Celebrating Fine Wine and Fine Cuisine with Unmistakable Style
By Toni Davis
Rosemary Beach, FL -The fourth annual Southern Breeze Wine + Culinary Festival, presented by DCS by Fisher & Paykel, is part of Autumn Tides, a season of unforgettable fall events that celebrate the art, nature, culture, and cuisine of the Beaches of South Walton. This event brings top caliber wine and culinary experts to Rosemary Beach again October 19-21.
On Friday, October 19 from 7-10 p.m. choose from the culinary delicacies of two legendary regional chefs at one of two winemaker dinners. Indulge in the multi-course gourmet affair featuring the chefs’ signature dishes paired with fine wines from our featured wine makers. At each dinner, guests will be educated about the complementary wine and food pairings that bring out the fine, distinct flavors in each course.
Treat yourself to a five-course gourmet affair at Friday’s Winemaker Dinner with Chef Tom Wolfe of Wolfe’s of New Orleans and Lisa Peju of Peju Province Winery. Chef Wolfe and Miss Peju will entertain and educate you on the artful pairing of boutique wines that accompany each selected course. It will be an evening featuring gourmet food and superb wines enjoyed in the festive atmosphere of the Rosemary Beach Town Hall.
The second Winemaker Dinner will also take place on Friday, and will feature renowned Chef Tim Creehan of Beach Walk Crystal Beach along with Gary Pisoni of Pisoni Vineyards. Located in the intimate setting of a private residence, Chef Creehan and Mr. Pisoni will guide you through each course of this gourmet dinner, and give you insights into how they create culinary masterpieces by pairing the perfect boutique wine with an exquisite meal.
Stroll the grounds of Long Green Park while sampling over 200 boutique wines from around the world during Saturday’s Grand Wine Tasting from 2 – 6 p.m. Guests can taste a variety of hard-to-find vintages not readily available in stores. You can even purchase your favorite wines on site to take home! Saturday’s Grand Wine Tasting is the perfect setting for discovering new wines, enjoying live music, and meeting new friends.
Broaden your culinary and wine horizons during Saturday’s event at four seminars throughout the day. Chef Creehan will teach guests about “Coastal Cuisine” during two live interactive cooking demonstrations presented at 3:15 and 5:15 p.m.
Michael Bryan, Executive Director of the Atlanta Wine School, the exclusive wine educator for the festival will present two seminars at the Grand Wine Tasting at 2:15 and 4:15 p.m.
Spend Saturday night swaying under the stars to the sounds of Acoustic Alchemy at the Jazz Concert. Join this world-renowned contemporary jazz group in St. Augustine Square at 8 p.m. Wrap up a magnificent day with a relaxing autumn evening of music and fun sponsored by WSBZ The Seabreeze.
The Gulfside Walkabout Brunch is the perfect way to end a great weekend. Enjoy the beautiful scenery at Western Green Park as you walk around and taste specialty dishes from the region’s top local restaurants. A few of the restaurants participating in this year’s brunch include Royal B Restaurant, Hurricanes Oyster Bar, Beach Walk Crystal Beach, and Bistro Bijoux. Each delicacy is paired with a champagne or sparkling wine to provide the perfect complement to each dish. It’s a great way to start your day, and will give you the opportunity to try several gourmet restaurants and chefs, all within walking distance! You will also be able to vote for your favorite restaurant in our “People’s Choice” culinary award competition.
“Grab someone you enjoy spending time with, book a long weekend, and come join us at the event!” says Bryan. “There are no wine and culinary events in the area that compare with the Southern Breeze Wine + Culinary Festival. The only way to experience it is to be there!”
Winemaker Dinners (Friday, October 19) are
$150.00, reservations required; Grand Wine Tasting (Saturday, October 20),
$55 in advance, $65 day of event; Seminars are $5 each, advance tickets
suggested; Jazz Concert (Saturday, October 20), $40 each, Gulfside Brunch
(Sunday, October 21), $35 in advance, $45 day of event. Connoisseur Packages
offering the entire weekend premiere experience also are available. Rosemary
Beach Cottage Rentals also offers packages including event passes with
the rental of accommodations. For more information and tasting kits go
to: www.coastalwinetour.com or
call 800.239.9880. 
For the most recent info on this event and others,
check our Destin Special Event Calendar.
