Art and Wine continues at beach today

Art and wine came together Saturday on Santa Rosa Island at the first Pensacola Beach Art and Wine Weekend.

The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce organized the event, which uses a trolley to transport visitors among 20 shops that offer free wine tastings. The event continues today.

Local artists have set up outdoor booths, though Jeff Elbert, president of the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, said they envisioned the event as more than just another art festival.

"Instead of booth after booth, we wanted to transform the whole island into an artist village with a trolley transporting people from venue to venue," Elbert said. "I think it's doing great. The response from the art community was overwhelming."

At the far end of the trolley line, Angelika Simmons, owner of Geronimo's Outpost, said the event was a great idea.

"I love it that the trolley stops through and drops people off," Simmons said. "We should have been doing this for a long time."

Elbert said the event has a future on the island.

"We're definitely going to make this an annual event," Elbert said.

Lynn Graham drove out to the island from Pensacola for a taste of wine and a look at the art.

"I love it. Word's going to get around that it's a great little thing," Graham said. "I've already spent $85, and this is the first stop."