October 30, 2008 Issue

What better way to celebrate the Beachcomber’s first-ever Wine Issue than with a cover from the immensely talented Cara Roy commemorating this year’s Seeing Red Wine Festival at Seaside? Talk about a successful event—they’re already up to number 18, and it’s only been eight years. You’ll find more information within these pages.

Prior to that, Niceville’s Tradewinds restaurant will host its annual wine tasting to benefit the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida Nov. 2. The event includes wines from various regions as well as a silent auction featuring fishing trips, weekend getaways, wine and art. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the restaurant or the Heritage Museum in Valparaiso. Call (850) 678-2615 for additional details.

My knowledge of wine is very limited, so I’m indebted to Bruce Collier, who wrote this issue’s business feature on Sandestin’s Beyond the Grape and offers his thoughts on La Botana, the popular Seagrove Beach restaurant that offers an extensive wine selection. A quick Internet search also turned up an article Bruce wrote about north Walton County’s Chautauqua Winery in 2006.

You’ll find that article on our Web site, www.thebeachcomber.org, along with a lot of other useful information from the archives (though it’s unfortunate we never reviewed the essential wine movie Sideways). We are also reprinting Breanne Boland’s review of the book The Billionaire’s Vinegar for obvious reasons.

Wine aside, this could possibly be the most jam-packed fortnight in the Beachcomber’s history, what with Halloween, Election Day, the Beachcomber Music Awards and Veterans Day all competing for the spotlight.

November is also National Novel Writing Month, according to the indispensable www.epromos.com. So let me get back to my Great American You-Know-What, and I’ll see you at the music awards.

- C.M.

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Letter to the Editor
Dear Mr. Manson,

Many thanks to you and the Beachcomber for publicizing the Oct. 11 Camp Helen State Park Ghost Walk and History Tour. Some 665 kids and adult attended, which netted the Friends of Camp Helen $2,400 to be used for park improvements.

Sincere thanks,
Helen Schroeder

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