Great Grapes brings good wine

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The Great Grapes! Wine, Arts and Food Festival is back for the sixth year in a row and pulling all the punches.

“We have more wineries than we’ve ever had, which is 13, which is fantastic,” said Greg Nivens, president of Moorea Marketing, which produced the show. “We’ve been very successful over the years.”

Nivens is hoping folks who are forgoing vacations this year because of skyrocketing gas prices will attend the festival. “With the economy now, I think a lot of the people who might have been going to the beach are rethinking their summer plans,” he said. “Our show is a whole lot less expensive than traveling, and we give a good time for not too much money.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy more than 120 local Maryland wines from wineries such as Boordy Vineyards, Cove Point Winery, Elk Run Vineyards, Basignani Winery, Fiore Winery, St. Michaels Winery, Frederick Cellars, Woodhall Wine Cellars, Cygnus Wine Cellars, Fridays Creek Winery, Penn Oaks Winery and Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard.

The festival will also feature live music from local favorites Judo Chop, King Teddy, Captain Quaint and The Reagan Years. Visitors can shop at more than 60 vendor exhibits, displaying arts, crafts and wine accessories.

The Food Network’s “Calorie Commando” Juan-Carlos Cruz will be on hand for several cooking demonstrations that will show visitors it’s easy to eat heart-healthy without feeling deprived of flavor. The event also includes a food and wine 101 course and a cheese-pairing seminar.

Basignani Winery in Glencoe has been a part of Great Grapes since its inception in 2003. “We’ll probably have our whole lineup, which is 10 wines, including dry whites and reds and sweet whites,” owner Bert Basignani said. “And we’re happy to let people taste all across the board if they are of the mind.”

Nivens is confident attendees will be happy with all the festival has to offer. “You just can’t beat the price, you get great value for your dollar. You get to taste wines all day, can buy a glass, bottle or case, or just taste the samples that we have to offer.”

ecampbell@baltimoreexaminer.com

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