State wineries hosting Winefest '08

By M. Scott Carter

November 12, 2008 01:15 am

— OKLAHOMA CITY --?More than two dozen of the state's wineries will come together for Oklahoma WineFest 08, officials with the event announced this week.
Ruth Sallis, the CEO of Rushing Wind Vineyard in Oklahoma City, said the festival is set for Friday and Saturday at 50 Penn Place in Oklahoma City.
"The wine festival will feature 25 Oklahoma wineries from across the state as well as musicians, artists, craftsmen and gourmet food vendors," she said.
Sallis said a "Denim and Diamonds" reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday. "The reception will feature savory dishes prepared by local restaurants paired with complimentary sampling of Oklahoma Wines," she said.
Cost is $75 and proceeds from the reception will be donated to the Oklahoma Muscular Dystrophy Association.
On Saturday, the festival will open with workshops and shopping.
Sallis said the workshops are set to beginning at 9 a.m. with shopping scheduled for 10 a.m. and a tasting planned for 11 a.m. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Senior admission is $15.
"This is a great opportunity to sample hundreds of Oklahoma wines and their gift shops in one place," she said. "Attendees will be able to taste and purchase their favorite Oklahoma wine until 8 p.m."
Workshops include:
· Wine Tasting, with sommelier Ian Clark
· Wine Making, with David Martin
· Wine Collection, with Scott Duncan
· Wine Cellars, with Will Celar Innovation
· Food and Wine Pairing, with chef Kurt Fleischfresser
· Grape Growing in Oklahoma, with Andrew Snyder.
Admission to the workshops is $10 each; VIP passes include all workshops free of charge.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 525-2128.