A Taste of South Africa: An Exclusive Wine Dinner at Sedona

There are dinners you enjoy, and then there are dinners that give you something to talk about long after the last glass has been poured.

On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Sedona Restaurant Bar in Bethany Beach will host an intimate evening centered around South African wine, creative cuisine, and the opportunity to hear directly from the person behind the wines.

A Taste of South Africa will feature Riaan Möller, Head Winemaker of MAN Family Wines, for a private four-course wine dinner pairing four MAN Family Wines with four specially selected courses from the Sedona kitchen. The evening begins at 5:00 PM, with only 58 seats available.

It is an evening designed for people who enjoy great food and wine—but also enjoy discovering something new.

An Evening Built Around the Wine

Wine dinners are at their best when the wine and food aren't simply served alongside one another, but are intentionally brought together.

That's the idea behind A Taste of South Africa.

Each course has been selected to complement a specific MAN Family Wine, creating four different pairings throughout the evening. Guests will also have the opportunity to hear from Riaan Möller, giving the dinner a personal connection to the wines being poured.

MAN Family Wines brings the South African side of the experience, while Sedona brings its creative American cuisine and hospitality to the table.

Sedona has been part of the Bethany Beach dining scene since 1993, with a menu built around creative cuisine, fresh ingredients, craft cocktails, fine wine and house-made desserts.

For one evening, those traditions meet South African winemaking.

The First Course: Ahi Tuna Wontons & Chenin Blanc

The evening begins with one of Sedona's signature starters: Ahi Tuna Wontons.

Sesame-seared ahi tuna is served with seaweed salad and Asian slaw on a crisp wonton, creating a combination of fresh, savory and crunchy elements.

The dish will be paired with MAN Free-Run Steen Chenin Blanc, a South African Chenin Blanc selected specifically for the first course.

It's a bright way to begin the dinner and an introduction to the style of pairing guests can expect throughout the evening.

The Second Course: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake & Sauvignon Blanc

The second course brings the flavors of the Mid-Atlantic together with a wine from South Africa.

Guests will enjoy a Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Summer Corn & Jalapeño Slaw, paired with MAN Warrelwind Sauvignon Blanc.

The crab cake highlights one of the ingredients most closely associated with the coastal dining experience around Bethany Beach, while the corn and jalapeño slaw add sweetness, freshness and a little heat.

The Sauvignon Blanc provides the wine component for the second pairing.

It's a pairing that brings two very different places together—Delaware's coastal food culture and South African winemaking.

The Third Course: Pan Seared Duck Breast & Pinotage

For the third course, the evening moves into richer territory.

Sedona's Pan Seared Duck Breast with Parmesan Risotto will be paired with MAN Bosstok Pinotage.

The duck is rich and tender, finished with a blueberry red wine reduction and served with creamy Parmesan risotto and sautéed vegetables.

Pinotage is particularly appropriate for this point in the dinner, as the wine brings the South African identity of the evening into sharper focus.

This is where the dinner begins to transition from the lighter opening courses into deeper, more substantial flavors.

The Final Course: Garlic Peppercorn Filet Tips & Cabernet Sauvignon

The evening concludes with a bold final pairing.

Garlic Peppercorn Filet Tips with Hand-Cut Old Bay Fries will be served with MAN Ou Kalant Cabernet Sauvignon.

The filet tips are seasoned with garlic and peppercorn and paired with Sedona's hand-cut Old Bay fries. The MAN Cabernet Sauvignon completes the four-course progression with a wine selected to stand alongside the richer final course.

It's a fitting way to finish an evening that moves from crisp white wines and seafood into richer reds and beef.

Meet the Winemaker

One of the most distinctive parts of this dinner is the opportunity to meet Riaan Möller, Head Winemaker of MAN Family Wines.

Rather than simply tasting a wine from a bottle, guests will have the opportunity to hear directly from the winemaker behind the wines being served.

That adds another dimension to the evening.

You can taste a wine and enjoy it.

But understanding where it comes from, how it is made and the person responsible for creating it can make the experience much more memorable.

A Small Dinner by Design

A Taste of South Africa isn't being designed as a large, traditional restaurant event.

There are only 58 seats available.

That limited size allows the evening to remain intimate and gives guests the opportunity to experience the food, wine and conversation in a more personal setting.

For Sedona, that fits naturally with the atmosphere we've created in Bethany Beach.

Our dining room and cozy bar have always been places where people come together over dinner, wine and conversation. The entire Sedona menu is also available in the bar area, where guests can enjoy fine wine and cocktails in a more relaxed setting.

