Sinfonia Gulf Coast announces Crescendo! 2024 Vintner Dinner pairings

Sinfonia Gulf Coast, our region’s only fully professional symphony orchestra, is pleased to announcedetails for its annual fundraiser Crescendo! A Cultural and Culinary Event Extravaganza, slated for March 1-3. 

On March 1 at 6 p.m. Crescendo! weekend will begin with a series of curated vintner dinners hosted in elegant homes, hotels, and halls throughout the Emerald Coast. Each dinner pairs the talents of local and national “celebrity” chefs with some of the country’s most acclaimed vineyards for a delicious evening of food and wine. As the Vintner Dinner lineup indicates, several proprietors and winemakers will attend to introduce and personally pour their wines.  

This year’s pairings include: Michelin-star Chef Edgar “Teddy” Panchernikov (Caviar Russe) paired with Karen and Stu Lerner, proprietors of The Lerner Project, hosted by Yvonne and Greg Lala at Hotel Effie; Chef Sean Massey (Darioush) paired with Darioush represented by Jodie McKenzie hosted by Mary Higdon at her home in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort; Chef Nikhil Abuvala (Roux 30A) paired with VGS Chateau Potelle represented by Kathi Cook hosted by Marisol and Tony Gullo and Stephanie and George Brennon Jr. at Churchill Oaks; Chef Tyler Simmons (Henderson Beach Resort) paired with Baldacci Wines represented by winemaker/proprietor Michael Baldacci hosted by Elizabeth and Jared Boswell at the Henderson; Chef Fleetwood Covington (Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood) paired with ADAMVS represented by Johnathan Robinson hosted by Yana Morgan and Justin Shane at Seagar’s; Chef Alan Baltazar (Market 30A) paired with Thomspon31-Fifty represented by proprietors Mike and Valerie Thompson and Post Parade wines represented by Georgia Taylor hosted by Velia Lala and Pamela Wellborn at Kelly Plantation; and Chef Dan Vargo (Coastal Cuisine) paired with Tournesol Estate Winery represented by proprietors Anne & Bob Arns hosted by Elizabeth and Bill Campbell and Carolyn and Todd Brigman at their home in Choctaw Beach.  

Vintner Dinner tickets are $500 per person and include all food, wine, and gratuities. 

The weekend culminates with Crescendo! Main Event set for March 3 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach. In addition to an entertaining cabaret performance by Isaac Mizrahi, this energy-infused event experience will celebrate the cultural and culinary arts by showcasing world-class vintners, expert spirit purveyors, “atmospheric” entertainers, and amazing auction items. Guests enjoy sparkling wine welcome, hors d'oeuvres, reserved table seating for a gourmet seated lunch, live and silent auctions, and an all-inclusive afternoon of incredible fun. 

“We’re elated to present a stellar roster of Vintner Dinners featuring carefully curated menus prepared by award-winning chefs, highly-rated fine wines — many personally poured by the winemakers and proprietors themselves — presented by our generous hosts in beautiful homes and venues along the Emerald Coast all to raise funds and awareness for our music education and community engagement outreach programs throughout Northwest Florida,” said Sinfonia Music & Artistic Director Demetrius Fuller. 

Proceeds from Crescendo! 2024 will benefit Sinfonia and its music education community engagement outreach programs, which include musicians/guest artists in schools, free orchestra concerts, bus transportation for students, Sinfonia Youth Orchestra program, Arts in Medicine initiative with Sacred Heart Hospital, and Link Up concerts for third through fifth graders in partnership with Carnegie Hall and more. 

For more information on how you can join Sinfonia’s team of volunteers, contact Beth Clavier at 850-460-8800 and bclavier@sinfoniagulfcoast.org. 

Tickets for all Crescendo! 2024 events are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sinfoniagulfcoast.org or call 850-460-8800.