Seaside Wine Project Features Iconic Coleman Pavilion

The newest label from the Seaside wine collection features the Coleman Pavilion, the iconic obelisk on the beach in the center of Seaside, Florida. The Seaside rosé is the first of six varietals featuring the new label and is available now at Modica Market.

To celebrate, a special wine tasting will be held at Modica Market on Thursday, Aug. 27 from 5-7 p.m. Demetria McNeese of McNeese Distributing will be pouring and talking about the Seaside Wine Project family of wines.

The next two varieties to sport the new label will be the Seaside chardonnay and cabernet, slated to be stars at a wine tasting held at Seaside’s 45 Central Wine Bar during Homeowner’s Weekend in October.

The pinot noir will debut its new label during the 25th Annual Seeing Red Wine Festival, Nov. 5-8. Kokomo Winery owner and winemaker Erik Miller will be pouring and speaking about all of Seaside Wine Project wines during the festival.

The final two, in production now, are the Seaside cuvée and red zinfandel. These anticipated varieties will be available in early 2016.

Available by the glass or bottle exclusively from Seaside merchants, wine enthusiasts can choose from all the popular Seaside Wine Project varieties including the sauvignon blanc, a crisp chardonnay, pinot noir, cuvée and a light, red zinfandel. Modica Market, 45 Central, The Shrimp Shack, Bud & Alley’s, Great Southern Café, Amavida Coffee & Tea and Sóng airstream all carry the Seaside Wine Project wines. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bottle benefit The Seaside Institute.

The entire Seaside Wine Project family of wines was hand-picked by Seaside founders Robert and Daryl Davis in response to the continual interest and demand from patrons and visitors for the best-tasting and highest-quality wines. After taste-testing numerous varieties from various wineries, the choice was made in 2014 to form a partnership with Kokomo Winery in Sonoma, Calif.

Robert Davis said “The partnership with Kokomo Winery is a perfect fit: The idea of Seaside began with the notion of reviving traditions deeply rooted in the history of the Florida Gulf Coast and further fulfilling the dream of a place that would maintain a high degree of quality and character seamlessly tied by a common sense of community. Similar in vision, Kokomo Winery is rediscovering and reviving traditional techniques of growing grapes locally and making wines that are deeply rooted in the terroir of Sonoma, just as Seaside has rediscovered and revived Gulf Coast architecture and community building.”

Kokomo Winery owner and winemaker Erik Miller focuses the production of his single-vineyard wines on the special characteristics and qualities from the natural terrain and the climate of Sonoma County and its distinct appellations to offer flavorful, balanced, handcrafted wines. Miller says there are no shortcuts and Kokomo leaves its thumbprint off the wine in order to showcase the fruit and flavors that are born in the vineyard. Further, he believes small production techniques and relationships with growers allow the winery to produce and offer wines that are as individual and special as the vineyards from which they were born.

Named after Miller’s hometown, Kokomo, Ind., Kokomo winery is perched on 120 acres of prime Dry Creek Valley known as Timber Crest Farms. This unique and scenic property possesses a rich history in Sonoma County dating back to the mid-1800s. With nearly 40 years of wine grape growing experience under his belt, Miller says Kokomo Winery continues to gain more 90+ ratings and gold medals with each anticipated release.