We want to make wine approachable, engaging, and above all, fun!
We curate and share exciting upcoming wine events, from intimate tastings to lively gatherings, fostering a culture where everyone - from newcomers to seasoned connoisseurs - can discover, learn, and savor the diverse world of wine together. From Perdido Key, up to Pace and Milton, over to Navarre, and everywhere along the Gulf Coast in between, we seek to showing people how fun and enjoyable wine can people.
Come sip, explore, and connect with us as we uncork the fun of wine in our community!
GCW was born from the desire to demystify the world of wine.
Meet our founder
Alex is a native of Virginia and has made Pensacola his home. After 12 years of active duty military service, most of which was spent with Special Operations, Alex has gone back to his wine roots. He is an Air Force pilot and currently flies with the Reserves as a Hurricane Hunter, flying into both Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes and the Atmospheric Rivers Storms off of the West Coast. He created Gulf Coast Wine to show how fun and accessible wine is, bring people together and help them navigate their own wine journey.
Alex’s mother is from the Alto Douro Region of Portugal, which allowed Alex to spend a lot of his youth exploring his family’s vineyards, olive orchards, and cork trees, He grew up soaking in the whole grape-growing and wine-making process.
He owns two small vineyards in the Douro - right on the border with Spain AND he is an accomplished wine taster. Alex has been awarded the Level 2 Certification of Wine from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. He is the Vice President of our local chapter of the American Wine Society (the Emerald Coast Chapter). Alex is currently working on his Level 3 WSET Certification as well as becoming a Certified Wine Judge with the American Wine Society.
Alex has written about his wine journeys in Portugal, Spain, and California (which you can check out in the Articles section). If reading isn’t your thing, no worries - you can catch Alex at many of the wine events around town. You’ll find him pouring a mystery wine, teaching newcomers how to properly hold a wine glass, and sharing his excitement and knowledge for what brings us all together - WINE!