Sixth Annual HARVEST WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

A Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation Event

BY TODD COSTON

When summer ends and the leaves begin to fall, our sleepy beach town takes a break from the hustle and bustle of the peak season, saying goodbye to our summer guests. Though long days at the beach are just around the corner, there is one thing we locals and visitors alike all look forward to — the Harvest Wine and Food Festival. Rated as one of the premier wine and food festivals in the Southeast and presented by the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, the Harvest Wine and Food Festival sets the stage for some of the finest foods and wines amongst 30A and the Southeast.

The 2022 sixth annual Harvest Wine and Food Festival began on an October Thursday, as is tradition, with dining experiences across several exclusive dining venues scattered along the Emerald Coast. Presented by Setco and 360 Blue in a private 360 Blue home in Watercolor, the Dinner of the Senses featured chef Craig Richards, a James Beard Award Foundation semifinalist hailing from Atlanta, and wines from Russian River and Sonoma provided by Senses Wines. Other notable events held Thursday included a Tarpon Cellars Wine Dinner at Ovide, a sold out Ovid Napa Valley Wine Dinner at Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood, and a Booker Vineyards Wine Dinner at Vin’tij in Grand Boulevard.

Friday, the extravagant festivities continued with the Women with Grit Wine Dinner, featuring Saint Helena Winery and Chef Kristen Hall and presented by Good Grit and 360 Blue in a private 360 Blue 30A home, as well as the Winemaker Dinner featuring Reynolds Family Winery at the debut Italian eatery, Mimmo’s 30A in Blue Mountain Beach.

Saturday morning welcomed the main event of the festival, the Grand Tasting, held in Watercolor. The Harvest festival provides a private shuttle, removing any of the worry of transportation and allowing guests to relax into the experience. As the day begins, festival guests flock from near and far amongst the tropical flowers and shady oaks of Cerulean Park while local vendors present a variety of world-class wines, as well as delicacies from some of the best culinary talent across the Southeast. Highlights included a delectable chili, lime and watermelon radish flounder crudo, presented by Roux 30A in Grayton, and a selection of boutique Napa Valley wines from DiBacco Importing and Distributing of Panama City Beach.

Strolling the walkways of the festival under the shade of the trees, there is a wine type and flavor profile for every guest, leaving no palate wanting. There’s newly inspired blends and tried-and-true classics from all over the country, an option waiting to fill the glass of every type of wine connoisseur.

Whether it's decadent barbeque and slaw, a charcuterie board to graze or an amaretto truffle, the festival has the most delightful treats to fuel a day of joy and laughter with friends. The beer garden is set in a vast, open lawn in the park, perfect for a stroll in the afternoon sun with a cold beer in hand. Sipping on hand-batched craft beer from all over the Southeast while surrounded with friends and live music, the festival brings the energy of community we all hold so dear. The festival closed with an enchanted agave-inspired cocktail brunch on Sunday to wrap up the weekend and say goodbye to dear friends. This year Harvest featured an Agave Road Trip Brunch with chef Phil McDonald.

With all of this, it’s no surprise that DCWAF’s annual fundraising event has garnered recognition as the fifth most successful charity wine auction in the U.S., by Wine Spectator magazine, and has been included in their top 10 ranking for over a decade. The DCWAF organization has been able to raise money for children in need in Northwest Florida, donating more than

$28 million to local children’s charities since its founding in 2005, through hosting events such as the Harvest Wine & Food festival, as well as other worldclass wine and food events. As a result, the organization has impacted the lives of over 100,000 youth, including those afflicted by health issues and abuse. This year, the charity held a virtual auction featuring rare wine, trips and experiences, hosted in conjunction with the festival weekend, and raised more than $100,000 for children in need.

“Being able to craft a wine and food festival from scratch has been one of the most challenging and rewarding projects for the DCWAF team,” said DCWAF director of marketing Kate MacMillan.

“Over the years, we’ve expanded our event schedule, elevated our celebrity talent, and really worked hard to build a high-end festival that further compliments the DCWAF brand and helps us raise money for children in need in Northwest Florida. What started as a three-day festival is now a four-day festival with almost 10 events embedded across South Walton.”

Although the sun has set on the sixth annual Harvest Wine and Food Festival, MacMillan noted, there is something we can anticipate every year:

“A world-class festival experience that includes something for every palate to enjoy, while raising money for a good cause and set in the beautiful 30A community of Watercolor.”

HARVEST WINE & FOOD

FESTIVAL 2023 will be hosted October 19–22, featuring wine dinners, the Grand Tasting, a cocktail brunch and more. Tickets to the seventh annual Harvest Wine & Food Festival will be available in July. For more information on the Harvest Wine & Food Festival or the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, call 850.650.3732 or email info@dcwaf.org.