CSRA Wine Festival grows like a vine

The event has grown each year since it began in 2006. Each of the past four years, there were more than 200 wines and many craft beers, as well as tapas from local restaurants and great jazz. The Augusta Rose Society also will display several of its award-winning rose exhibits.

Money raised by the event will support a Culinary Endowment Fund for scholarships for the Culinary Arts Program at Augusta Technical Institute.

“Each year you learn a little something about how to do it better,” said Pat Goodwin, who founded the nonprofit festival and continues to run it.

“Each year, interest builds as people tell their friends what a good time they had. I’ve already had some ticket requests from Columbia, S.C.

“It’s always a good afternoon. People can look forward to tasting great wines, eating some great food and hearing beautiful jazz. Plus, it’s great to be able to assist these young people interested in culinary arts. Someday some of them will be famous chefs in New York, and we can say we helped them get through school in difficult times.”

Tickets cost $35 if purchased before Nov. 4. After that date they will be $40 at the door. You can buy tickets from the Web site www.csrawinefestival.com, or from the Vineyard Wine Market or the Ninth Street Wine Shop.

With the ticket you get a free wine glass, unlimited access to the wines poured by distributors, and plenty of food prepared by local restaurants and personal chefs.

Goodwin conceived the festival after attending the Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival, a five-day event that has grown to be one of the largest wine events on the East Coast.

“I was impressed with the event, thought it was pretty classy,” she said. “It attracts an elite crowd, and I thought, ‘If they can do it, why can’t we?’ ”

At first she thought it wouldn’t be too difficult, but then she ran into the tangle of alcohol regulations in Georgia and South Carolina. She plowed through the obstacles and attracted enough distributors to hold a successful event in a large, open field. Later festivals have moved inside Savannah Rapids, adding more food and wine.

“It’s a great way to come out and sample some award-winning wines and have some fun,” said Goodwin.

A panel of 15 judges met last week to sample more than 150 wines before coming up with winners in each category of wine, as well as best-of-show winners. All winners will be announced and available to try at the festival.