by: Rebecca Agnew
If I had to associate one word with the 2014 edition of Wilkesboro's annual 'Shine to Wine festival, it would be short.
Not short in length, because it went for a respectable 6 hours--not even Boone's famed High Country Beer Fest lasts that long, and the number of distributors making themselves available for that event nearly quadruple what 'Shine to Wine offered. But that's the point: they were short on distributors/vendors, short on shade, short on variety, short on seating, shade, organization, and even potty opportunities.
Let me back up, because I'd hate to give the impression that S2W was terrible--it wasn't. It was fun, there were good beverages to try, and tasty food to nosh. There was even decent music--not great, and catered toward a generally older crowd, but the musicians were quality and all the tunes were recognizable and enjoyable. It just didn't seem very well planned.
As a newcomer to the Wilkes area, this was my first experience with S2W. I've been told that in the past, they treated it is as though it was a street fair of sorts, blocking off roads downtown and affording festival-goers to not just sample the goods from the distributors, but also to enjoy the historic downtown Wilkesboro area as they strolled past--and through--many of the local shops. This year, however, they decided on one central location: the empty parking lot on CBD Loop.
In theory, this is a fine idea. Many other festivals of this nature--such as the aforementioned HCBF--pursue this format as well, creating a large walkabout loop with a handful of vendors located in the center, and food and entertainment clustered on one end. In practice, however, it didn't work out so well for S2W. The day was clear and unseasonably warm, and there was very little respite from the sun. The ground was unsuitable for seating, due to the very warm concrete and no grass, and the few chairs available were jealously guarded. And no port-a-potties! The trek to pee--or get cash, since none of the food vendors would accept a card--was uphill both ways. It was a travesty.
But what was there was definitely good quality. The wines were local but seemed exotic, plentiful fruit wines a far cry from the standard Pinots and Cabernets available in the grocery stores. There was even a whiskey booth--and I will take my friends' word that it was good; 1:00 in the afternoon is not a time I'll willingly quaff whiskey. The surprise of the afternoon was the inclusion of a spiced honey liqueur made by The Brothers Vilgalys Spirits Company (check them out at http://brothersvilgalys.com/ ). I can't say enough good things about this smooth, rich, somehow incredibly warm liqueur. My only regret is that I didn't get to try it on the rocks, perhaps with a splash of seltzer.
The food ran the gamut from a 2/$3 hot dog special and traditional NC barbeque to smoked salmon vodka sauce penne and bacon-wrapped shrimp skewers. The vendors who brought icy drinks--such as the sweet wine smoothies--were the hit of the day, but they were not complimentary with your entry fee. I chose not to partake on principle.
In the end, my small crowd did have a good time--everyone got to their desired level of intoxication, and there were very few samples we did not thoroughly enjoy. I would love for the festival's organizers to take it back to its previous downtown format, but a larger, grassier and shadier location would be a fair compromise. The event certainly has some growing to do, but it has a lot of local support, and despite the pitfalls of its organization, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I'd call it a success, with plenty of room to grow.
If I had to associate one word with the 2014 edition of Wilkesboro's annual 'Shine to Wine festival, it would be short.
Not short in length, because it went for a respectable 6 hours--not even Boone's famed High Country Beer Fest lasts that long, and the number of distributors making themselves available for that event nearly quadruple what 'Shine to Wine offered. But that's the point: they were short on distributors/vendors, short on shade, short on variety, short on seating, shade, organization, and even potty opportunities.
Let me back up, because I'd hate to give the impression that S2W was terrible--it wasn't. It was fun, there were good beverages to try, and tasty food to nosh. There was even decent music--not great, and catered toward a generally older crowd, but the musicians were quality and all the tunes were recognizable and enjoyable. It just didn't seem very well planned.
As a newcomer to the Wilkes area, this was my first experience with S2W. I've been told that in the past, they treated it is as though it was a street fair of sorts, blocking off roads downtown and affording festival-goers to not just sample the goods from the distributors, but also to enjoy the historic downtown Wilkesboro area as they strolled past--and through--many of the local shops. This year, however, they decided on one central location: the empty parking lot on CBD Loop.
 |
| Let there be shade. |
In theory, this is a fine idea. Many other festivals of this nature--such as the aforementioned HCBF--pursue this format as well, creating a large walkabout loop with a handful of vendors located in the center, and food and entertainment clustered on one end. In practice, however, it didn't work out so well for S2W. The day was clear and unseasonably warm, and there was very little respite from the sun. The ground was unsuitable for seating, due to the very warm concrete and no grass, and the few chairs available were jealously guarded. And no port-a-potties! The trek to pee--or get cash, since none of the food vendors would accept a card--was uphill both ways. It was a travesty.
But what was there was definitely good quality. The wines were local but seemed exotic, plentiful fruit wines a far cry from the standard Pinots and Cabernets available in the grocery stores. There was even a whiskey booth--and I will take my friends' word that it was good; 1:00 in the afternoon is not a time I'll willingly quaff whiskey. The surprise of the afternoon was the inclusion of a spiced honey liqueur made by The Brothers Vilgalys Spirits Company (check them out at http://brothersvilgalys.com/ ). I can't say enough good things about this smooth, rich, somehow incredibly warm liqueur. My only regret is that I didn't get to try it on the rocks, perhaps with a splash of seltzer.
The food ran the gamut from a 2/$3 hot dog special and traditional NC barbeque to smoked salmon vodka sauce penne and bacon-wrapped shrimp skewers. The vendors who brought icy drinks--such as the sweet wine smoothies--were the hit of the day, but they were not complimentary with your entry fee. I chose not to partake on principle.
In the end, my small crowd did have a good time--everyone got to their desired level of intoxication, and there were very few samples we did not thoroughly enjoy. I would love for the festival's organizers to take it back to its previous downtown format, but a larger, grassier and shadier location would be a fair compromise. The event certainly has some growing to do, but it has a lot of local support, and despite the pitfalls of its organization, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I'd call it a success, with plenty of room to grow.
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