5 Reasons to Attend at Least One Wine Festival This Year…

By Tomeka Allgood

I. Wine

There is no point in listing wine last because, of course people attend wine festivals for the wine! I will be the first to admit that I am a late bloomer when it comes to the world of wine. However, we will not focus on that right now as it is not important. What is important is that I made it and I’m here for all of it, okay?

Whether you are a novice or connoisseur, wine festivals present an opportunity to explore different wines all at one stop. I recently attended the annual A Toast to Tennessee Wine Festival in Lebanon, Tennessee and discovered some wines made in my home state that I never knew existed. If it were not for the wine festival, who knows how long it would have taken me to check out all of the wineries present.

II. Meeting New People

There’s just something about finding your tribe! At a wine festival majority of the attendees are there because they love wine, the rest are there because they love someone who loves wine. Therefore, the conversations with complete strangers are easy because you already have one thing in common.

III. Education

I’m sure most people do not think about wine festivals as learning opportunities, but they are. You are in a room full of wine experts. Each vineyard booth is set up with people who work at the various wineries and are readily available for questions regarding their specific wines and locale.

IV. Economics

By just buying one ticket to the event, gives attendees access to multiple wineries. That equals multiple tastings as well. I’ve paid nearly $20 to taste 6 wines at one winery more than once. The most recent wine festival that I attended, allowed me to pay $20 to taste countless wines from over 10 wineries if not more (I lost count).

Another reason to attend a wine festival are the onsite deals if you purchase wine on the day of the festival. More likely than not attendees can save a lot of money by buying at the festival. Anywhere from 10% and up depending on the winery and if you purchase more than one bottle at a time. One woman was at the festival doing her Christmas shopping, in April! She buys wine and then at Christmas they go to Dirty Santa/White Elephant parties, stocking stuffers or gifts to other wine lovers. I thought that was a great idea and plan to start doing the same this year.

V. Convenience

In this fast pace world, most of us are about convenience and if you are like me, I’m sure you are no different. I mean, we have online grocery shopping for goodness sakes nowadays.

A Wine Festival is the perfect place to taste several wines and fill up your wine rack all in one stop. It is the try before you buy experience that prevents buyer’s remorse later on. I’m serious, people literally bring in wheeled carts or wagons to stock up on site. If you are not early, some of the wineries begin to sell out halfway through the festival because of how good some of the deals are on festival day.

So make sure you Google: Wine Festivals Near Me and go to at least one this year! Trust me, it will change how you buy wine and you will not regret it one bit!!!

All Photos by Tomeka Allgood