Top 5 Wine Bars in and near Destin, FL

March 24th, 2023 by

When you want to enjoy a glass of crisp chardonnay or sparkling moscato, you can head to one of the top-rated wine bars in the Destin, Florida, area. This region offers some of the best wine on the Emerald Coast. Here are our top five wine bars you can visit in the Destin area.

The Wine Bar

A glass of red wine and a glass of white wine near a tray of grapes in Destin, FL

You can’t make a list of the best wine spots in Destin without mentioning The Wine Bar. The original bar, located at the Shoppes at Paradise Key across from the Destin Commons, has become so popular there are now three other locations in Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, and Pensacola. At The Wine Bar, you can gather with friends for lunch or happy hour on the outdoor patio or enjoy an intimate dinner in the wine cellar with your significant other.

The Wine Bar serves a variety of exquisite wines, from sparkling roses to bright whites to fruity reds. If you enjoy a soft red, try the 30A Pinot Noir, part of a collaboration with Oregon winemakers. It has aromas of blackberry, vanilla bean, and cedar, with red and black cherry flavors. There’s also a 30A Chardonnay, known for its crispness and notes of citrus and white peach. Don’t miss the daily happy hour, when you can get a carafe for the price of a large glass.

You can dine at The Wine Bar for lunch or dinner. You can order small plates, like the smoked salmon deviled eggs or baked brie, and share with the table. Other menu items include salads, sandwiches, and cheese boards.

Vin’tij Food & Wine

If you enjoy a perfectly paired glass of wine with your meal, make plans to visit Vin’tij Food & Wine. This award-winning restaurant, located in the Grand Boulevard in Sandestin, attracts people from across the world visiting the Emerald Coast. For over 20 years, Vin’tij Food & Wine has served innovative dishes alongside a curated menu of boutique wines.

Vin’tij Food & Wine regularly hosts wine dinners, where the chef prepares a special menu, pairing each course with a chosen wine. The restaurant also partners with various wineries for tastings, where you can sample new-to-you wines. If you want to take some home, you can stop in the Vin’tij Wine shop for a bottle or two of rare and specialty boutique wines, collected by owner Todd Reber.

In addition to its high-quality wines, Vin’tij Food & Wine serves lunch and dinner throughout the week. You can start your meal with a charcuterie board or other appetizer, like the Parmesan fries served with garlic chips and house aioli. Main courses include sandwiches, pasta, seafood, and daily chef specials. If you can, save room for one of the delectable desserts, such as the warm griddled lemon pound cake or the house-made ice cream sundae.

TASTE Tapas & Wine Bar

What can be better than wine and tapas? The TASTE Tapas & Wine Bar combines the two to provide a delightful dining experience. The bar in Fort Walton Beach serves brunch, fusion tapas, and a quality wine selection, along with beer and craft cocktails. It’s the perfect place to share some food with friends or family over a glass (or two) of wine.

The TASTE wine menu features an extensive collection of sparkling, fruity, and sweet whites and light or full-bodied reds. The house-made sangria is a favorite, available in red or white. There’s a selection of port wines that are perfect to pair with your dessert. You can also get wines on tap, like the Line 39 Pinot Grigio with citrus notes and flavors of lemon and lime.

If you want something to nibble while you sip, you can order hot or cold tapas, such as the deviled eggs, meatballs, or sauteed mussels. TASTE also serves cheese boards, breads, and a delicious brunch menu, available Friday through Sunday.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Located in Sandestin, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar offers exceptional fine dining, making it a top choice when you want to celebrate a special occasion with a glass of wine. You can enjoy your food and wine in the elegant indoor dining room or the idyllic outdoor patio. Fleming’s serves high-quality seafood and signature steaks made from USDA prime beef with salt-and-pepper seasoning.

You can enhance your meal with a beverage from Fleming’s wine bar. The thoughtfully curated menu of fine wines includes a selection of chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot wines. The featured BÖEN Pinot Noir, made in California, offers a smooth finish with notes of warm spice, pairing perfectly with the filet mignon or salmon fillet. If you have questions about other wines to pair with your meal, the knowledgeable staff can point you in the right direction.

Twisted Grape Wine Bar

For good conversation and good wine, head to the Twisted Grape Wine Bar in Shalimar, Florida. This eclectic wine bar opened several years ago with the goal of encouraging interaction and socialization. There are no TVs anywhere in the bar, and the owners make it a point to get to know their customers, making this spot a favorite among many Destin-area locals.

The Twisted Grape Wine Bar serves wine, champagne, and some beer. Its wine menu evolves monthly, usually featuring around 30 different varietals. The bar serves its namesake Twisted wines, produced in California, along with some other favorites. The Twisted Grape hosts weekly flight nights, when you can get $2 off a flight of wines. With a flight, you can pair reds like malbec, pinot noir, or cabernet sauvignon with whites like moscato or sauvignon blanc. You can also try the Twisted Grape cocktail, made with champagne, frozen grapes, and grape juice.

Along with its wine menu, The Twisted Grape serves small plates, soups and salads, paninis, burgers, and flatbreads. Dinner options, served after 5 p.m., include the house lasagna, caprese chicken penne pasta, and a nightly dinner feature. Reservations are recommended.

Now you know more about five of the best wine bars in Destin, Florida. What’s your favorite type of wine to drink? If you’re a wine connoisseur, do you know of any other bars we should add to this list? Send a message to Allen Turner Chevrolet and let us know. As a locally owned dealership serving Okaloosa County, we enjoy highlighting some of the other businesses that make the Destin area so special.

 

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