Festival pours wines from around the world, all at Selby Five Points Park

Jamie Turner and Matthew Etre of Connecticut are a couple who never buy the same wine twice. 

They were visiting Etre's parents when they saw advertising for the Sarasota Wine Festival, which was held at Selby Five Points Park the night of March 21. 

"We're always looking for a new bottle of wine, like Friday night dinner or Saturday night dinner, so we're very open minded concerning different wines," Turner said.

After being there for a short time, they had already found two wines they wanted to share with Etre's stepfather, they said. 

The festival featured wines from countries around the world, along with live music, food trucks and vendors. However, there was also a cause behind it as well. 

This year's event was held for the benefit of Operation Warrior Resolution, which offers holistic health care to veterans and their families at no cost, focused on alleviating post-traumatic stress, anxiety and other issues that affect mental well-being.

Co-founder Bill Kwon said he and his wife, Cathy, established the event because they wanted a way they could choose to help where they felt a need, and he said holding the festival provided the opportunity. 

"Wine brings people together," he said. "It's been around for thousands of years, and it's a vehicle for people to connect and just relax, and this is a great city, the greatest time, and that's why we're able to do this."