The Event Grapevine: Aug. 29-31, Sept. 1

Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival
Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford, Pa.
Noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Admission: $20/person, includes wine tastings, souvenir wine glass, and concerts.
Foods available from Pace One Restaurant, or bring your own picnic. No other alcoholic beverages permitted on grounds.
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Lee Miller was driving when I reached her by phone last night, so she wasn’t certain how many years this event has been held. Might be 14, maybe 15 years. What she did know is that it’s an event that has become a tradition for a lot of people.

“They’ve got it on their calendars; they know it’s going on and they [know that they] are going to come out,” said Miller, co-owner of Chaddsford Winery. “Some people come out for a couple days. It’s a great event, provided we get the weather.”

That seems likely for the assortment of end-of-the-summer events at wineries throughout the region, from Naylor to Nissley and Boordy to Twin Brook. Well, once we get through today and tomorrow morning anyhow, as a cold front is forecast to sweep through by midafternoon Saturday.

While Labor Day is accepted as the final weekend to head to the beach, Miller said that’s not necessarily on everyone’s agenda, particularly now that gas is parked well above $3 a gallon and seemingly headed higher over the next couple of days because of bad weather forecast for the Gulf of Mexico.

“You know, one of the things we found over the years is that the people who comes are the ones who kind of want to stay away from the shore,” she said. “Maybe it’s too long a drive, too many people, too many teenagers, and they’re really happy just to have something entertaining to do where they don’t have to drive. Now with everyone worried about gas, we’re in kind of that ‘staycation’ mode where people just kind of stay home and say, ‘Let’s go out to the winery for the day, it’ll be a nice day off.’”

Bands are scheduled there all three days from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Miller said they’re expecting between 1,000 and 1,500 attendees per day. “That’s really all we can handle,” she added, noting they limit the amount of publicity they do “because we couldn’t handle 5,000 people. Fifteen hundred for us is a lot. We can do it well and we can do it comfortably. So it makes it kind of a big event, but it’s not like the Maryland Jazz Festival.

“And I think what people like about it is the low-key nature. You come, you find a spot on the grass. You put your blanket out. You can park for the day and you can bring your own food, so people can do it pretty inexpensively. We do provide a food tent, but it doesn’t matter to us if people go there or not. We’re just as happy if they bring their own stuff.”
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PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES
Adams County Winery, Ortanna: Free summer concert, Saturday. 1 to 5 p.m., food and wine available, bring along a lawn chair and blanket, music by the Skyla Burrell Blues Band, http://www.adamscountywinery.com

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli: Sangria Sunday wine tasting ($$), Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m., http://www.bluemountainwine.com

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Labor Day Jazz Festival ($$), noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and Monday; reserve tastings ($$), Saturday, sittings at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m., http://www.chaddsford.com

Country Creek Winery, Telford: Barn and yard sale, Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., http://www.countrycreekwinery.com/

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: Music Friday (6 to 9 p.m.) and Saturday (noon to 3 p.m.); second annual Moon Dancer Folk Festival ($$), Saturday, 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 3 to 9 p.m., http://www.moondancerwinery.com

Naylor Wine Cellars, Stewartstown: “Summer Sounds” outdoor concert series ($$), Friday, 8 to 11 p.m., music by Big Wheeley & The Whitewalls; Saturday, 7 to 10 p.m., music by Sentimental Journey, http://www.naylorwine.com

Nissley Vineyard & Winery Estate, Bainbridge: Music in the Vineyards 2008 ($$), Saturday, 7:30 to 10 p.m., music by Flashback with Donna Mark, http://www.nissleywine.com/lawn_concerts.htm

Twin Brook Winery, Gap: Gazebo Concert Series ($$), Saturday evening, 6:30 to 9:30; music by Mr. Z & The Nightshift, http://www.twinbrookwinery.com/

Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville: Summer Tours With the Winemaker ($$), Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m., about 1 ½ hours long,http://www.vynecrest.com/whatsnew.htm

MARYLAND WINERIES

Boordy Vineyards, Hydes: Summer Concert Series ($$), Saturday, 7 to 9:30 p.m.; gates open at 5:30 and there’s a dance instruction session at 6:30, http://www.boordy.com/events.html

Other MARYLAND winery events can be found at this link and VIRGINIA events at this link.


FESTIVALS

43rd annual Polish American Festival, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m., click on this link

($$) – Admission charge

Wine Spectator updates on Pa. legislation

We've reported on the current legislation in Pennsylvania regarding direct shipping, which would allow the state's Liquor Control Board to become the middleman, at a fee, of course. Other papers around the state have done the same. A friend of the blog sent me this story out of Wine Spectator that includes comments from the head of the Pennsylvania Winery Association and from the sponsor of the bill, state Rep. Paul Costa.