When Ron and Denise Guntert began spending more time in Marathon, they brought with them more than just suitcases and sunhats.
Longtime members of the Sacramento/San Joaquin branch of the International Wine & Food Society (IWFS), the couple arrived with a deep appreciation for fine wine, memorable meals and the friendships that form around a table.
Inspired by their experiences in California, they introduced the idea of forming a branch in the Keys. Before long, together with friends in the community, the Florida Keys Wine & Food Society was officially established as one of many IWFS branches all over the world.
“We all love good wine, we all love good food and we all love getting together,” said Denise, the group’s secretary and event coordinator. “We started a group with 10 of us originally, and we’re now up to around 48 members from all over the Keys.”
Their mission is simple yet powerful: to bring people together to experience friendship through exceptional food and wine. The society hosts seven to nine events a year, ranging from casual gatherings to carefully-curated dinners.
“The events can be something as simple as going out on a pontoon boat for sunset with wine pairings and food,” Denise said. “We’ve had events at restaurants, we’ve had events in members’ homes, it just kind of varies. We’ll do something like a blind wine tasting where everybody brings a bottle of wine, puts it in a brown bag, and then we all taste it and try to guess the variety and share what we liked about it. Whatever the event is, we always have a lot of fun.”
On top of the blind tastings, she said, past and upcoming events include a Spanish paella dinner and gatherings at restaurants like Key West’s Little Pearl, Cudjoe Key’s Broil and Marathon’s Hideaway Cafe, the Rhum House and Lighthouse Kitchen and Bar. The group has enjoyed appetizers and wine at the Marathon Wild Bird Center and Crane House, followed up a Christmas trolley tour in Key West with a local dinner and tried out pre-meal favorites with a “progressive appetizer” event.
“We try to take events up and down the Keys,” Denise said. “Every time we get together, it’s just a great time with good people. It’s something different for people to do.”
A membership in the Florida Keys Wine & Food Society means automatic inclusion in the International Wine & Food Society. Members gain access to travel opportunities, special events and a quarterly magazine, along with curated trips such as wine-focused journeys through Paris and Bordeaux or a Rhine River cruise. For Ron and Denise, that international network is part of the appeal.
“We will call a branch in London and speak to someone from the London Branch letting them know we are coming for a visit,” Denise said. “They will give restaurant and hotel recommendations. (And) if they are having an event, we’re automatically included.”
While the wines may be carefully chosen and the venues thoughtfully selected, Denise said the real heart of the society is the community it creates.
“We’ve met so many amazing people that joined because they were new to the Keys,” she said. “We have some people that are in their 30s, and we have some people in their 70s. Everybody just mixes and flows together so beautifully. At every event we have, people greet each other like they haven’t seen each other forever.”
For those who love food, wine and good company, but prefer a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, the Florida Keys Wine & Food Society offers an easy way to plug into the community. For more information, visit iwfs.org/americas/florida-keys or follow @flkeyswinefoodsociety on Instagram and Florida Keys Wine & Food Society on Facebook.
