flavors of Napa Valley to the Emerald Coast.

The thirteenth annual South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will take place the weekend of April 24-27, spanning the streets of Grand Boulevard’s Town Center.

This signature event treats attendees access to some of the finest winemakers, distillers, brewers, and chefs in the country by taking part in tastings, educational seminars, and culinary stations all in support of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, benefitting local children’s charities.

The festival begins on Thursday, April 24, with the Winemakers & Shakers event from 5-7 p.m. VIP guests begin Friday with the VIP Tasting from 4-6 p.m. with an extensive, rare library of wines ready for tasting and a Taste of Grand Boulevard, featuring top-tiered bites from Grand Boulevard’s exciting array of restaurants.  Friday continues with the Craft Beer & Spirits Jam. This event, taking place from 5:30-8 p.m., offers a vibrant block party vibe complete with craft beers, local spirits, food truck-style samples, and live music.

The main event, The Grand Tasting, will take place on Saturday from 3-6 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Attendees stroll the streets tasting hundreds of varieties of wines from throughout the world, poured by knowledgeable wine industry leaders and sommeliers.

For the first year, the festival has the honor of welcoming the Napa Valley Vintners in their own dedicated tent. This esteemed organization will bring 15 of the region’s best wineries to provide tastes of some of the world’s most coveted wines.

“We are thrilled to welcome Napa Valley Vintners and excited to have attendees try something new and different that they will fall in love with,” says Stacey Brady, executive director of South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. “Having them be a part of our event shows this festival’s credibility and influence within the industry.”

Back for a second year by popluar demand, another applauded wine region, Willamette Valley, will have a dedicated tent pouring from more than a dozen renowned Oregon winemakers.

There will be four total seminars, two on Saturday and two on Sunday, which provide guests with the opportunity to hear from seasoned winemakers and distillers while being treated to tastings that can’t be found anywhere else at the festival.

Between glasses, visit the Culinary Village and Nosh Pavilions for provisions provided by some of the best restaurants and chefs in the region.

Throughout the weekend, the soothing sounds and soulful croons of songwriters will be heard from stages from the Nashville Songwriters Showcase, brought in by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.

In its thirteenth year, the festival felt it was due for a marketing rebrand, which will be revealed as an exciting new element that promotes and furthers the reach of this already prestigious event.

“We are excited to show off the next iteration of what the festival looks and feels like through this rebrand,” said Brady. “Each year, we continue to offer more exclusive opportunities for our guests to experience.”

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit sowalwine.com.

585 Grand Blvd., Miramar Beach 
(850) 837-3099 ext. 203