Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation is kicking off its 10-year anniversary with a ‘Tasting of Champions’ event at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa this Friday, January 30.

Attendees can sample over 600 wines that were entered into the upcoming South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival, including medal winners in more than 60 groups. Light appetizers will also be available to accompany the wines.

This year’s Wine and Food Festival will host the charity’s 10th annual auction, and organizers hope it will be their best year yet. “Our goal is to reach $10 million in donations to children’s charities in Northwest Florida after our 10^th annual auction this year,” said John Russell, president of Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.

A  panel of regional wine experts have scored 600 wines entered into the South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival private wine judging competition.

On Friday, January 30, the public is invited to taste all the wines entered in the competition, including ‘Best in Show Red’ and ‘Best in Show White’ winners. The event is structured in a walkabout format with the wines grouped by category, making this an ideal event for wine aficionados and beginners alike.

The event is a prelude to the Northwest Florida Beaches Ultimate Wine Week, April 23-26, when South Walton becomes the epicenter of the wine world for the 10th annual Destin Charity Wine Auction and the South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival.

Proceeds from the Tasting of Champions as well as the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival benefit Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and children in need in Northwest Florida. In 2014, DCWAF donated over $2 million to 12 local children’s charities, including Children in Crisis, Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast, Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Youth Village, Shelter House, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Emerald Coast Autism Center, Horizons, Pathways for Change, Opportunity, Inc. and Food for Thought.

Tickets are $50 per person and may be purchased online.