Nelson's Neighborhood

There’s nothing better than local, salty oysters in the Lowcountry winter. Grab your oyster knives for a shuckin’ good time under the oaks at Firefly Distillery and Deep Water Vineyard (previously Irvin~House Vineyards) Fourth Annual Cork Shuckin’ Festival on Saturday, February 6 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 6775 Bears Bluff Road on Wadmalaw Island. Admission is $5 per car.   Patrons are encourag ed to bring cash and credit for oysters, wine and Firefly spirits tastings. Oysters will be available and other Food Trucks will be on site including Coastal Crust, Gidget Gourmet, Linen's BBQ, and Sweet Lulu's Bakery. Guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music of the Don Merkle and the Blacksmiths.  This year, a new aspect has been added to the festival to heat up some competition and fun. A laser skeet shoot will be held in the field next to the distillery. A laser skeet shoot uses specially-modified laser shotguns, reusable ...

  It’s with bittersweet emotions that Jim and Ann Irvin announce that their property and Charleston’s only winery, Irvin~House Vineyards, has been sold to the Freiwald family. Tastings and gatherings at the winery and Firefly Distillery will continue as normal. The Irvin family wish to thank everyone from around the world who made a special trip to their “little piece of heaven” and became a part of the vineyard family. They wish the Freiwald family well as they carry on the legacy of being Charleston’s only estate winery.  Purchased in 2001 by newlyweds, Jim and Ann Irvin, the original land that would become Irvin~House Vineyards was a boarding area for a local carriage company. Together, they had a dream to create a vineyard growing muscadine grapes. Muscadines are the only grapes that will grow in the humid climate of the Lowcountry. So combined with the muscle of Ann’s son, Jay MacMurphy, who is currently the Firefly Master Distiller, the intricacy of Jim’s ch...

Join Irvin~House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery in the centuries old tradition of blessing the vines and toasting to a burgeoning harvest with the  Irvin~House Vineyard and Firefly Distillery 13th Annual Blessing of the Vines Festiva l on Saturday, November 7,  2015 from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m, located at 6775 Bears Bluff Road on Wadmalaw Island.  Irvin~House Vineyards invites you for a day full of family fun with activities including the annual blessing of muscadine grapevines by Father Greg Snyder,  Irvin~House Vineyards  wine and  Firefly Distillery  tastings, live music from Honey Smoke and the Matt MacKelcan Band. The event is open to the public; admission is $10.00 per car.  Tasty food vendors such as Chucktown Mobile Seafood, Gidget Gourmet and Linen’s BBQ will be on-site selling their homemade eats.  At next Saturday's Blessing of the Vines Festival, there will also be a  Firefly Spirits​ Bake OFF!  The Loo...

It’s going to be a “grape” time at the 12th Annual Grape Stomping Festival on Saturday, August 29, from 12:00 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Irvin~House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery located at 6775 Bears Bluff Road, Wadmalaw Island. Visitors can sport purple feet with the Grape Stomping Contest, compete in the annual Lucy Look-Alike Contest, browse booths from local craft vendors and enjoy a fun-filled day under the oaks at Charleston’s only vineyard and winery. Admission is $10.00 per car, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Pet Helpers and Frierson Elementary School.  To fuel the visitors who want to stomp to victory, local food vendors will be on-site including: Chucktown Mobile Seafood, Coastal Crust, Home Team BBQ,  Korki's Cafe, Sweet Lulu's Bakery, Old Salt Gourmet Pretzels, King of Pops and Ben & Jerry's. Music will be provided by Pierce Eden and the Dirty Work and vineyard regular Rawberry Jam.  The highlight of the Annual Grape Stomping Festival i...

The flowers are blooming and warmer weather has hopefully settled in as we approach spring. Get out of the house and shake off your spring fever with Sippin’ Saturdays at Irvin~House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery. Every Saturday from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m, the winery and distillery will serve up a different local food vendor and musical group to entertain locals and visitors. There is no admission fee but patrons are encouraged to bring their cash and credit for a wide variety of libations and food options.  Bring lawn chairs and blankets to picnic under the oaks and relish in the Lowcountry beauty. The famous Irvin~House Vineyards Wine-a-Ritas will be served on the patio and Irvin~House Vineyards wine may be purchased by the glass or bottle and enjoyed outside. Tastings in the Firefly Distillery and Irvin~House Vineyard winery are only $6.00 to taste 6 of 24 flavors of Firefly Spirits and $5.00 to taste 5 wines. Patrons will receive complimentary glasses during both tastings. Pets...

