Suzor Wine Dinner at The Waterfront Restaurant January 22, 2026: A Spectacular 5-Course Feast with Vibrant Pairings
If you love the kind of night where the first sip makes you grin, the first bite makes you pause, and the whole table somehow feels like old friends even if you just met—this one’s for you. The Suzor Wine Dinner is coming to The Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria, and it’s shaping up to be an absolutely unforgettable winter highlight.
Here are the essentials (aka the “don’t-miss-this” details):
Suzor Wine Dinner at The Waterfront Restaurant
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Experience: A delicious 5 course meal with wine pairings featuring Suzor Wines
Tickets: $175 per ticket
Reservations: By reservation only
Location: 111 S Bay Blvd, Anna Maria
This is the kind of evening that’s equal parts culinary adventure and relaxed island celebration—an elevated, multi-course experience that still feels like Anna Maria: warm, welcoming, and effortlessly coastal.
Why a Wine Dinner at The Waterfront Restaurant Is Always a Big Deal
Wine dinners are special because they turn a meal into a story. Instead of ordering “a glass of this” and “an entrée of that,” you get a guided journey—each course intentionally designed to meet a wine at just the right moment.
That’s where the magic happens:
- The wine doesn’t just “go with” the food—it changes it (and the food changes the wine right back).
- Flavors get brighter, textures get smoother, hidden notes show up like surprise guests.
- The pacing is perfect—you’re not rushing, you’re not waiting forever, you’re just enjoying.
And at The Waterfront Restaurant—where the vibe is iconic Anna Maria and the dining experience is built for lingering—wine dinners feel right at home. You arrive, settle in, and suddenly the rest of the world gets quieter in the best possible way.
Meet Suzor Wines: Willamette Valley Energy with Old-World Heart
Suzor Wines comes from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a region that’s become world-famous for expressive, cool-climate wines—especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Suzor’s mission is beautifully simple: create wines that feel alive, honest, and true to the vineyards they come from. Their story is rooted in a desire to make wines that “resonate with vivacity and authenticity,” and that philosophy is exactly what makes them such a great fit for a thoughtful, food-forward wine dinner.
Even better? Suzor’s approach is influenced by fond memories of family meals in France’s Loire Valley—a place known for wines that are simply elegant and famously food friendly. That’s not marketing fluff—it’s a real style cue. Loire Valley wines are often bright, balanced, and built to make whatever’s on your plate taste even better. Suzor brings that same mindset to Oregon: make wines that belong at the table, not just in the glass.
If you want to explore Suzor before the dinner (or start pre-gaming responsibly, with “research”), you can learn more here: Suzor Wines official website. (Fair warning: reading about wine can lead to cravings.)
Willamette Valley Wines: Why Oregon Keeps Stealing the Spotlight
The Willamette Valley is often mentioned in the same breath as top cool-climate wine regions because it’s uniquely suited for grapes that thrive when they can ripen slowly. Pinot Noir, in particular, loves a place where the growing season is long and nuanced—where grapes develop aroma and structure without losing freshness.
The valley’s geography plays a big role. Mountain ranges help shape conditions, and the region is celebrated for the way small changes in site can create noticeably different wine personalities—especially with Pinot Noir. That’s a big reason Willamette Valley wines can feel so layered and so “place-specific.” You can read more about the region and its AVAs here: Willamette Valley AVA overviews.
So what does that mean for you at the dinner?
- Bright, fresh structure that pairs beautifully with seafood and seasonal dishes.
- Elegant Pinot Noir that can handle everything from roasted flavors to herb-driven plates.
- Chardonnay with energy—often vibrant and food-friendly rather than heavy.
In other words: these wines show up ready to work with a chef. And this dinner is all about that partnership.
From the Loire Valley to Anna Maria: The “Food-Friendly” Philosophy
Let’s talk about the Loire Valley influence, because it’s a big part of what makes this dinner concept so exciting. In the Loire, wine is often treated like another ingredient at the table—something that complements the meal instead of overpowering it. Loire wines are known for freshness, balance, and a natural ability to pair with a wide range of flavors.
That “simply elegant” style is exactly what you want in a multi-course dinner. You’re not looking for wines that shout over every plate—you want wines that:
- Lift citrus, herbs, and coastal flavors
- Soften richer textures
- Refresh your palate between courses
- Reveal new layers of aroma as the food changes
If you’re curious about Loire Valley wine styles (and why they’re so famously meal-friendly), here’s a great primer: Loire Valley Wine Guide.
What to Expect: A 5-Course Evening That’s Built to Wow
The Waterfront Restaurant’s Suzor Wine Dinner is a 5-course meal with pairings, and while the exact course-by-course menu may be revealed closer to the event, the format tells us a lot: you’re in for variety, progression, and that satisfying “finale” feeling when dessert (and the last pour) lands at the perfect time.
Here’s what a thoughtfully structured 5-course wine dinner typically does best—and what you can look forward to experiencing:
Course Progression That Actually Makes Sense
A great wine dinner builds like a playlist. You start bright and welcoming, move into richer, deeper flavors, and finish with something memorable. Expect pairings that begin crisp and lively, then evolve into more layered whites or reds, and end with a final course that feels like a mic drop—without needing actual microphones.
Pairings That Highlight the Best of Both Worlds
With Suzor’s Willamette Valley roots and Loire-inspired sensibility, the pairings are likely to emphasize elegance, balance, and freshness—wines that complement each plate rather than bulldozing it. That means each sip should feel intentional, not random.
A “Taste of Place” in Every Glass
One of the coolest parts of featuring a producer like Suzor is that the wines are meant to express vineyard character. You’re not just drinking “red wine” or “white wine”—you’re tasting Oregon’s cool-climate personality in real time, guided by food designed to make those details pop.
How to Get the Most Out of the Suzor Wine Dinner
If you want to fully enjoy the night (and remember it the next day), here are a few pro tips that don’t require a sommelier certificate:
- Show up a touch early. Getting settled before the first pour makes the whole evening smoother.
- Skip heavy perfume/cologne. Wine is aromatic—strong fragrances can flatten the experience.
- Take quick notes if you’re a “favorite finder.” Even a simple “Course 3 = YES” helps when you want to remember what you loved.
- Let your server guide you. Wine dinners move as a team sport—trust the pacing and enjoy the ride.
And most importantly: come hungry. This is a 5-course dinner. Nobody leaves thinking, “Wow, I really should’ve eaten first.”
Event Details One More Time (Because This Will Sell Out)
Suzor Wine Dinner
Thursday, January 22, 2026
6:30 PM
$175 per ticket
By reservation only
The Waterfront Restaurant
111 S Bay Blvd, Anna Maria
If you’ve been looking for the perfect excuse to plan a winter night out on Anna Maria—something elevated, special, and genuinely fun—this is it. A thoughtfully curated 5-course meal. Beautiful Suzor wines from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. A pairing philosophy inspired by the Loire Valley. And that unmistakable Waterfront Restaurant atmosphere that turns a dinner into a memory.
Make it a date night, a friends night, or a “treat yourself” night—just don’t make it a “wait too long” night.






