Meet Missouri Vintners, Artists, Authors
at 12th Annual Missouri Wine Festival

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO. – Winemakers, writers and authors from Central Missouri will discuss their crafts and offer their wares at the 12th Annual Missouri Wine Festival. The event is set for 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Saturday, July 16, in the center court at Stonecrest Mall on Highway 54 in Osage Beach.

Admission will be $10 which includes wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres and a collectible, commemorative wine glass. The event is expected to attract up to 1,000 people from Missouri as well as Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and other nearby states. "A lot of people follow their favorite wineries and come to
events like this to visit the vintners and see what's new," says Robin Evers, mall manager.

Evers says 12 wineries will take part in the event this year. "Each one will bring four or five of their wines for tasting as well as wines you can buy by the bottle or case," she says. Participating wineries will include Crown Valley, Peaceful Bend, St. James, Les Bourgeois, Bias, Adam Puchta, Buffalo Creek, Röbller, Stone Hill, Wenwood, Summit Lake and Grey Bear Vineyards.

Hours for the wine tasting will be 3:00-7:00 pm. Earlier, beginning at 10:00 a.m., nine authors and five artists from Missouri will be on hand to discuss and sell their books and art. "A lot of people don't realize how many authors and artists from Missouri are famous," Evers says. Visitors can purchase works and have them personally signed by the authors or artists. Among the guest artists will be Loretta Search of the Lake of the Ozarks, a performance artist who creates magical characters using music and masks. "She is incredible," Evers says. "Every time she performs here she does something wonderful. Children especially are enchanted by her."

Music will be provided by jazz clarinetist Ernie S. and husband-wife dulcimer musicians String Fever. "They both have performed at the festival before and provide a nice, peaceful atmosphere," Evers says. In addition, during the Wine Festival, visitors can win prizes in games and activities sponsored by the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville.

Evers notes the mall's center court recently was redecorated to resemble a French country village, complete with a waterfall and quaint street signs. "We always try to add something new to the wine festival each year," she says. "It's going to be a nice day, with the wineries, artists, writers and music. Best of all it's indoors so we don't have to worry about rain or heat."

For more information about the 12th Annual Missouri Wine Festival, call Stonecrest Mall at 573-348-3106. Information about Lake-area events as well as lodging, dining, attractions and shopping also is available from the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN LAKE or www.funlake.com.