Being a vendor is quite a bit different from being a visitor at a wine festival. Instead of visiting the booths and tasting the wine, I spent Saturday greeting guests and chatting with those who wanted to talk about my book, A Wine Lover’s Odyssey Across Kentucky. I met some very interesting people and learned some lessons about festivals, such as what I needed to provide.

One of the interesting people I spoke with was Tom Beall, the owner of First Vineyard, just outside of Nicholasville. This winery is located on the site of the first commercial vineyard in the United States, established by Jean Jacques Dufour in the late 1700′s. The label on the First Vineyard wines uses Dufour’s name. I am looking forward to visiting First Vineyard this summer and will share my news with you.

My husband and I also had the pleasure of spending some time talking to the owners of the Rose Hill Winery, located in Pendleton County. They are actually fairly close neighbors, but they are in a dry part of the county and don’t have a tasting room. Their wine is available at the Farmer’s Market in Falmouth, and they will be pouring at Maysville Uncorked on June 8. I have a special thanks for Jenny, for the use of her extra tablecloth.

We met a creative lady at the neighboring booth. Kathy York uses natural and artificial corks to make items such as key rings, magnets, and coasters. There was a steady stream of visitors to view her creations. You will find a link to her website on my link page.

After interviewing Patty Livinski on the phone for my book, it was pleasant to get to meet and talk with her.  Patty is one of the owners of Lovers Leap Vineyard and Winery. I was able to thank her for her support of the book.

Needless to say, this wine lover did get to enjoy some wine. Visitors were able to taste wines from many of the state wineries. A few of those attending were Prodigy Vineyard and Winery, Lovers Leap Vineyard and Winery, Rose Hill Winery, and First Vineyard.

Hundreds took a chance on the sporadic weather, and enjoyed the event. I enjoyed the day, the festival, and all of the many interesting people I was able to visit with.

Prodigy entered several wines in the Derby competition and won Gold with their Diamond, Legacy, Raspberry and Chambourcin; Silver with their Blueberry, Estate Lemberger, Meritage Blend, Blackberry, Vignoles Estate and Ky. Blush;  and Bronze medals for St. Vincent Rosé, Vidal Blanc, Sweet Traminette and Cabernet Franc.

The tasting room has several nights of music scheduled during May; check their website for dates. When you’re there, you might want to try their new Wine Frappé.

The farm will be open on Sundays from 1 to 5.

Burgers and Banjos are back beginning Friday, May 17th. Call 859-375-0296 to make reservations today!

Check their website and sign up for their e-mails to get news of upcoming events.

Don’t forget that the 10th Annual Wine and Vine Fest is Saturday in Nicholasville. The weather sound like a great day for wine lovers to spend the afternoon tasting wines. From noon to seven, wine lovers can savor unlimited tastings of Kentucky, domestic, and international wines for a $25 ticket (includes a Wine and Vines glass).

See you there.

On our way home from Jane’s Saddlebag, we stopped by Verona Vineyards for some wine. We enjoyed a bottle of their Cabernet Franc and were lucky enough to get to try some new wines that will be released later this summer.

Dan Montgomery, the winemaker, shared from the barrel a tasting of both a Cabernet Franc and a Chardonnay which are being aged in bourbon barrels. We’ve tried reds aged in a bourbon barrel (Dan’s is quite good.), we’ve never tasted a Chardonnay aged that way. While I’m not a Chardonnay drinker, I am sure after tasting this vintage that it will be a popular wine. New vintages of their Dornfelder (my favorite) and a couple of others, will be released after bottling next week.

Along with the wine, we enjoyed the music of Lisa Raymond, who was entertaining that evening. It was as always a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.

Most people plan visits to interesting sites when they are traveling on vacation, or plan day trips to unique places a couple of hours away from home. Seldom do we look at locations that are as close to home as a half hour away. We found out this weekend that you should. After reading an announcement about a wine festival in Union in May’s Kentucky Monthly, we decided to visit Jane’s Saddlebag. What we discovered is a charming place that offers a wine shop, a old-fashioned store with a restaurant, an event site, and a petting zoo. Jane’s Saddlebag, in Boone County, is owned by the Blackmore family and is named after an ancestor. Visitors can follow the signs to 13989 Ryle Road, just two miles past Big Bone Lick State Park.

