The first round of featured winemakers has been announced for the 2018 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, taking place April 26–29 in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin’s Town Center. The festival once again has winemakers representing wineries and vineyards from around the world participating and pouring their fine wines and Champagnes.

South Africa, France and Oregon are the wine regions represented by three popular featured wineries.

Festival attendees will have the opportunity to meet these renowned winemakers and industry experts to discuss their wines, while tasting them.

Anthony Hamilton Russell owns Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Southern Right and Ashbourne wineries, located in Walker Bay, South Africa. He has built an international reputation for his Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines made at Hamilton Russell Vineyards. His Southern Right and Ashbourne wineries specialize in South Africa’s unique red variety, Pinotage and their lauded white wines, which reflect Sauvignon Blanc characteristics.

Hamilton Russell is known to be a passionate advocate of expressing origin – and soil structure in particular – in wines and aiming for more “classic” styling. He will be joined by his wife, Olive Hamilton Russell, a noted chef and cookbook author.

The Hamilton Russells will co-present one of the festival educational tasting seminars on Saturday, April 28.

Pinot lovers rejoice. David Adelsheim is director of Adelsheim Vineyard, which he founded with Ginny Adelsheim in 1971. He is recognized as one of the founders of the Oregon wine industry. On behalf of the Oregon wine industry, he has led work on clonal importation, wine labeling regulations, establishing statewide and regional industry organizations, and creation of industry events, such as the International Pinot Noir Celebration and Oregon Pinot Camp. He was given the industry’s highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, in February, 2012 by the Oregon Wine Board.

Champagne is always very popular at South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival as is the first Sunday tasting seminar which features the bubbly. Mathieu Pouchan is the export director for Delamotte and Salon Champagnes. House of Delamotte has been a benchmark in Champagne since 1760 and remains a highly sought-after and respected Champagne. It’s sister Champagne Salon is described as “simply put, it is a grand vin… with bubbles.” Festival attendees will be able to taste for themselves during the Grand Tastings and the Sundaytasting seminar at which Delamotte will be poured. At the VIP tasting, Pouchan will pour the finest of the Delamotte and Salon Champagne libraries.

Tickets are now on sale at reduced prices through January 1, when ticket prices increase.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Presented by Wine Enthusiast Media, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and Visit South Walton, the festival offers the ideal backdrop for a beach getaway. The Festival is made possible by the generous support of the following Founding Partners: Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Visit South Walton Tourist Development Council, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Wine World of Northwest Florida and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is the official lodging partner of the festival.

For more info, visit South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival.