Tasting Tents – Sunday
Charleston Wine & Food
We walked into the main festival gate at Marion Square closest to Calhoun Street. We were delighted to see a vintage Tequila Don Julio truck with a special bar serving draft Tequila Paloma (soda, Tequila, grapefruit). After a few sips, we meandered passed by a pit filled with colored balls before wandering into the huge tasting tents. Lines of festival attendees wrapped along the perimeter of the structure. We waited in line for 30 minutes before heading for one of the several wine and spirits tasting tables. Wineries from all over the country presented their offerings generously. Bottles Mt. Pleasant provided a retail tent for patrons to purchase any of the spirits they tasted in the tents. Genius!
Painting with Jonathan Green
Nationally reknown artist, Jonathan Green, collaborated with Wine & Design to host a private painting lesson during the festival. Mr. Green instructed students brush stroke by brush stroke to create their interpretation of balloons in the sky. Jonathan graciously assisted everyone and personally signed several of the students creations.
The festival hosted several activities to keep attendees busy like an agave history lessons from Tequila Don Julio, live cooking demonstrations, interactive cooking classes and lots of photo opportunities. It was inspiring to see so many local businesses represented at the festival. Wine makers from John’s Island and Walterboro proudly poured samples of their grapes or slices of their goat cheese or spoonfuls of craft fruit jams. As Charleston Wine & Food enters its eleventh year, we hope the trend of ‘keeping it local’ continues.
Charleston Travel Council Meeting
Charleston Area Convention & Visitor’s Center
The Cooper River Room at the Mount Pleasant Visitor Center played host to April’s Travel Council Meeting. We heard from Julie Ann Oldham of Lowcountry Parks Venues Center and from Bing Pan, Ph.D, professor at the College of Charleston. He discussed travel trends between first time visitors to Charleston and repeat visitors to Charleston; very informative. Mix Charleston Premier Bartending services provided the libations and Hamby Catering & Events supplies us with a beautiful spread of vegetables, fresh fruit and delicious breads.
For more information about the Charleston CVB, visit www.explorecharleston.com
Oculto Launch Party at Republic Reign
During Charleston Wine and Food, we had the pleasure of tasting the Mexican Beer, Oculto, which is a “tequila” beer, made with blue agave and blended with beer aged with wood from tequila barrels. (more…)