In the wine shop, visitors can purchase a glass or a bottle of several choices from local wineries. The store has a wide selection of gift items, including some from local artisans. If you’re hungry, the restaurant offers a wide line of sandwiches such as a Wooly Mammoth Burger. Be sure to save room for a dessert. I had the Coconut Cream pie and it was excellent. Private events can be planned on the grounds with a view of Big Bone Creek. The petting zoo and the children’s village will delight the children.

On June 8, Jane’s Saddlebag will be hosting its 1st Annual Wine Festival. Verona Vineyards, Atwood Hill Winery, StoneBrook Winery, and Elk Creek Vineyards and Winery are some of the local wineries who will be offering tastes of their wines. Lovers Leap Vineyard and Winery, Talon Vineyards and Winery, and others will be coming from other parts of the state. There will also be artisans and vendors. Enjoy a day of fun, wine, and great food, with free parking. A portion of the proceeds will be going to the Children’s Hospital. Watch for announcements on the local news and in local news outlets.

I will be there signing A Wine Lover’s Odyssey Across Kentucky.  Hope to see you there.

South of Bowling Green off the beaten track, wine lovers will find Reid’s Livery and Winery. Rex and Diane Reid opened the winery in 2009. They are generally open on a call ahead basis as they also work around the livery with the horses. Their wine is also offered at the Farmer’s Market in town.

Even though the winery is a very small operation, their wines have been noticed and have been winning awards at several competitions. Many of their wines are made from fruits and berries from their farm, but they are also buying grapes. One of their popular offerings is named Healthy Harvest and is a blend of Elderberry and Cabernet Franc. They also are making a Cabernet Franc aged in a white oak barrel.

Whether you want to try their wines or take riding lessons, Reid’s Livery and Winery is an interesting destination just minutes from Bowling Green.

I’ve been busy with the ending of the semester in my classes, but wanted to thank all those who visited the writer’s festival at Bowling Green. It was an interesting experience. A lot of those attending were treated to a chance to meet “the Fonz” who writes books for children.

One of the nicest reasons for attending was the opportunity to see old friends, such as Bobbie Bryant, and to meet new ones like Wes Berry. Both were there signing their books.

The time is near. Mark your calendars and make your plans to attend one of Kentucky’s finest wine festivals, on May 18. From noon to seven, wine lovers can savor unlimited tastings of Kentucky, domestic, and international wines for a $25 ticket (includes a Wine and Vines glass).

The list of Kentucky wineries is still being decided, but expect wineries from around the state to be there pouring their wines. Arts, crafts, and foods will also be available. Music will be provided throughout the day.

I will be there with my book, A Wine Lover’s Odyssey Across Kentucky. I’d love to meet you and talk about one of my favorite topics – Kentucky wine.

Last weekend, we had a delightful visit with Jim and Sandy Wight, at the Wight-Meyer Vineyard and Winery, in Shepherdsville. As always, we were able to taste one of Kentucky’s best Nortons and one of our favorites.

During the visit, we were also offered a taste of one of this winery’s future releases. Jim has created a Meritage blend of 50% Petit Syrah, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, to be released in 2014. The wine already demonstrates superior taste, color, and aromas. With two years aging, this could easily be one of Kentucky’s finest wines ever produced. The only downside of this wine is that there are only two barrels, one is already sold and the other is reserved for wine club members. Interested wine lovers should consider becoming wine club members.

The vineyard is showing the welcoming signs of spring. The winery is open seven days a week and is located just over five miles from I-65. Their award-winning wines are also available at shop.wightmeyervineyards.com. Visitors love their wines, including sweeter selections, such as Amy’s Apple Pie and Barrel Age Blackberry. I recommend a visit to the winery or to their website.