Wine tasting experts tasted nearly 600 wines entered into the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival's 30th Annual International Wine Competition.
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (PRWEB) February 08, 2018
Wine tasting experts from around the globe convened at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach to judge and award medals to wines entered in the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival’s 30th Annual International Wine Competition. The winning and submitted wines will be poured and sold at the 2018 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, April 26-29, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin.
On February 2, nearly 600 wines were judged in one of 76 categories. The judging was conducted by 21 vintners, educators, collectors, and restaurant owners in panels of three, and took more than five hours with a one-hour lunch break mid-way through the day. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were named in all 76 categories. In all, 228 medals were awarded, and four Best of Show winners named.
The Best of Show selections, which will all be poured at the 2018 festival, include:
- Chianti Classico from Tuscany - Fonterutoli 2011 vintage was named Best of Show Red.
- Gruner Veltiner by Weingut Brundlemayer 2016 vintage was named Best of Show White.
- Champagne from France - Taittinger La Francaise Brut NV was named Best of Show Sparkling Wine.
- Font Greye Gordonne Rosé, a Provence Rosé 2016 vintage, was awarded Best of Show Rosé.
The judges honored hundreds of wines and nearly 800 wines from some of the most popular wine growing regions around the world will be presented at the 2018 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. Due to the popularity of rosé, an abundance of still and sparkling rosés will be poured at the Rosé All Day Garden and Walk-About—a new addition to the festival.
The Craft Beer & Spirits Jam kicks off the festival Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (advance tickets are $40); On Saturday and Sunday, the Grand Tastings will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (advance tickets are $99; ticket price includes Spirits Row, Rosé All Day Garden, wine and food tastings, tasting seminars and live entertainment). Two-day Grand Tasting passes are available for $175. The VIP 3-Day Package, includes access to all above events as well as the exclusive VIP tasting on Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (advance tickets are $325). Winemakers & Shakers now takes place on Thursday at Wine World in Destin, Florida. All events are rain or shine; service animals only are allowed in Culinary Village. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival.
Presented by Grand Boulevard, Visit South Walton and Wine Enthusiast Media, the festival offers the ideal backdrop for a beach getaway. South Walton beaches are consistently named among the best beaches in the country. ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is the Official Lodging Partner of the festival and many of their accommodations are beachfront, beachside or a short stroll to the beach. At this time, they are currently offering festival discounts on lodging. Visit Wyndham Vacation Rentals for details.
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is made possible by the generous support of the following Founding Partners: Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, 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.
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About South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
This year’s annual South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will be held April 26-29, 2018 throughout the Town Center of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. The festival features a stunning showcase of the best wines in the world. Meet the celebrity wine producers and master distillers presenting their fine wine and spirits from around the world. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food tasting seminars. Visit the new Rosé All Day Garden, Spirits Row and Nosh Pavilions and enjoy live entertainment throughout the weekend. The Craft Beer & Spirits Jam and Winemakers & Shakers events round out the extended festival weekend. 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 http://www.SoWalWine.com.
