You know that saying about aging like a fine wine? It could be applied to Sedona Winefest, now in its eighth year. The festival returns to Posse Grounds Park Sept. 24 and 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winefest relocated to Posse Grounds Park last year after a six-year stint on Airport Mesa. Paula Woolsey, who serves on the Sedona Winefest and Verde Valley Wine Consortium board of directors (she teaches in the viticulture department at Yavapai College and owns her own winery and restaurant consulting business, too), says organizers have made a few changes to this year’s event. The festival tent has been relocated to a grassier part of the park and will feature open sides to allow for better airflow in case the festival falls on a scorching hot weekend like it did last year. There will also be covered outdoor seating and a bigger selection of food including food trucks and vendors.
The highlight of the festival, of course, will be the 20 Arizona wineries offering tastings. Festivalgoers can also expect an art exhibit, live music, chair massages and four seminars each day. Seminars start at noon and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Paula says the immensely popular workshop on pairing wine with chocolate will be offered both days, but she cautions that it fills up fast so if you’re interested, arrive early. (A schedule of seminars will be posted on the festival’s website in early September.) Seminars are included with your entry fee. And in order to boost attendance on Sunday, festival organizers are mailing admission coupons to Sedona and Verde Valley residents, so check your mailbox.
Though you won’t find many vineyards in Sedona proper, Paula says the festival gives the community a chance to be a part of the wine industry. “It brings the Verde Valley and Sedona together in support of the wine industry,” she says. “It also gives the wineries a bigger audience because September in Sedona is crazy busy. The festival happens rain or shine, so come with a smile and ready to taste amazing food and wine.” – Erika Ayn Finch. Photo by Al Comello.
SEDONA CALENDAR: Events, activities, shows, happenings
