It’s a crisp fall evening at Cerulean Park in WaterColor, Florida, and guests have gathered under the tent’s twinkling lights to sip and savor wines from over a dozen vineyards and wineries. The event: the 8th Annual Harvest Wine and Food Festival, hosted by The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF). 

Known as one of the premier wine and food festivals in the Southeast, the festival encompasses a series of events over four days, showcasing epicurean excellence, drawing in wine enthusiasts and foodies alike.

Attendees experienced a series of curated culinary events, including exclusive winemaker dinners, the main Grand Tasting event, and a lively Harvest After Dark evening. Each of these experiences paired premium wines with exquisite dishes prepared by top chefs from across the region.

Tonight, at Harvest After Dark, tables are lined with bottles from over a dozen wineries as wine enthusiasts gather around to taste and learn about each variety. Guests stroll from vendor to vendor, sampling wines from world-class vineyards. The headlining wineries included AXR Napa Valley, which showcased wines such as their proprietary red blend and a signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Gamba Vineyards offered selections like their highly acclaimed Estate Old Vine Zinfandel. 

With these wines are many stories, which are shared between bites and sips. Napa Valley’s Mending Wall, whose tastings are guided by Emily Andrews, believe that wine is the perfect catalyst for conversation. The name “Mending Wall” is inspired by the famous poem by Robert Frost, in which two neighbors meet to repair the wall that divides their properties, contemplating the balance between separation and connection.

After a night under the stars, the highlight of the weekend, Grand Tasting on October 19, took place at WaterColor’s Cerulean Park, where guests enjoyed a wide array of wines, including rare vintages alongside gourmet samplings.

The final event of the weekend, the Parisian Cocktail Brunch, featured amuse-bouches from Birmingham chef Kristen Hall alongside specialty cocktails by Half Shell Vodka. 

As guests strolled and indulged through the weekend, attendees were not only celebrating the richness of regional cuisine– they were also contributing to a cause that aims to improve the lives of vulnerable children.

“We believe that food and wine are great connectors for our mission: to connect wine enthusiasts with the purpose of improving the lives of children in need,” says Kate MacMillan, Director of Marketing and Communications for DCWAF.

Founded in 2005, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation has donated more than $32 million to Northwest Florida children’s charities by hosting world class wine and culinary events. These funds have impacted the lives of over 100,000 youth, including those afflicted by health issues and abuse. Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation has been recognized as one of the nation’s ‘Top 10 Charity Wine Auctions in the U.S.’ by Wine Spectator Magazine for more than a decade.

If you missed the Harvest Wine and Food Festival, the DCWAF offers many opportunities to support their mission and work through events in the coming months. On February 1st, the foundation will host their 4th Annual Galentine’s Day Fundraiser. The goal of the event is to bring influential women in the community together to support one another while raising money for programs designed to empower young girls through DCWAF’s 17 partner children’s charities.

The DCWAF’s largest annual event, The 20th Anniversary Destin Charity Wine Auction, is scheduled for April of 2025, and will include a reserve tasting, a live auction, and multiple bidding opportunities, all to benefit children in need in Northwest Florida. Tickets will go on sale in January.

For tickets and information to attend one of DCWAF’s upcoming events, visit https://www.dcwaf.org/events.