Joie de Grape
The first Wine Down the Music Trail scored two days of stormless weather, and I would think the organizers would be happy with the turnout of several thousand on Saturday. Whether there was as much buying as tasting, I can't say. We came home empty-handed, preferring the finer wines (that Ann calls Adult KoolAid) with the screw-off cap, and did not get our money's-worth of teaspoon-tastes from the dozen or so wineries represented. Peaks of Otter Winery had some very interesting fruity flavors, especially an apple-cinnamon that tempted me. But I've lived this long and not spent that much for a bottle of wine; why break a perfect record like that?
Frankly, it was often difficult to get a tasting because of the folks who parked their keisters at the bar and went through every one of the eight to ten offerings once; then couldn't quite make up their minds and went through them just once more; or maybe a third. For all that sipping, it was a well-behaved crowd. I didn't see that many folks I recognized from Floyd diluted among the Roanokers and North Carolinians who came upmountain for the event.
Yes, I carried my camera and looked forward to shooting in this very different setting from our field of grass. I did get some fair shots of some of the performers. Scott Perry is a local blues guitarist and vocalist who performed at one of several side-stages during the day. And the Hurrah Cloggers from Blacksburg gave a high-energy performance that would have had me rubber-legged after the first of a half-dozen rollicking, stomping dances. You can see my gallery of their act here.
And now it won't be but a few weeks that the same great site and main stage will host FloydFest 2005. Y'all come on up and join the fun.
Comments
Wonderful Photoshop work on that image!
I also like the way you titled the picture.
Posted by: David St Lawrence | July 5, 2005 7:36 AM
Screw-off cap - shame on you! Drink cheap wine if that's what you like, but can't you find some that isn't helping to destroy the cork industry? Or is that already difficult in the US?
Posted by: JeanG | July 5, 2005 9:14 AM
Dear me. The cork industry. First it was post-it notes that obviated the need for push pins and 'cork board' and now screw-top bottles. Even if not screwtop, we often find some kind of corkoid plastic plugging the top of the bottle. I'm afraid the cork industry may need to be be looking for new markets. (Didn't I used to see some kind of highheel shoes that were largely cork on the soles?)
Posted by: fred1st | July 5, 2005 9:30 AM
I can't believe you said that! See: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2003/3/Cork.cfm
Posted by: JeanG | July 5, 2005 12:15 PM
Very interesting to learn of the relationship between cork and wildlife habit, culture and national economies. But a small surprise, I suppose, as so often the least of our actions can affect much larger reactions when taken collectively.
It does seem that, given the importance of the dehesas, the growers and govts of Spain and Portugal would be looking for other uses for this wonderful renewable resource that grows in an artificially created ecosystem that is hundreds of years old.
Maybe just this kind of retooling is already underway. The prospects of eucalyptus replacement sounds not so good.
Posted by: fred1st | July 5, 2005 1:01 PM