Weekend review

In honor of Kim's upcoming marriage, I got a few of her friends together this Saturday for a pre-shower gathering. And there is no better place for a pre-shower gathering than Linganore Winecellars Caribbean Wine Festival!

Steph and I met Kim, her mom, and two others at noon and drove an hour north to Mt. Airy, Maryland, where several hundred people had already congregated to taste wine and listen to Caribbean music for the afternoon. It was quite a spectacle. I have never seen anything like it. I have gone to several music festivals in my lifetime, but never have I seen wine bottles and glasses everywhere. Oh, the wine was flowing. Most people were walking around with a bottle in one hand and a full glass in the other.

When we arrived, we each paid $10 at the gate and received an etched wine glass. There were food and craft vendors set up around the perimeter and a huge tent in the middle of the field where the wine tasting was taking place. I headed straight for the tent and made the mistake of parking myself in front of a pourer who tried to get me drunk on ten different samples in 5 minutes.

We moved on to the Pit Beef stand where I had a roast beef sandwich that was better than anything Arby's serves up. After perusing the vendors, we tasted a few more wines and part of our group took the winery tour. While Steph was in line at the Porta-potties, I got my picture taken with a drunk guy who was trying on hats at the vendor behind me. We met up with our group at the wine store where several of us bought wine and then settled down on the hill to listen to the two calypso bands that were playing.

To my surprise, there were actually very few visibly drunk people, although a couple on a blanket beside us went through four bottles. There were more scantily-clad women there than drunk people. On several instances, I thought for sure I was going to get an eye-full of something I did not want to see. Scantily-clad women and alcohol do not mix well.

Steph and I concluded that we each needed to get one of the wine-glass holders that many people were wearing around their necks. I need one so I can wheel around while drinking wine. Steph needs one so she can do things like laundry and vacuuming while drinking wine. Yes, they're perfect for the dedicated wino.

Usually, these types of festivals are right up my alley. I love them. I only wish I was able to walk around like everyone else and not have to worry about muddy ground or bumpy hills or crushing little kids with my monstrous wheelchair. It's hard for me not to think how much more enjoyable the day would've been with a little mobility and two good legs. Overall, I was impressed with the accessibility of the winery...right down to the handicap accessible porta-potty. Heh. There's something you don't see everywhere.

The weather was perfect for such a day. I just hope everyone that went with us had as great of a time as I did. I might have to check out the Reggae Wine Festival next month. Or the Blues Festival in July...