Wine in the Woods kicks off this weekend, and it's worth assembling your crew to taste wine and join a Columbia institution.
The annual festival on May 16-17, 2015 is basically an adult carnival -- wine tasting, music, art to show, food to buy.
Check out the Wine in the Woods web site for all the details. Mrs. HowChow and I went years ago on a date. We're not in a wine-tasting stage of life at the moment, but I recommend the show if you can carry a few beach chairs to enjoy yourself with friends.
Can anyone share Wine in the Woods advice? When to go? Where to set up your chairs? How to find the best wines to taste?
9 comments:
I attended years ago... I don't remember it being such an adult event. My mind may be playing tricks on me but I thought there were once children activities...more of a family affair. Again, this was years ago! :). I wanted to go last year but was shocked to see the admission price of $20 for a 3 year old. That deterred us from going...most likely for many years to come as we have little ones. Too bad! I guess they don't want children there, but even local Maryland wineries have events where children are invited, and it turns out to be a nice day outside with a picnic and music. I guess we'll stick with those!
We were going to attend last year but when we found they added the $20 per kid charge we skipped it. Instead we went to the Maryland Wine Fest which is still kid friendly. This year we may have babysitters so we may go to Wine In the Woods. Ever since they added the $20/kid charge they are on our, "only if weather is great, and nothing else conflicts" list.
Forgot to answer the questions. As for chair, it depends on what you want to carry. You have to remember that it isn't a short walk from the parking lots. Then you also have to deal with getting the stuff back to the car with any purchases you may have made. We usually just did a blanket. Last time we went before they charged for kids so we brought them.
If you are into drinking, once you use up your free tastes just buy a bottle of wine you like and sit back listening to the music while eating some good food. When to go, depends on the weather and when the babysitters can handle the kids. We always went in as soon as we could unless there was a band/group we specifically wanted to see then we would work around that.
I definitely have to agree with Jim S. on the blanket vice chairs move. There is ample room at Merriweather to throw down a blanket and "set up camp" (which I suggest you do sooner rather than later in the day as available space tends to decrease rather rapidly!). As for which wines to taste - taste them ALL! In my experience the vendors have been very friendly and knowledgeable and have no problem pouring you a wine you're likely to enjoy. Once you zero in on that wine, buy yourself a bottle (or two!) and head back to your base camp to sample and enjoy the music and food options. All in all it's a wonderful time, especially if the weather cooperates!
I work this event every year and It just blows my mind that the Department of Recreation and Parks has to pay these venders to come to this event and sell there wine, no they do not pay to attend.
Plus we pay C.A for the use of the grounds.
Every other jurisdiction in the state the vendors pay to attend. This will be the final year for the event at Merriweather due to the re-development of the site. As for the $20 per kid, thats the point no kids wanted, when there is liquor involved. Yes a-lot of people just attend to just get hammered, by wine. I don't want my kids around a bunch of drunks.
I have worked at Wine in the Woods for a more years than I care to count, pouring for local wineries. My biggest beef is the admission charge for kids & designated drivers. Otherwise if the weather cooperates it's a great event, good food, good music, a chance to relax and have some fun.
I rarely missed Wine in the Woods in the early years, but quit going a few years ago, when it got unbearably crowded and the people came just to get drunk. By about 2:00, there is no room no move, and the wait to get anything is too long. We left and went to lunch at Leelynn's. Plus, having tasted and experienced NY wineries, I realize how far behind MD is on that front.
I have definitely not enjoyed the event the past couple of years. The lines are ridiculously long and like Bclass said, by 2pm everyone is drunk. I have poured the past 2 years for a winery there and by the early afternoon, people are slamming their glass down and just want a pour of everything you have to offer. What we had done last year was just go to a winery we know we liked and buy a bottle and sit and enjoy it on our blanket rather than stand in the super long lines for a sample just to have to stand in another long line to buy.
In response to the anonymous comment regarding this year being the last year because of development - I have no idea about the internal workings of Rec and Parks and their budgeting and planning, however, I wanted to correct a couple items. (1) Rec and Parks is not paying the Inner Arbor Trust, the holder of the easement on the land, for the event. (2) The development of the site will not negatively impact the ability to hold the event. Next year, the second stage will be a permanent stage, rather than a temporary one. The other slated changes that have been approved are primarily stream restoration, lawn restoration, putting in paths, putting in bathrooms, putting in a playground, and putting in a giant bench.
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