Aug 2ndFavorite Wines & Wineries

As a wine lover, I love to discuss wine (as you might have guessed). I’d love to hear from you. What’s your favorite wine and your favorite winery?

Jun 12thTaste of Georgetown

Georgetown is once again celebrating the flavors of their town. The 6th annual Taste of Georgetown will be held in historic Georgetown, on Thursday, July 27, from 5 until 8 PM. Food vendors will be sharing their offerings with tastes for visitors. Just a few of those with food will be:   Evans Orchard, Sam’s, Wholly Smokers,  and 3 Pepperhead Hot Sauce.

Wine tastings will also be provided by wineries such as, Talon Vineyard and Winery, Rose Hill Vineyard and Winery, and Harkness Edwards Vineyard and Winery, and by Kentucky Eagle Inc., a wine distributor in Lexington.

Wine gifts will also be available from York’s Corks, A Very Vine Creation, Heirlooms and Gretchen’s, and  Unique Gifts and More.

I will be there at a booth signing copies of A Wine Lover’s Odyssey Across Kentucky. This sounds like a great way to spend an evening. Hope to see you there.

Jun 2nd1st Annual Wine Festival at Jane’s Saddlebag

For those making plans for next weekend, consider a visit to Union, Kentucky. Just a couple of miles past Big Bone Park, Jane’s Saddlebag will be hosting a wine festival featuring many of Kentucky’s wineries and arts and crafts from local vendors. Not only will visitors be able to enjoy the wine, the booths, the food and the entertainment; they will also be contributing to the Children’s Hospital with a portion of the proceeds going to the charity.

The festival will be from noon to 6 PM, on June 8.

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

May 30thKentucky Winery Events

As the weather gets warm and the vineyards become green again, wineries across the state host special events most weekends. I recommend a visit to their websites to discover what is going on at a winery near you. Some events involve food, some feature music, and all offer tastes of their wines.

Even if there is no event going on, a visit to a winery is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. As vineyards begin to grow and the grapes become visible, the views are magnificent.

Kentucky is a beautiful state. A day trip will take you to a beautiful site with exceptional views and a chance to savor Kentucky’s wines.

May 24thA Wine Lover’s Journey

Those of you who have read my book will remember that it was our 25th anniversary when we first visited a tasting room at a vineyard and winery. That visit to Barboursville Vineyard and Winery sparked an interest that has continued for the last twenty years. This weekend, we are celebrating our 45th anniversary and are still wine lovers.

A visit to Chrisman Mill Vineyard and Winery, for a Tuscan Dinner; a visit to Chateau Ross, our favorite winery in Tennessee; and a stop at a few other Kentucky wineries will start our celebration. Later in the summer, we will return to Barboursville Vineyard and Winery to enjoy a stay at their 1804 Inn and to taste their wonderful wines.

We’ve enjoyed the journey and look forward to more great wines and more great vineyards and wineries.

May 13thJane’s Saddlebag

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.

Apr 3rdMcConnell Springs Successful Barrel Tasting

People came in buses, in limousines, in cars and on motorcycles. Crowds of visitors took advantage of the beautiful spring day to visit Central Kentucky’s wineries and taste their wines. Whether they were tasting a new vintage of their favorite wine or trying out a new wine, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The Barrel Tasting provided McConnell Springs with a successful fundraising event.

I look forward to next year.

Mar 10thKentucky Wine Lover Event

Tasting wine from the barrel at some of Kentucky’s wineries won’t be all I’ll be doing on March 30th. From Noon to 2 PM, I’ll be at Chrisman Mill Vineyards, in Nicholasville, to sign copies of A Wine Lover’s Odyssey Across Kentucky.

I hope to see you there.