Santa Rosa Beach

The Bay isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable pour with waterfront views and a Wine Spectator stamp to back it up. Come for the Gulf seafood, order the Sonoma-Cutrer, and enjoy the bay.

Great Southern Café isn't trying to reinvent the wine list, and it doesn't need to — it's a well-maintained, California-focused program that does exactly what a good coastal Southern restaurant should. Send your friends here knowing the wine won't let them down, even if it won't blow their minds.

Farm & Fire is a reliable wine stop for the Choctawhatchee Bay crowd — California-focused, fairly priced, and perfectly matched to a casual night watching the sun go down over the water. Don't come for the wine list depth, but you won't be disappointed by what's here.