13 Mar 29th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival
The 29th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival takes place April 16-19 and today event organizers announced the four-day lineup of events, tastings, entertainment and more. The event is the longest-running and most established in Northwest Florida and is presented by Coastal Living magazine.
The Sandestin Wine Festival at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has become a tradition over the years and widely renowned as the “Kentucky Derby of Wine Festivals.” The thoroughbreds for the festival have always been the daily Grand Wine Tastings in the Village of Baytowne Wharf. The tastings will feature the pouring of hundreds of domestic and international wines on Friday, April 17 from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, April 18 from 1-5 p.m.
The festival uncorks all the fun on Thursday, April 16 with the official Sandestin Wine Festival Kick-Off Party at Rum Runners located in the Village. The event starts at 5 p.m. and is presented by Mercer Wine Cellars. Enjoy food tastings, wine samples and a special presentation by winemaker Jessica Munnell from Mercer Wine Cellars. Each night of the wine festival showcases special wine dinners from quality Village restaurants including Marlin Grill and Poppy’s Seafood Factory, among others. Also, on Friday night enjoy live music from Nashville rising star Maggie Chapman and local favorite Free Monica.
Saturday VIP ticket holders will enjoy an exclusive midday VIP event from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Terrace Amenities Deck in the Village and will feature a “Base to Bubbles” wine seminar presented by Coastal Wine and Spirits. Learn the basics of champagne, including the importance of grapes, and influences of terrain and climate when creating the perfect vintage. Marlin Grill will accent the experience will special appetizers with musical performances from Maggie Chapman and the duo Elenowen, who captured immediate fame after appearances on the inaugural season of NBC’s The Voice.
Saturday’s Grand Wine Tasting will feature vineyard representatives from around the globe and will provide a rare opportunity to learn about the finest appellations from all major wine producing countries in terms of varieties, styles and price ranges. Entertainment for the Saturday tasting will feature Chris Roberts Trio and Elenowen.