Sampling Missouri wines and helping Northwest Missouri entrepreneurs are both part of the 7th Annual Winefest in Mound City this weekend.
According to Winefest Coordinator Marilyn Alldredge, 12 wineries and 50 artisan booths will be at the event this year.
“It’s exciting for us because this way it’ll give more people an opportunity to try out some more new wines,” Alldredge said. “All these wineries will be offering five to six different wines to sample.”
There will also be musical entertainment including Matt Snook from Blake Shelton’s team on the television show, The Voice.
Alldredge said the event benefits the Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation.
“We help people start up entrepreneurships and small businesses through our facilitator, Keli Morris,” Alldredge said. “She goes to them and will meet with them time and time again if necessary and it’s all free and confidential.”
Alldredge said the NWMEF serves the counties of Atchison, Nodaway, Worth, Holt, Andrew and Gentry.
“It’s something we feel we can help the economy in our six county area,” Alldredge said. “It’s been so beneficial to so many people that see their dreams come true, of owning their own business and perhaps maybe they’re hiring a few people too. This has been a great adventure for us. We have about 50 some board members from all of these six counties and we come together once a month and provide resources for the facilitator to take back to her clients.”
The 7th Annual Missouri’s Great Northwest Winefest takes place from noon until 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Mound City North Griffith Park at East Weightman Road and North Nebraska Street.
Wineries at the festival include Grindstone Valley Winery and Windy Wine Company from Osborn, Pirtle Winery, Riverwood Winery and Weston Wine Company from Weston, Jowler Creek Winery from Platte City, Ladoga Ridge Winery from Smithville, Terre Beau Winery from Dover, VOX Winery from Kansas City, Tipple Hills Winery from Easton, Baltimore Bend Vineyard from Waverly and Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery from Excelsior Springs.
For more information, visit NWMEF.org.