Bacchus on the Beach returns with perfect pairing

Food and wine go together like sand and the ocean.

But when all four are paired, you get Bacchus on the Beach.

The “celebration of food and wine” is returning Nov. 9 and 10 to The Resort at Longboat Key Club.

The celebration begins with two dinner events on Nov. 9 and the Bacchus on the Beach Stone Crab Celebration and Winemaker Auction will bring it to an end on Nov. 10.

The Somm-Jam Dinner, will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the North Beach of the resort. The evening will begin with a multicourse dinner hosted by master sommelier Michael Jordan. Wine pairings will include selections from various wineries such as Capensis, Galerie and Freemark Abbey. After dinner, the evening will end with sommeliers and musicians performing around the fire pit and sharing wine.

The other dinner option is the Breganze Harvest: Maculan Winemakers of Breganze, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Portofino Ristorante. Guests will go on a journey of Italian-inspired cuisine paired with the Maculan Family wines of Breganze. Angela Maculan will shares varietals and vintages from her estate.

On Nov. 10, food and wine lovers will gather for the stone crab and wine celebration on the resort’s beach.

“I think it’s just the energy,” said Bob Weil, Longboat Key Club food and beverage director. “The energy in that tent, it’s seeing people find things they like. A lot of times we’ll have attendees who have been out to Sonoma, France, Napa or Italy and run into someone and say ‘I’ve been at your property.’ That’s always the coolest.”

More than 100 selections of wines from featured wineries, winemakers and producers will be available at the tasting, along with culinary offerings from the chefs at the resort and, of course, stone crab.

This year’s beneficiary is Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, which was also the beneficiary last year. Mote is continuing work on multiple projects that event proceeds will help.

Since 2012, Mote has worked with the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge and SCUBanauts International. Veterans and youth volunteers work at Mote’s underwater coral nursery in the Florida Keys alongside Mote scientists, which helps accelerate their coral reef restoration efforts.

In addition, what Mote brings to the community and the location of the resort on the water, bring the two together even further.

Weil said Mote and the resort have been partners for years, and part of their relationship has been their shared ecological focus.

The celebration will also include an auction. Items include admission to a Mote summer camp, an aquarium membership and exclusive behind-the-scenes tour for the winner and five friends. Outside of Mote items, wine tours, trips and boutique wines are also up for grabs.

The dinners on Nov. 9 are each $160. The Stone Crab Celebration and Winemaker Auction is $175. A Celebration pass, which includes one wine dinner and access to the Stone Crab Celebration and Winemaker Auction is $300. To reserve tickets and accommodations, call the Longboat Key Club membership office at 941-387-1663 or email [email protected].