After a wildly successful inaugural year, Harvest Wine & Food Festival is returning to South Walton October 25-27 for three eventful days that are sure to delight wine and food aficionados alike. Produced by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), Harvest Wine & Food Festival has been labeled one of the premier fall festivals in the southeast that provides patrons the opportunity to sip and savor over 250 world-class wines paired with the best in regional Gulf Coast cuisine, all while enjoying the beautiful beach town of WaterColor. “We are thrilled to bring Harvest Wine & Food Festival back to the South Walton community,” said DCWAF President, John Russell. “We felt that our first year was a huge success, and are excited to continue to grow the event in an effort to offer our patrons the perfect experience to compliment a beautiful fall weekend at the beach. We’re thankful for the continued support of our friends at WaterColor as venue and lodging sponsors for this extraordinary event benefiting children in need in Northwest Florida.” Ticket prices vary based upon event day and are on sale now online at www.HarvestWineandFood.com. Weekend passes and lodging packages are also available through the WaterColor Inn and 360 Blue. Currently ranked number three “Top Charity Wine Auction in the US” by Wine Spectator Magazine, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) is one of the nation’s premier fundraising organizations, raising money for 15 Northwest Florida children’s charities that assist at-risk youth in the local community by tackling a variety of issues including homelessness, food insecurity, mental health, education, medical care, and much more. Harvest Wine & Food Festival features some of the world’s premier vintners, proprietors, and award-winning chefs showcased throughout three separate days of events. The festival kicks off Thursday evening with three highly anticipated wine dinners held throughout South Walton, each featuring a celebrity winemaker. Jean-Noel Formeaux, proprietor of VGS Chateau Potelle, will headline a dinner at Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood presented by Krueger, Fosdyck, and Associates Merrill Lynch. Elton Slone and Rachel Miller of Robert Craig Winery will headline a dinner at the new Vin-tij Wine Boutique and Bistro location in Grand Boulevard presented by Crystal Collins Spencer, Attorney at Law, Spencer Law PA. The third celebrity winemaker dinner will be announced later in the summer. On Friday, October 26, the Al Fresco Reserve Tasting held on WaterColor’s Butterfly Lawn will offer festival-goers a selection of library wines that feature rare vintages not easily accessible in the marketplace. An array of perfectly paired hors d’oeuvres and live music all set to a breathtaking star-filled sky will make for a memorable and elegant evening. The Grand Tasting, held from 1 to 4 pm Saturday, October 27 in Cerulean Park is the main event and is designed to highlight harvest season at the beach. Large seafood, barbeque, and provisional stations manned by celebrity chefs from throughout the southeast and complimented by the best restaurants along the Emerald Coast are combined with tasting stations featuring over 250 wines from around the world. Craft beer and spirit tents and an exclusive VIP experience will also be available. “We’ve created a new tradition for festival-goers along the Emerald Coast,” Russell said. “Guests should be prepared to taste their way through every staple of coastal cuisine ranging from freshly caught seafood to farm fresh vegetables and cheeses all the way to traditional smoked barbeque prepared by the south’s finest pit masters.” It wouldn’t be a DCWAF event without the opportunity to bid high and bid often. A silent auction featuring a variety of rare wines, staycations and unique experiences will open Friday, October 26 and will run through Sunday, October 27 at noon. The opportunity to purchase wine and other merchandise on-site will also be available throughout the duration of the festival. Additional festival events and participants will be released throughout the summer.

Harvest Wine and Food Festival returns to WaterColor October 25-27