Craving delicious Lowcountry oysters? Then join Irvin House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery for the Cork Shuckin' Sippin Saturday on Saturday,  February 7th from Noon - 5pm. Admission is free but patrons are encouraged to bring their cash and credit for oysters, wine and Firefly spirits tastings and local food vendors.  Oysters will be available and other food vendors will be on site including Coastal Crust, Stono Cafe and Chucktown Mobile Seafood.  Guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music of the Rawberry Jam. Tastings in the Firefly Vodka distillery and Irvin~House Vineyards winery are only $6.00 to taste 6 Firefly spirits and $5.00 to taste 5 wines. Patrons will receive complimentary glasses during both tastings.  What: Cork Shuckin’ Sippin' Saturday When: Saturday, February 7, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.    Where: Irvin-House Vineyards ~  Wadmalaw Island   Questions? Call  (843) 559-6867  H...

As we say farewell to 2014, Firefly Distillery and Irvin~House Vineyards are proud to announce that for the first time ever, they will remain open the month of January in 2015. Since their inception, the vineyard and distillery closed every January for annual maintenance but due to popular demand, they will continue pouring their local spirits and wines. They will be closed January 1 for the New Year’s Holiday but will reopen Friday, January 2, 2015.  Regular hours at the vineyard are Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Regular hours at the Firefly Distillery are Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to relax on the expansive lawn. Tastings in the Firefly Distillery and Irvin~House Vineyard winery are only $6.00 to taste 6 of 25 flavors of Firefly Spirits and $5.00 to taste 5 wines. Patrons will receive complimentary glasses during both tastings. Pets are allowed but must be leashed, and no coolers please. ...

Praying for a bountiful harvest for more than a decade, Irvin~House Vineyards invites the public to the 12th Annual Blessing of the Vines Festival on Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m, located at 6775 Bears Bluff Road on Wadmalaw Island. Guests can witness the blessing of the muscadine grapevines by Father Greg Snyder. This centuries-old tradition is used by vineyards from around the world to celebrate the new harvest, robust vines and savory grapes. 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 and The Center for Women. Enjoy live music from One Kool Blow and food by Food by Hello! My Name is BBQ, Rollin' South, Stono Cafe' and King of Pops. This year, local Johns Island restaurants will compete in the ”Souper Bowl” to benefit Frierson Elementary School. By purchasing a ticket, visitors can vote for their favorite soup created by chefs from Fat...

It’s going to be a “grape” time at the 11th Annual Grape Stomping Festival on Saturday, August 23, from 12:00 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Irvin~House Vineyards.  Visitors can stomp local muscadines for the Grape Stomping Contest, compete in the annual Lucy Look-Alike Contest and enjoy a fun-filled day under the oaks at Charleston’s only vineyard and winery. Admission is only $10.00 per car, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Frierson Elementary School.  To fuel the visitors who want to stomp to victory, local food vendors will be on-site including: Coastal Crust, Home Team BBQ, Stono Cafe, Dulce Truck, King of Pops and Ben & Jerry’s. Music will be provided by The Southern Belles.  Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to picnic on the expansive lawn, but no coolers please.  Along with live music and local craft vendors, there will be a jump castle, face painting, and hula hoops for the little stompers.  Tastings in th...

Irvin~House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery opened their doors for 2014 Saturday, February 1 for tastings and tours. And to celebrate the new year, they're hosting a  shuckin ’ good time at the Third Annual  Cork   Shuckin ’ Festival  Saturday, February 8 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  at the vineyard. Admission is free but patrons are encouraged to bring their cash and credit for oysters, wine and Firefly spirits tastings and local food vendors. Oysters will be $20 for all you can eat or $10 by the bucket.  Oysters from Holy City Seafood will be available and other food vendors will be on site including Coastal Crust, Stono Cafe and Dulce Truck. Guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music of the One Kool Blow. Tastings in the Firefly Vodka distillery and Irvin~House Vineyards winery are only $6.00 to taste 6 Firefly spirits and $5.00 to taste 5 wines. Patrons will receive complimentary glasses during bot...

Every January, the animals take a long winter’s nap and the staff at Irvin~House Vineyards get to work behind the scenes cleaning and sprucing up the winery after a successful year. Therefore, the winery and vineyard is closed to the public for the month of January. It will reopen for tastings on Tuesday, February 4, 2014. Regular hours for the vineyard are Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Their first schedule event is the Third Annual Cork Shuckin’ Festival on Saturday, February 8 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Details to follow. For more information on the vineyard, visit www.Charlestonwine.com .