For this particular evening, however, the focus is on the four-course experience and the wines of MAN Family Wines.

The Details

A Taste of South Africa at Sedona

Sunday, September 20, 2026
5:00 PM
$125 per person
58 seats only

The evening includes four courses paired with four MAN Family Wines, along with the opportunity to meet and hear from Head Winemaker Riaan Möller.

The four-course menu includes:

  • Ahi Tuna Wontons
    MAN Free-Run Steen Chenin Blanc

  • Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Summer Corn & Jalapeño Slaw
    MAN Warrelwind Sauvignon Blanc

  • Pan Seared Duck Breast with Parmesan Risotto
    MAN Bosstok Pinotage

  • Garlic Peppercorn Filet Tips with Hand-Cut Old Bay Fries
    MAN Ou Kalant Cabernet Sauvignon

Join Us for A Taste of South Africa

A great wine dinner should be more than four glasses of wine and four courses of food.

It should be an experience.

It should introduce you to something you haven't tried before, give you a reason to slow down, and create the kind of evening that is remembered after everyone has gone home.

That's what we're looking forward to creating at Sedona.

A Taste of South Africa takes place Sunday, September 20 at 5:00 PM. With just 58 seats available, reservations are limited.

Reserve your seat for A Taste of South Africa at Sedona

We look forward to welcoming you to Sedona for an unforgettable evening of South African wine, creative cuisine and great conversation.

One Bottle, Better Conversation: Why Wine Is Meant to Be Shared at Sedona

There is something special about ordering a bottle of wine for the table.

Maybe it's the anticipation of choosing the right one.

Maybe it's pouring the first glass for someone sitting beside you.

Or maybe it's simply the fact that a bottle encourages everyone to slow down, share, and enjoy the evening together. At Sedona Restaurant Bar in Bethany Beach, we believe wine is more than something to accompany dinner. The right bottle can become part of the experience.

Whether you're enjoying dinner with family, catching up with old friends, or celebrating a special occasion, sharing a bottle creates a natural rhythm to the evening.

So how do you choose the right wine?

Let's start with the food.

Why Order a Bottle Instead of a Glass?

When you're dining with a group, a bottle gives everyone an opportunity to enjoy the same wine throughout the meal.

It becomes part of the conversation.

Someone pours a glass.

Someone takes a sip.

Someone comments on the flavor.

And before you know it, the bottle has become another part of the evening.

A bottle also gives you the opportunity to choose a wine specifically around the food you're ordering.

That's where the fun really begins.

Seafood and White Wine: A Natural Pairing

Bethany Beach and seafood go together.

And when you're enjoying fresh seafood, a crisp, well-balanced white wine can be an excellent complement.

Fresh Catch of the Day + Sauvignon Blanc

Our Fresh Catch of the Day is finished with Lemon Butter Sauce and Mango Salsa, creating a combination of delicate seafood, citrus, richness, and bright fruit.

A Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent match.

Its refreshing acidity can balance the richness of the lemon butter while complementing the bright flavors of the mango salsa.

It's a pairing that feels naturally suited to a summer evening at the beach

Maryland Crab Cakes + White Burgundy or Chardonnay

Few dishes say Maryland quite like Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes.

Our Maryland-style crab cakes are packed with jumbo lump crab and served with Champagne Butter.

For this dish, consider a Chardonnay or a crisp White Burgundy.

The richness of the wine complements the crab and Champagne Butter, while the wine's acidity helps keep the pairing fresh rather than heavy.

It's a classic combination for a coastal dinner.

Pan Seared Duck Breast + Cabernet Sauvignon

Now we're moving into richer territory.

Duck Breast has a naturally rich flavor that calls for a wine with structure.

A Cabernet Sauvignon can be an excellent choice.

The bold character of Cabernet pairs beautifully with the richness of lamb, while its structure provides enough presence to stand alongside the dish.

Add our Blueberry Red Wine reduction sauce to the equation, and you have an interesting contrast between richness, freshness, and the darker fruit characteristics of the wine.

This is the kind of pairing that makes dinner feel like an occasion.

Garlic Peppercorn Crusted Filet Mignon + Cabernet Sauvignon

For a classic pairing, it's hard to go wrong with Garlic Peppercorn Filet Mignon and Cabernet Sauvignon.

A full-bodied Cabernet has the structure and depth to complement the richness of the beef.

