Sandestin Wine Festival Announces Winning Wines For 2012

DESTIN, FL, Feb. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - The Sandestin Wine Festival, Florida's most established wine festival, today announced its "Best of Show" and other wine winners for 2012.

Scheduled for this April 26-29, the Sandestin Wine Festival is known as the "Kentucky Derby of Wine Festivals," and is a picture perfect event complete with white tents, flowing wine, gourmet food and live music.   The event is one of the best of the year and draws thousands of people to The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

With the pouring of more than 600 wines, wine experts meet in advance to judge the wines.   Wines are divided into 70 categories by variety, style, and price. The top three wines in each category are awarded the gold, silver, and bronze awards.

Judges raised their glasses for the "2012 Best of Show" designations:

• The "Best of Show Red" this year is the 2009 Garrigue Vacqueyras from Southern Côtes du Rhône, France.
• "Best of Show White" is the 2010 "La Crele, a Sauvignon Blanc by Domain Thomas Sancerre in the Loire Valley, France.

A complete list of winning wines, including "best buys" is listed at www.sandestinwinefestival.com.

Sandestin Wine Festival guests will have an opportunity to taste these and hundreds of other outstanding wines at the festival. Grand Wine Tastings will be held at The Village of Baytowne Wharf on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29 from 1 - 5 p.m.

This year's festival, which is co-sponsored by Coastal Living Magazine, will also feature international wine celebrities and leading chefs, an expanded Mediterranean themed Culinary Pavilion, educational seminars and even a special retail tent so guests can purchase their favorite selections at reasonable prices.

Deluxe accommodations from the Beach to the Bay are available for this popular festival.  Special rates include a free night with the purchase of four (Code FREE5), and a packages including an overnight stay plus tickets (Code WINE12).

For more information about the 26^th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival at the Village of Baytowne Wharf or to purchase tickets online, visit www.sandestinwinefestival.com.   Group discounts are also available.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort was rated the #1 resort in Destin and on Florida's Emerald Coast.  It offers the most complete resort experience for all seasons and all ages.  Sandestin invites guests to enter a world of 2,400 acres including 30 charming neighborhoods with 1,300 condominiums, villas, town homes, hotel style rooms and other vacation rentals.  A member of Visit South Walton, Sandestin offers more than seven miles of sugar white sand beaches and pristine bay front, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, 19 swimming pools, a 98-slip marina, certified children's programs, a fitness center and spa, 65,000 square feet of meeting space and a pedestrian village featuring a host of boutique shops, casual and fine dining restaurants and nightlife.

Sandestin is offering a wide variety of discount accommodations and overnight packages for the Sandestin Wine Festival.  Visit www.sandestin.com or call 1-866-91-BEACH for information.

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