Raise a Glass! Irvin~House Vineyards Celebrates 10th Annual Blessing of the Vines Festival

Raise a glass to celebrate a decade of wine making!  Irvin~House Vineyards, Charleston’s only vineyard and winery, is celebrating ten years of blessings at the 10th Annual Blessing of the Vines Festival on Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. until  5:00 p.m. The public will enjoy wine and Firefly tastings, live music from Cane Creek, food from local vendors and crafts along with their chance to witness the blessing of muscadine grapevines by Father Greg Snyder. The event is open to the public, admission is $10.00 per car and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Frierson Elementary After School Program.

Located at 6775 Bears Bluff Road on Wadmalaw Island, the public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to relax on the expansive lawn, no coolers please. Food will be available for purchase from Lowcountry Creole, Stono Cafe, Home Team BBQ and the Tomato Shed Cafe.

Local craft vendors will be in attendance and patrons can also enjoy our famous wine-a-ritas, wine tastings, Firefly tastings and sugar cane crushing. This family-friendly event will also have pony rides and face painting for the kids. Dogs are also welcome but must be leashed. Newly-promoted WCIV-TV Chief Meteorologist Dave Williams will emcee this fun filled, family-friendly event. 

This year, contestants will showcase their gumbo cooking skills by entering the Irvin~House Vineyards Lowcountry Gumbo Cook-Off Contest, where one lucky gumbo creation will win cash and prizes. Judges for the 2012 Cook-Off Contest are Nancy Cross, principal of Frierson Elementary School, Father Greg Snyder and Jeff Filosa, owner of Lowcountry Creole Food Truck. After judging is completed, the public will have the opportunity to sample the gumbo for a $5.00 donation, with proceeds benefiting Frierson Elementary After School Program. Limited spaces are available. To register, visit  www.charlestonwine.com. For for more information, call 843-559-6867.

 

What: Blessing of the Vines Festival & Gumbo Cookoff 

When: Saturday, November 10, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Admission: $10.00 per car 

Where: Irvin-House Vineyards 

 Wadmalaw Island

(843) 559-6867 

 

Irvin-House Vineyards Gumbo Cook-off Rules

-All persons wishing to compete in the Irvin-House Vineyards Gumbo cook-off must register by Friday, November 9th.  Registration may be completed online  (www.charlestonwine.com) or by phone (843-559-6867). 

-A $20 entry fee will be required when registering.

-Admission to the festival will be provided to the cook and an assistant.

-Cooking areas will be available at 9:00am.  Judging of gumbos will be conducted at 3:00pm.

-Contestants will be expected to provide all ingredients as well as any equipment needed to compete such as cookers, gas, utensils, any tables or chairs needed, and trash bags for clean-up.   Paper cups, napkins, and plastic spoons for those making donations to sample will be provided by the Vineyard.

-Each entrant must furnish a minimum of 3 gallons of gumbo for tastings.  

-Materials may be prepared before arriving such as washing and cutting meats.  However, no ingredients may be precooked before arrival at the Vineyard.

-You are free to use any ingredients you choose.

-Judging will be done by a panel selected for their knowledge of cooking and/or other attributes that qualify them as judges.  The judges’ decision will be final.

After judging is completed, the public will be allowed to sample the 3 recipes of their choice for a $5 donation.  Donations will be collected by the cook-off coordinator.  You are not allowed to accept money.  You and your cooking assistant will be expected to remain in your cooking area and serve customers as needed.  When your gumbo is sampled, the assistant will punch the person’s ticket.

-After customers sample their 3 choices, they will drop their ticket in the container of the gumbo they liked best.

-Two prizes will be awarded at 5:00pm.  A cash prize will be given to the judges’ selection, and a basket of goodies will be given to the people’s choice.  The amount of the cash prize will be determined by the number of contestants.  All donations for sampling will be given to our sponsored charity.  

About Irvin~House VIneyard

Irvin~House Vineyard, located at 6775 Bears Bluff Road on Wadmalaw Island in South Carolina, is owned by Jim and Ann Irvin. In March 2001,  they planted 2,700 muscadine vines and converted farm barns into a winery with a tasting room, creating a unique business and a new attraction for the Lowcountry, becoming Charleston's only winery and vineyard. The Irvins have produced five varieties of wine. These wines range from a semi-dry to the regular sweet muscadine that is reminiscent of the old South. Muscadines are the only grapes that will grow in the humid climate of the Lowcountry. Irvin House Vineyards works with 4 varieties of muscadine grapes. For more information, visit www.CharlestonWine.com