And there's another reason the pairing works:

The bold character of the wine stands up beautifully to the garlic and pepper combo.

If you're ordering prime rib for the table, this is a bottle worth considering.

Braised Beef Rib + Pinot Noir

Here's where things get interesting.

Our Braised Beef Ribs are slow-braised in a rich Pinot Noir broth with cracked black pepper and thyme, served with Gruyère mashed potatoes.

One of the most natural pairings is Pinot Noir.

The wine's bright acidity and earthy character complement the slow-braised beef without overpowering it.

Because the short ribs are already prepared with Pinot Noir, the pairing creates a beautiful connection between what's in the glass and what's on the plate.

It's a thoughtful choice for a cozy evening.

Pork T-Bone + Pinot Noir

Our Pan Seared Pork T-Bone brings together savory pork, roasted peaches, and onions.

For this dish, consider a Pinot Noir.

Its balance of fruit, acidity, and earthiness works beautifully with pork, while the fruit-forward character can complement the roasted peaches.

It's a pairing that brings both savory and sweet elements together.

Shrimp Pappardelle + Chardonnay

Comfort food and wine can be a wonderful combination.

Our Shrimp Pappardelle features jumbo shrimp tossed with wide pappardelle pasta in a creamy Tomato Basil Sauce.

A Chardonnay can work particularly well here.

The wine's body complements the creamy sauce, while its acidity keeps the combination from becoming too heavy.

It's a great option for guests who prefer a richer pasta dish but still want a wine that feels elegant.

What About Red Wine With Seafood?

Absolutely.

Wine pairing doesn't have to follow strict rules.

If you love red wine, you should enjoy red wine.

A lighter Pinot Noir, for example, can work beautifully with richer seafood dishes, especially salmon, shellfish, or dishes with earthy and savory components.

The best pairing is ultimately the one you enjoy drinking.

Wine should enhance dinner—not make it complicated.

Don't Forget the Beginning of the Meal

Wine doesn't have to wait until the entrées arrive.

A bottle of Sparkling Wine can be a wonderful way to begin a celebration.

It's especially appropriate for anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, or any evening that deserves a toast.

And if your table prefers cocktails, there's always the option of beginning at our cozy bar before settling in for dinner.

An All Natural Orange Crush.

A Sedona Sangria.

A Guava Cosmo.

Then perhaps transitioning to a bottle of wine once everyone sits down.

There are no rules against enjoying both.

The Best Wine Pairing Is the One You Share

At the end of the day, wine is about more than pairing charts.

It's about people.

It's the bottle opened for a birthday.

The bottle shared during a family vacation.

The bottle ordered when old friends finally get together.

The bottle that somehow disappears while everyone is talking and laughing.

Those are the moments that make dining memorable.

So the next time you're joining us at Sedona, consider ordering a bottle for the table.

Choose something that complements your meal.

Pour a glass for the person sitting beside you.

Raise it to the people you're with.

And let the evening take its time.

Because sometimes the best thing on the table isn't what's on the plate.

It's who's sitting around it.

Wine Pairing Quick Guide

Fresh Catch of the Day → Sauvignon Blanc

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes → Chardonnay or White Burgundy

Pan Seared Duck Breast → Cabernet Sauvignon

Garlic Pepper Filet Mignonv → Cabernet Sauvignon

Braised Beef Rib → Pinot Noir

Pan Seared Pork T-Bone → Pinot Noir

Shrimp Pappardelle → Chardonnay

Celebration or Toast → Sparkling Wine

And if you're not sure what to choose, ask your server for a recommendation. The best wine pairing is one that complements both your meal and your preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ordering a bottle of wine better than ordering individual glasses?

For a group sharing dinner, a bottle can be a wonderful way to enjoy the same wine throughout the meal and create a more communal experience.

What white wine pairs well with seafood?

Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are excellent starting points. Sauvignon Blanc works especially well with lighter, citrus-forward seafood, while Chardonnay can complement richer preparations and butter-based sauces.

What red wine pairs well with beef?

Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic choice for rich beef dishes such as prime rib and short ribs.

What wine pairs well with crab cakes?

Chardonnay or White Burgundy can complement the sweetness of jumbo lump crab while working nicely with richer sauces.

What wine pairs well with pork?

Pinot Noir is a versatile choice with pork, particularly when the dish includes fruit such as roasted peaches.

Can I ask Sedona's team for a wine recommendation?

Absolutely. If you're unsure which bottle will work best with your meal, ask your server. Your personal taste is always an important part of choosing the right wine.