Thursday, June 21, 2007

Fête de Chaumette July 14th

Chaumette Vineyards & Winery announces its July 14th Fête de Chaumette, a Celebration of Regional Wines, Cuisine & Goods

Chaumette Vineyards & Winery announces its annual Fête de Chaumette, held on the winery grounds Saturday, July 14th from 11am to 7pm. Chaumette’s Fête de Chaumette is a celebration of regional cuisine, wine, arts, goods and entertainment that proudly features and promotes the significance of Missouri’s regional products. Fourteen new and established wineries, sixteen food producers and sixteen area retailers are participating from the Ste. Genevieve region and beyond. Owner Hank Johnson states, “We conceptualized this year’s Fête to proudly showcase the regionality of our local products - from fine wine and food products to arts and other goods and entertainment that our region offers. By bringing many local area businesses together, guests can discover and enjoy a multitude of regional delights all at one event.”

Each participant vendor will sell and sample their products. Chaumette’s Grapevine Grill will serve BBQ all day, featuring a menu that include ingredients that food producers will sell at the event, including BBQ bison burgers, BBQ chicken, pork & lamb, local cheeses & sausages and salads made with local produce. The indoor/outdoor event is a family friendly festival for all ages and kids’ activities will include turtle racing, kite flying, bobbing for apples and boulé. Live entertainment will perform throughout the day, including House of Bishops, a Blues, R&B and Oldies band and Dennis Stroughmatt & the Creole Stomp a Louisiana Creole Zydeco, Cajun and Blues band as well as other local musicians. Event is free of charge to guests, and a $20 parking fee per car will be collected. Plenty of covered & uncovered outdoor seating for guests will be offered.

Wineries participating include Charleville Vineyard & Winery, Claverach Vineyards, Durso Hills Vineyards & Winery, Meramec Vineyards, Peaceful Bend Vineyard, River Ridge Winery, Sainte Genevieve Winery, Shady Grove Vineyards, Tower Rock Winery, Twin Oaks Vineyard, Vance Vineyard & Winery, Villa Antonio Winery and White Rose Winery.

Food producers include Alpine Dairy Goat Farm from Webster Groves, Claverach Farm from Eureka, Family Friendly Farm from Cape Girardeau, Missouri Grass Fed Beef from Jackson, Goat's Beard Farm from Harrisburg, Hinkebein Hills Farms from Cape Girardeau, Living Springs Ranch from Belleview, Missouri Elk Farmers Association, Monroe Farm from Berryman (Washington County,) Pioneer Apple Orchards & Market from Jackson, Prairie Grass Farms from New Florence, Sayersbrook Bison from Potosi, Sunflower Savannah from Beaufort and Windrush Farm from Farmington.

Retailers and other locals businesses participating from Ste. Genevieve are The Show Me Shop, a retailer of Missouri products from Ste. Genevieve, First Settlement Country Store, Ivy & Twigs, a garden shop, Joyce & Choyce’s Antiques & Collectibles, Odile's Linen & Lace, Etc., The Stained Glass Shop, Sweet Things, Candle Corner, Zielinski’s, specializing in vintage retail, Deb Says Sew, specializing in embroidery, The Racing Edge, Nancy Dee's Antiques & Collectibles, Lulu’s Antiques, Only Child Originals, specializing in hand-made jewelry and the Ste. Genevieve Tourist & Information Center. Also participating are Stonie's Sausage Shop from Perryville and The Tiger Sanctuary from Bloomsdale.

Chaumette’s Fête de Chaumette originated four years ago as a celebration the French holiday Bastille Day to commemorate the rich French heritage of Ste. Genevieve. Over the years, the festival has grown to something even more prominent and encompassing – a festival for regional cuisine, arts, and entertainment.

Established in 1990 by Hank and Jackie Johnson, Chaumette Vineyards and Winery is located in Ste. Genevieve County 20 miles southwest of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. As a premier Missouri Winery, Chaumette is dedicated to handcrafting wines of distinction and elegance. For more information go to http://www.chaumette.com/.