Friday, September 19, 2008

The event grapevine: Sept. 19-21

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Featured event

25th annual Maryland Wine Festival
Carroll County Farm Museum, Westminster
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.


There’s a reason why the schedule across the region takes a break. That’s to allow the spotlight to focus on the 25th annual
Maryland Wine Festival, which will draw 23 wineries and a number of other vendors. Entertainment and wine education seminars also are listed on the schedule.

To mark this anniversary, the event has added a trivia road rally and a premier pass for $45. This will entitle the holder to everything the regular $20 adult ticket provides in addition to entry to what they are calling the premier tent. There, you can sample the wineries’ premium wines, meet some of Maryland’s newest wineries who are not at the main festival and sample their wines, enjoy samples of foods from area restaurants, and receive a special anniversary gift. Gourmet food prepared by local restaurants also will be available.

Kevin Atticks, executive director of the Maryland Wineries Association, said it’s just a good time to create the pass, with 34 wineries now open across the state and that total increasing by several every year.

“[It will] provide an opportunity for the most committed Maryland wine lovers to taste some of the industry's low-production, super-premium and not-yet-available wines that wouldn't normally be poured on the main festival grounds,” he wrote in an e-mail. “The PREMIER tent will offer samples of local fare to pair with the wines, as well as a refuge from the crowds. We decided to offer this option this year to celebrate the fact that the festival is now 25 years old — and has grown to become one of the largest of its kind on the East Coast.”

Atticks said the festival “continues to be the premier festival in Maryland; it's the show at which most wineries debut to the public. We expect it to grow over the years as we add new features and wineries. Next year, we expect over 30 wineries to be in attendance.”

And here’s what’s going on elsewhere across the region, assuming you can tear yourself away from watching my Temple Owls heading north to take on big bad Penn State:


PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES

Boyd’s Cardinal Hollow Winery Crop, North Wales:
Wine tasting at Willow Creek Orchards, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., http://www.cardinalhollowwinery.com/

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli: Fall Foliage Tasting ($$), Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.,
http://www.bluemountainwine.com

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Reserve tastings ($$), Saturday, sittings at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m., http://www.chaddsford.com

Clover Mill Farm Vineyards & Winery, Chester Springs: Open again, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., http://www.clovermillfarm.com/

Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing: Wine Tasting for Singles ($$), Friday, 7 p.m.; Wine Tasting for Dummies ($$), Sunday, 2 p.m.; third class in Wine 101 series ($$), Monday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wines of the World; The ABCs of Wine Tasting ($$), taught by wire writer Collin Flatt, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.,
http://www.crossingvineyards.com

Hauser Estate Winery, Biglerville: Official grand opening, through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday,
http://www.hauserestate.com/

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: Music Friday (6 to 9 p.m.), Saturday (2 to 5 p.m.) and Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m., http://www.moondancerwinery.com
Wycombe Vineyards, Furlong: Harvest Traminette grapes, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with cookout to follow harvest; brings shears if you have them, RSVP on Web site or by calling 215.598.WINE, http://www.vynecrest.com/


MARYLAND WINERIES

MARYLAND winery events can be found at
this link, VIRGINIA events at this link and New York events at this link

FESTIVALS

25th annual Maryland Wine Festival ($$), Westminster, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday,
information at this link

($$) – Admission charge


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