Winemakers from around the world converge to Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast the last week in April.
Miramar Beach, Florida (January 24, 2020) – Alessia Antinori of Marchesi Antinori, the most famously iconic winemaking family in history, will pour her family’s highly prized Italian wines at the South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival, taking place April 23 – April 26, 2020, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin (not to be confused with the Sandestin resort or Sandestin wine festival). With more than 600 quality wines and dozens of spirits to taste over four days, this annual award-winning charity event delivers an unparalleled wine experience. Antinori’s wines will be featured in Culinary Village and will be paired with an exclusive menu of authentic Italian dishes by Festival Culinary Director, Scott Plumley.
“At the beginning in the renaissance period we were more merchants and then after a few generations we started to produce wine in the Chianti Classico. The last generation has been very important because we focused on buying land to plant vineyards to assure that we could guarantee the high quality of the product. The last period we started to focus on the quality of the product and on the vineyards which we owned to try to get the best from them,” said Antinori, whose family has been making wine for 26 generations.
Attendees will be able to engage with Antinori and learn how her family’s wineries have evolved over six centuries since being established in 1385.
“We are talking about a business which is human and nature related and for this reason we believe the way to succeed is to transmit values like passion, quality and integrity from generation to generation and for this reason we want to maintain it in the family,” said Antinori.
Antinori will also present one of the weekends popular tasting seminars where her family wines will be paired exclusively with award-winning cheeses and charcuterie presented by world-renowned cheese expert and educator Michael Landis of the Intitut du Fromage.
Alessia Antinori said the tasting attendees can expect “that they will understand our family, our passion, our lifestyle and that they can appreciate our wines through our values and tasting a good glass of wine!”
Another festival highlight will be the Jackson Family Wine World pavilion which will feature their Chardonnays, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Viogniers from California and “big reds” including Cabernet Sauvignons, French Bordeaux, Italian Super Tuscans, Australian Shiraz and more.
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will present some of the most acclaimed winemakers and master distillers in the world, including Mariano Buglioni, the owner of the eponymous estate in San Pietro in Cariano, located in Valpolicella Classico; Greg Brewer winemaker and owner of Brewer-Clifton; Daniel DAOU, winemaker and proprietor, DAOU Family Estates; Jill DelaRiva Russell, winemaker of Cambria Winery; Jesse Lange, owner and principle, Lange Winery; Jared Himstedt, head distiller of Balcones Distilling; and Jessica Koga, Associate Winemaker, Davies Vineyards and Schramsberg Vineyards.
The festival kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. with Winemakers & Shakers, held at Wine World in Destin. The VIP Wine Tasting is part of a 3-Day Package and takes place Friday, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., followed by the Friday Craft Beer & Spirits Jam, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. The Grand Tastings are Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. The VIP Tasting can only be attended by purchasing the VIP Wine Festival 3-Day Package that includes most festival events as well.
Tickets can be purchased at www.SoWalWine.com.
The South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival is truly a celebration of wine, food and music that everyone can feel good about. This event is a major fundraiser for the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation with proceeds benefiting more than a dozen children’s charities in Northwest Florida.
Presented by Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and Visit South Walton, the festival offers the ideal backdrop for wine, charity and fun along the South Walton beaches, named among the best beaches in the country. South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is made possible by the generous support of the following Founding Partners: Visit South Walton Tourist Development Council, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Wine World of Northwest Florida and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®. Resortquest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is the Official Lodging Partner.
About South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is an annual charity event held the last weekend in April. The festival features a stunning showcase of some of the best wines in the world. Celebrity wine producers and chefs present fine wine and food pairings from the world’s most famous appellations. The Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food tasting seminars. 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.
CONTACT:
For South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
Stacey Brady, Director of Marketing and Communications
Grand Boulevard at Sandestin
850.837.3099 ext. 203