Another wine festival to tell you about.  "The Best Seafood & Wine Festival in the Country" is what Coastal Living Magazine calls this festival.  Put on by The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort on Longboat Key in Florida, it's the "Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival" held this year from November 13 to the 16th.

For the past 18 years the Resort has put on this festival, which features seven chefs and seven vintners from around the country for a weekend of culinary demonstrations and wine tastings.  The tastings include a "Sand-Between-Your-Toes Tasting" right on the beach. 

I went to the Festival's website, but only two chefs have been listed so far:  Blue Stem's Colby and Megan Garrelts.  However, in past years, chefs have included

• Jean-Louis Palladin
• Bob Kinkead
• Masaharu Morimoto
• Andrew Zimmern
• David Burke
• Michelle Bernstein
• Kerry Simon
• Larry Forgione
• Dickie Brennan

Tickets for Festival events range from $90 for Culinary Demonstrations on Friday and Saturday mornings; $200 for the Sand-Between-Your-Toes Tasting;" and $245 for the Chef's Collaboration Gala, which is a 7-course meal and dancing.

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort also has special event packages:

One guest in a one-bedroom suite - $1,290

Two guests in a one-bedroom suite - $1,895

Two guests in a two-bedroom suite - $2,055

Three guests in a two-bedroom suite - $2,650

Four guests in a two-bedroom suite - $3,250

The packages include three days of Festival events, lodging, and assorted gifts. 

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort is located on Longboat Key, Florida, a tropical beachfront resort off the coast of Sarasota.  You can get more information at ColonyBeachResort.com.