Oysters are like wine. Where they are grown is where they get their flavor. Whatever influences the water in that area is what influences the taste of the oyster.

Guests at the Experience the Oyster event, hosted by Murder Point Oyster Company, will have the opportunity to experience oysters from over 10 oyster farms. They will come from as far away as Virginia and as close as the Alabama Gulf Coast.

The inaugural event started as a little one-day festival to be held in the parking lot of the Murder Point Oyster Company's Bayou La Batre location. Now the 600-ticket event will be held at The Hangout in Gulf Shores with over 20 of the top chefs from the region and over 30 different oysters to sample.

Visitors and residents to the area will be able to fill the void the Hangout Oyster Cookoff left in their November schedule, but this event will be different.

"We want to take a different approach from the Oyster Cookoff. We don't want to come out as a copy," said Jennifer Russell of Murder Point Oyster Company. "It was a great event and I know everyone enjoyed it, but we don't want to be measured against that. They had 80,000 oysters and our first year it is going to be very difficult for us to come up with 80,000 oysters for a first-year event for one day. That was a three-day event with a lot of people behind it."

The Experience the Oyster event will be smaller, only 600 tickets and there will not be a competition component. It will also have a more upscale feel.

"We are excited about the chefs that have come onboard, and we have oyster farmers from Virginia down to the Tallahassee area and a lot of the local farms from our area are on board. I think it is going to be a good showcase of what is local and also what is out there," Russell said.

Guest will receive a swag bag, two drink tickets and 18 oyster tickets. More tickets can be purchased at the event. All guests will also receive a tasting booklet that will list details on the oyster farms and chefs so if you find something you love, you will know where to get your hands on it again.

During the event, guest will circulate and have the chance to sample the different farm's oysters and the culinary creations of the various chefs who will be using Murder Point Oysters.

"We are super excited," Russell said. "I think it is going to be fun, relaxed and laid back. People will get to see the difference between the different oysters."

VIP guests (tickets are sold out) will get entry into the event one hour early and enjoy a dedicated area, swag bag, cooking demo from Food Network's Martie Duncan and a special cocktail. Duncan was heavily involved in the Hangout Oyster Cookoff and is excited to be back on the Gulf Coast for this event.

"I'd like to continue the important work we were able to do for 10 years at the Hangout Cookoff," Duncan said. "It not only helped stretch the season for local businesses, keeping employees on the payroll and area hotels, condos, and restaurants full as the weather turned cooler, it brought thousands of guests from all over the country to our beaches to celebrate all things oyster. I'd like to continue that effort with this event, to help shine a light on Alabama's oyster farmers and our beautiful boutique bivalves which continue to rate as some of the best oysters anywhere."

Russell said that Murder Point Oyster Company hopes to make this an annual event on the Gulf Coast for the oyster lovers.

Tickets are still available, but they are limited so Russell suggest you don't wait to secure your ticket. Visit murderpointoysters.com for more information and to purchase tickets.