North Griffith Park in Mound City, Missouri, is the place to be September 30, at the 8th Annual Great Northwest Wine Fest. Several award winning wines will be featured amongst the 12 wineries participating in event. Plans are coming together nicely for this favorite annual event, which will held from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
With this being Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation’s biggest fundraiser, the committee is pleased with the increase in new wines and new wineries featured, additional new vendor booths, the variety of foods being offered and some outstanding talent to be shared throughout the day. The Wine Fest will offer a fun-filled afternoon and evening at this beautiful fall setting next to Mound City Development Corporation’s lavish vineyards in the north end of Mound City. Joining in the array of the 12 wineries committed to being present are: Baltimore Bend Winery, Waverly; Grindstone Valley Winery, Osborn; Jowler Creek Winery, Platte City; Ladoga Ridge Winery, Smithville; Pirtle Winery, Weston; Riverwood Winery, Weston; Terre Beau Winery, Dover; Tipple Hill Winery, Easton; Top Hat Winery, Independence; Weston Wine Company, Weston; Windy Wine Company, Osborne; and VOX Winery of Kansas City. Each winery has their own unique tastes and grape varieties, specialty named wines, and some are made with Mound City’s grapes.
Food booths will include The Enchilada Lady of Oregon, with Mexican goodies and the Grillers of Savannah’s Knights of Columbus with burgers, brats and hot dogs. Food Country of Rock Port is offering cheese samples as well as selling cheese plates and fruit and a reasonable gourmet sit-down dinner in the shelter house which will feature a choice of two entrées with a complete dinner meal, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Jo Jo’s Eats & Treats of Mound City will offer sandwiches, cheesy potatoes, desserts, drinks and more, and Grill Sergeant BBQ of Maryville will serve a variety of food items such as brisket, baby back ribs, and pulled pork. Other foods to be featured are homemade breads, grape pies, jams, jellies and more, all afternoon and evening. The Klub, Mound City, will offer a full bar in the shelter house which will include domestic beers.
A large variety of artisan booths will be around the park for the entirety of the day. Items such as clothing, handcrafted jewelry, wine and home decorative items, fall flowers, pumpkins, yard art, health products, purses and bags, gift items, photography, artwork, handmade items, baked items, jams, jellies, honey, candles, hand knitted items, and much more can be purchased.
Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation board members are also offering a large raffle giveaway of a “Wine Cellar Basket,” a large basket of wines furnished by the wineries. Also, a large 50/50 raffle is being held with the winner taking one-half the proceeds. Last year’s winner won $890. The winners of either raffle need not be present to win.
Outstanding entertainment will fill the air on stage located close to the vineyards. Scheduled to perform are: Frank Rardon, Olathe, KS; Ben Johnson, Stanberry (an Elvis impersonator); Esther Laurie Rardon, Gladstone; Devon and Mikaela Sons, Rock Port; The Saranades from Mound City; an Atchison County Gals Quartet; and Mike Goff and Broken Spoke Band, Burlington Junction.
“Grape stompings” and view of the vineyards will occur in the afternoon. Tables and chairs will be provided or you can bring your own lawn chairs. The entry fee is $25 a person which includes unlimited samplings and an etched glass; $15 for non-consumers and minors; and $5 for children 10 and under.
Proceeds from this fundraising event go toward the continuation of NWMEF.
For more information or questions concerning this event, contact Marilyn Alldredge, Wine Event coordinator, 660-744-3146. Pre-sale tickets are available online at www.NWMEF.org or tickets can be purchased at the gate.