One of the top events of the year in the Jacksonville area is Players Championship held at the TPC at
Sawgrass. This is one of the elite tournaments on the PGA golf schedule. The best golfers in the world compete not only for a part of the over $9,000,000 purse, but for the right to be called the Players Champion…the money goes away but the title is forever. Each year thousands of golf fans, the sports press and media and the finest golfers on the planet converge on Ponte Vedra, Florida for this world-class event.

Along with this sports spectacular is another tradition unlike any other, the TPC Wine Tastings at the ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in Ponte Vedra. The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights before the tournament begins on Thursday, ABC in Sawgrass Village holds a trio of wine tastings befitting the splendor of the TPC Tournament. Each night a different wholesale partner gets the show to themselves, showcasing some of the finest wines and spirits in their vast portfolios.

On Wednesday night, the grand finale, a cigar smoker organized by Chris Gwaltney, ABC’s cigar guru, is held outside to the joy of all the many cigar aficionados in attendance. Over 100 of our guests stopped into this small in size, but huge in atmosphere ABC store to rub elbows with fellow fine wine, cigar and spirit appreciators--not to mention the chance run-in with the occasional PGA golfer stopping into the area’s best wine shop to pick up a bottle or two of his favorite pre-tournament beverage. This year, our samplings included Silver Oak Napa Cabernet, Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet, Cakebread Chardonnay, Glenfidditch 18 Year Old, La Gerla Brunello d'Montalcino and Nicolis Amarone. If you have never been fortunate enough to attend one of these great tastings, mark your calendar for the second week of May next year and join the fun!

Oh, and as far as the golf tournament goes, this year’s Players Championship set a new attendance record. So as the dusk began to settle on yet another TPC week of great golf and wonderful wines, Tiger Woods was handed his second crystal trophy crowning him as the Players Champion of 2013.

Ken Amendola, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

Follow him on Twitter @abcwinekena