South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival Donates $40,000 to Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

The annual South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival donated $40,000 to Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) to support 17 children’s charities in Northwest Florida on Aug. 31, 2022. The charity wine festival, founded by Chan Cox of Wine World, designates DCWAF as the sole recipient of the net proceeds of the event. More than 4,500 people attended the 2022 festival.

“Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation is honored to be the beneficiary of South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival. As the festival continues to grow, so does its generous contribution to our mission of helping children in need in Northwest Florida. This donation will make a positive impact in the lives of many, and it is a privilege to work side by side to make a difference for kids who need so much” said Karah Fridley-Young, President of DCWAF.

Destin Charity Wine Auction was held during the wine and food festival and raised $3.8 million dollars for the charitable organizations to address hunger, homelessness, abuse, and physical and mental challenges for thousands of children in Northwest Florida communities.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival took place April 21-24, 2022, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®, a mixed-use development located along South Walton’s picturesque Northwest Florida beaches. More than 800 wines, poured by dozens of noted national and international wine celebrities, highlighted the festival. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village and Tasting Seminars presented by featured celebrities were showcased.
 
Entertainment at the festival was provided by a who's who of Nashville songwriters who performed as part of the Nashville Songwriters Florida Sunshine Tour sponsored by Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) and Florida Division of Business Regulations in conjunction with BMI Nashville.
  
Festival founding partners include Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Visit South Walton Tourist Development Council, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and VISIT FLORIDA, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Wine World of Northwest Florida and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®. Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard and Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard are the official lodging partners of the festival. Rowland Publishing Inc. is the Official Media Sponsor of the festival.

Many thanks to our special culinary guests, including Chef Scott Plumley, Culinary Director, The Craft Bar, The Wine Bar, and South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival; Chef Yoshie Eddings, Harbor Docks; Jim Shirley Enterprises, South Walton, FL, Winner, Perfect in South Walton Grand Champion Executive Chef, The Bay, Great Southern Café; Chef Princeton McDonald, Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill, at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa; Rinske Working Cows Dairy, Slocomb, AL and Publix Super Market.  Grand Boulevard participating restaurants included Emeril’s Coastal; Black Bear Bread Company; everkrisp; Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Bar; Grimaldi’s Coal Brick Oven Pizzeria; Kilwin’s Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream; P.F. Chang’s China Bistro; Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant & Bar; The Wine Bar, Another Broken Egg.

Additional South Walton participating restaurants included The Craft Bar; Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant; Cabana Café; Beach Camp Brew Pub; Roux 30A; Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House; The Bistro at the Courtyard Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is indebted to the festival long-time and new sponsors, including Silver Sands Premium Outlets; Publix Super Market; Vintage Sign & Lights; RCI Landscaping;
Stolzle; Fisher Brown Bottrell Insurance; McCaskill & Company; Ecco Motors; McKibbon Hospitality; Culligan; Sowal.com and VIP Destin Magazine.

The 2023 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival takes place April 27-30.

Photo Caption: Founding partners and sponsors of South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival present $40,000 check to Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) to benefit children’s charities, Aug. 31, 2022. L to R: Karah Fridley-Young, DCWAF; Bill Bubel, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin® and Howard Group; Stacey Brady, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®; Morag Rosa, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®; Mary Kalkbrenner, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®; Dana Hahn, Howard Group; John Russell, DCWAF.