Shelburne Vineyard brings back the Wine & Food Festival

Thursday, Nov 3rd, 2011
By Julia Howe

Free wine tasting, free specialty food pairing, and a collection of local vendors selling Thanksgiving-themed foods – welcome to Shelburne Vineyard’s Autumn Wine & Food Fest 2011.

The vineyard’s third annual festival is on Saturday, Nov. 12 between 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

“We really love putting the festival on,” says Gail Albert, who owns the vineyard with her husband, Ken Albert, “A lot of people stop in throughout the day and everybody seems to really enjoy what we have to offer.”

One of those offerings is, of course, a free wine tasting. The end of our interview morphed into an impromptu wine tasting (who am I to complain?), and while each wine is uniquely tasty, I have to take a moment to highly recommend their New World Red. This robust red is made from all Vermont-grown cold hardy grapes and, in their words, “has a medium body and soft mouth-feel that leads to a finish with mild tannins and lingering spicy notes.” I’ll stop there, and leave the tasting to you!

There’s more than wine at the festival, though.

“We invite other specialty food producers to come and share their products,” Gail says, “It’s not a huge farmers market, but it’s a small one, in a sense.”

The event is right before Thanksgiving and Vermont vendors will share and sell food that you just may want to see on your holiday table this year. From Shelburne Farms to Mona’s Pies, from Blackflower Chocolates to Eden Ice cider, there will be plenty of yummy treats for sale. Even American Flatbread will be there with an outdoor brick oven, selling fresh slices of pizza.

All of this is great, but in Gail and Ken’s eyes, one of the best things about the festival is its cause.

“Admission is free,” Gail says, “We just ask that people bring non-perishable food items to donate to the food shelf.” 

This festive day will benefit the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf. Not only will the items brought by attendees be donated, but each vendor also donates an item or two to a big raffle for the guests. All money from the raffle will go to the food shelf as well.

“Last year we raised 3,200 pounds of food, or the equivalent in cash,” Gail beams, “it’s one of those feel good things, where it’s not just all about us.”

The vineyard was thrilled with last year’s numbers and is hoping to raise even more this year.

So, whether you are eager to give Shelburne Vineyard’s wines a taste, snack on local foods, want to be in on a good cause, or care to gaze at the beautiful local photography adorning the walls (all for sale), the Autumn Wine & Food Festival may be the perfect way to spend your Saturday.

For more information, call 985-8222 or visit www.shelburne vineyard.com.