Garlic festival this weekend

By Casey Gillis

Published: October 9, 2008

Rebec Vineyards’ Virginia Wine & Garlic Festival is turning 18 this year.

The popular area event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Amherst winery, located off U.S. 29.

Winemaker Svet Kanev says he remembers the festival’s first year, when about 3,000 people attended.

“It was still busy, but not crazy busy,” he says.

Not like now, when the festival usually attracts double or even triple that number.

“It’s overwhelming at times,” Kanev says. “If we live through Saturday (the festival’s first and, usually, busiest day), we’ve survived.”

Rebec’s wine will be available for tastings and purchase at three different booths throughout the property. Other wineries in attendance will be Afton Mountain, Hilltop Berry Farm, Mountain Cove, Peaks of Otter and Wintergreen.

Just as important as the wine is, of course, the garlic. And there’s plenty of it to be had this year.

The Garlic Cook-Off begins at 10:10 a.m. Saturday on the Winery Stage, one of five performance venues set up for the festival. The winners will be announced at 1 p.m.

Some food vendors include the Garlic Grotto and its gourmet garlic burgers; the Pedlar Ruritan Club, which serves up garlic chicken, string beans, pasta and bread; Daddy Bim’s and Via Veneto Italian Ice.

More than 80 craft and art vendors will sell handcrafted items like jewelry, metal and glass art, soaps, pottery, purses, woodwork and even French provincial linens.

Tickets to the festival are $14 in advance and $20 at the gate for general admission, $18 in advance and $25 at the gate for general admission with wine tasting and a souvenir wine glass and $4 in advance and $5 at the gate for children. Two-day tickets are $5 more in each category.

For more information or for a list of ticket vendors, visit http://www.rebecwinery.com.