By Theresa Ekdom
TRAVERSE CITY – Take some art, wine, and a selection of fresh local food. Add a sunny day at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons; sprinkle in friends to enjoy it all with, and you get the 8th annual Traverse City Wine & Art event. How often are you met at the entrance of an event with ‘wine goddesses’ offering to pour your first glass of wine for you?
Held June 25 this year, it was a chance to sample over 100 different local wines, and to talk to many of the winemakers along the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail as they personally poured your wine, cider, or sangria.
Beverage of choice in hand, you could then wander amongst the fine art show on the grounds. And what unique art there was! Hand carved tile at Sporck TileArt; paintings, and mosaics made not from tile but from cut-up credit cards were among some of the offerings. At the jewelry booth you could find out all about Fordite (also known as Motor Agate), why it is so rare and how it is made. Also featured was Artist Stephanie Schlatter’ 24 Project. Each winery at the event exhibited her painting of their winery at their tent.
Feeling a little hungry? Stop at one of the food tents for some of the fresh foods prepared from local ingredients by regional chefs. This year the event partnered with Taste the Local Difference making it a ‘Certified Local Food Event’ too! There were choices of spinach filo wrap with hummus, Quinoa salads, black bean burgers with caramelized onions, Focaccia with tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil, cheese cakes and chocolate. What better to pair your wine with than chocolate?
The theater was set with traditional tables and chairs; oak barrels set on end to stand by, and ground level tables with pillows as chairs for those who wanted to sit and enjoy the live music.
What is a wine event without a chance to learn something new? Educational experiences were all part of the event. Who knew sparkling wines weren’t also champagne? Larry Mawby of L. Mawby Vineyards explained why, as well as how they make their sparkling wines.
Other presenters included Lee Lutes of Black Star Farms, Robert Bregman of Bregman Brothers at Crain Hill, and Charlie Edson of Bel Lago Vineyard.
It was an event full of good friends, great times, and looking forward to coming back next year!
For more information on the event, go to traversecitywinefestival.com.
