Ocean Reef Resorts is pleased to be able to announce the imminent arrival of the 27th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival which runs from Thursday, April 18th thru Sunday, April 21st at the Village of Baytowne Wharf. This popular Destin event has come to be known as "the Kentucky Derby of wine festivals" and receives accolades of praise from media across the country. Sandestin is one of the most beautiful resorts in the nation and Baytowne Village is like a charming Disney version of New Orleans.  It is the perfect place to hold this special kind of venue. Ocean Reef offers fine, distinctive private vacation rentals within the prestigious, gated community of Sandestin and in adjoining Miramar Beach for those of you who are planning to attend. Many of our guests partake in this wine festival as an annual tradition and for good reason.

Sandestin Wine Festival

Nearly 800 bottles of both domestic and international wines will be featured for the wine tasting from over eighty vineyards across the globe. Retail tents will be nearby with special attendee discounts so you may purchase favorites and restock your own wine cellar back home. Wine aficionados will enjoy meeting wine makers in person, obtaining extensive details about various vineyards and acquiring rare bottled selections at discount prices. Novices will have fun as well, since demonstrations will help them learn about wine tasting and compare a variety of vintages in all price ranges. It's no wonder that Destin Magazine has named the Sandestin Wine Festival as "The Best Annual Event" along the Emerald Coast as it has become increasingly popular every year since its inception back in 1986.

For "early birds", the festivities kick off on Thursday night as Baytowne Village restaurants icluding Marlin Grill and Bistro Bijoux will be serving special dinners complemented by choice wines carefully selected to bring out the true flavor of each meal.  Bistro Bijoux is a quaint, French style restaurant that usually features nouvelle New Orleans cuisine in an intimate setting with a wine bar and a fireplace. Marlin Grill is an upscale, resort casual restaurant for fine dining that features fresh seafood and grilled steaks. Both offer outdoor dining areas since Bistro Bijoux has a covered patio overlooking the lagoon and the Marlin Grill has a raised uncovered deck that faces the Village Green. The main wine tasting event occurs on Friday, April 19th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm and then again on Saturday, April 20th from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Coastal Living magazine will be hosting a Culinary Pavilion on the Village Events Stage with thirty minute cooking demonstrations by area celebrity chefs. Judges including vineyard owners, food writers and restaurateurs from across the Southeastern US  will judge many of the wines presented at the event. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be announced and awarded. These will be bestowed upon domestic as well as international labels.

Paula Deen, known the as "Queen of Southern Cuisine" will be this year's special celebrity guest. This vivacious Southern gal is nationally known for her televised cooking shows, her popular magazine and as the bestselling author of over ten million cook books. She will be hosting a special Southern Lunch at the Marlin Grill on Saturday between 11:00am and 1:00pm at the Marlin Grill. Limited tickets are available for her wonderful lunch which will include some of her favorite dishes paired of course, with the appropriate wine. You will also have the opportunity to meet with her personally and even have a photo op. Later in the day, Paula will be on the Events Plaza Stage at 2:15 and 3:45pm giving thirty minute cooking demonstrations of her famous Southern cooking. A book signing will also be held for the first lucky 150 petitioners.

The Sandestin Wine Festival concludes on Sunday, April 21st at the Marina Grill which overlooks the impressive yachts that harbor year round in Sandestin on Choctawhatchee Bay. A Champagne Brunch is planned featuring a wide variety of delicious, seasonal culinary food offerings. Besides the free flowing champagne, there will also be a "Create your Own" Bloody Mary Bar and live musical entertainment so draw straws to see who the designated driver will be! Tickets for the Brunch are $38 so make your reservations now.

Besides the "eat, drink and be merry" theme of the Sandestin Wine Festival, it's nice to know that a sizable donation from all ticket proceeds will benefit a nationally recognized charitable program called The Fisher House. This unique private-public partnership supports America's military and their families in time of need. It recognizes the special sacrifices made by our men and women in arms who have suffered catastrophic physical injuries or devastating illness and are in need of treatments for rehabilitation. Special housing is provided for the military patients and their families on twenty-three bases and near twenty-one VA Hospitals across the nation. Last year 200,000 days of accommodation were provided to over 8,000 families enduring hardships associated with such injuries while patients were in treatment. The Fisher House Foundation, (fisherhouse.org), is based out of Rockville, Maryland providing counseling, comfort and compassion in these special homes near hospitals conducting medical needs.