DCWAF Announces 2015 Celebrity Vintners

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation Announces Bill Phelps of Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Marc Perrin of Chateau de Beaucastel as the 2015 Celebrity Vintners
The ultimate wine weekend, April 24-26, features patron dinners, reserve tasting, live auction, wine festival and more

DESTIN, Fla. - (April 2, 2015) – The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), named among the top five wine auctions in the country by Wine Spectator Magazine, announces its 2015 honorary vintners for its 10th anniversary wine auction weekend, April 24-26, 2015. Bill Phelps of Joseph Phelps Vineyards will serve as the 2015 Honorary Vintner and Marc Perrin of Chateau de Beaucastel has been named the 2015 International Honorary Vintner. 

“It is an extreme honor to have not one but two honorary vintners for our 10th anniversary celebration,” said John Russell. “This is a milestone year for the Destin Charity Wine Auction and it is a privilege to host Marc Perrin and Bill Phelps, two highly regarded vintners, both of whom are setting the bar for innovation while respecting winemaking traditions.” 

Joseph Phelps Vineyards, located in both Napa Valley and the Sonoma Coast, began more than four decades ago and has transformed from an entrepreneurial adventure into one of the most renowned vineyards in the country. Its flagship wine, Insignia, is recognized as one of the world’s greatest wines and 32 of 38 vintages have been rated 90 or more points by various wine publications, including three perfect 100 point scores for the 1991, 1997 and 2002 vintages from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate in Mr. Parker’s Historical Tasting of Insignia report, published November 2013. Bill Phelps, president of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, will serve as the National Honorary Vintner, and will be paired with Celebrity Chef Cindy Hutson of Ortanique in Miami and Grand Cayman at his Patron Dinner and will be honored at the auction. 

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome my fellow vintners, chefs and patrons to this year’s 10th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction,” said Bill Phelps. “A marvelous event like this one succeeds through the hard work and dedication of many and I am thrilled to represent my family as this year’s Honorary Vintner and hope 2015 serves as the most successful auction yet.” 

Traveling from France, International Honorary Vintner Marc Perrin is representing Chateau de Beaucastel. For more than a century, Famille Perrin has been a trailblazer in the wine industry and has become the largest owner of vineyards in the best terroirs of France’s Southern Rhône Valley. Marc Perrin is the son of Jean-Pierre Perrin and the grandson of Jacques Perrin, a gifted winemaker and one of the first winemakers to try organic practices in his vineyards as well as test innovative techniques in his cellar. Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Perrin is continuing to innovate while maintaining absolute respect for the soil, a commitment to manual methods and a deep belief that organic viticulture is the only way to express the true essence of the terroir. 

Perrin is also recognized for his partnership with star couple, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie. The couple released Miraval in 2012 with Chateau de Beaucastel’s trademark of only using organic grapes. Perrin will join Famille Perrin Chef Laurent Deconinck for a Patron Dinner on Friday, 
present a wine seminar at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival on Saturday at 1 p.m. and then proceed to his honorary role at the Destin Charity Wine Auction at 3 p.m.

“I am truly honored to be a part of such a wonderful wine auction this year,” said Perrin. “The Destin Charity Wine Auction is located in such a beautiful community and through their efforts, hundreds and thousands of children will benefit and have their lives changed forever.” 
The ultimate wine weekend, April 23-26, is filled with exclusive events and activities for wine enthusiasts. On Friday, private Patron Dinners pair celebrity chefs with featured domestic and international vintners. On Saturday at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is held in conjunction with the Destin Charity Wine Auction. On Saturday afternoon, the DCWAF reserve tasting and silent auction provide the prelude to the exhilarating live auction, which features 76 live and almost live auction lots, ranging from one-of-kind experiences in Italy, Switzerland, and France, including a stay Château de Beaucastel’s Guest House in Vinsobres, to highly coveted lots of rare wines. On Sunday, the fun continues during the Grand Tasting at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. Funds raised support children in need in Northwest Florida through 12 charity partners in Walton and Okaloosa counties. 

A limited number of tickets for Patron Dinners, which include tickets to the Charity Auction, are still available. For ticket information, please contact [email protected]. To learn more about the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and ultimate wine weekend visit www.dcwaf.org. 

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About Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s (DCWAF) mission is to connect wine enthusiasts to raise money to benefit children in need in Northwest Florida. Founded in 2005, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation has donated more than $8 Million to Northwest Florida charities through hosting world-class wine and culinary events. These funds have impacted the lives of over 50,000 youth, including those afflicted by health issues and abuse. DCWAF is recognized as one of the nation’s ‘Top 10 Charity Wine Auction in the U.S.’ by Wine Spectator Magazine. Learn more at DCWAF.org or facebook.com/DCWAF.

About South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is an annual charity event held the last weekend of April. The festival features a stunning showcase of the best wines the world has to offer. Celebrity wine producers and chefs present fine wine and food pairings from the world’s most famous appellations. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food seminars, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment. The event is a major fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: SoWalWine.com.