DCWAF announces new WaterColor wine festival

From Nov. 2-5, a new wine and food festival will take place in the South Walton area.

Produced by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), past partners in the production of Seaside’s Seeing Red Wine Festival, Harvest Wine & Food Festival is poised to be one of the Southeast’s premier fall events and will provide patrons the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections while enjoying the iconic beach town of WaterColor.

“We are thrilled to present Harvest Wine & Food Festival to the Emerald Coast,” said DCWAF President John Russell. “We are thankful to our friends at WaterColor for coming on board as our official venue and lodging sponsor for this extraordinary event benefiting children in need in Northwest Florida.”

Ticket prices vary based upon event day and are on sale at www.dcwaf.org/tickets. Weekend passes and lodging packages are also available.

Currently ranked the No. 3 “Top Charity Wine Auction in the US” by Wine Spectator Magazine, 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 will feature some of the world’s premier vintners, proprietors and award-winning chefs showcased throughout four days that are sure to delight food and wine enthusiasts alike. The festival kicks off Thursday evening with a variety of wine dinners held along iconic County Highway 30A each featuring a celebrity winemaker. Dinner locations and participating vintners will be announced later this summer.

On Nov. 3, the Al Fresco Reserve Tasting held at WaterColor Beach Club will offer festival-goers a selection of library wines that feature rare vintages not easily accessible to the average consumer. An array of perfectly paired hors d’oeuvres and live music all set to a breathtaking Gulf coast sunset will make for a memorable and elegant evening.

The Grand Tasting, held from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 4 in Cerulean Park, is the main event and is designed to highlight harvest season at the beach. Large seafood, barbecue and provisional stations manned by celebrity chefs and complimented by the best restaurants along the Emerald Coast are combined with tasting stations featuring over 150 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 that sets us apart,” 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 barbecue 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 Nov. 3 and will run through noon on Nov. 5. The opportunity to purchase wine and other merchandise on-site will also be available throughout the festival.