Billed as the First Annual Versailles FareFest, West Main Street in V-town will be blocked off for an event the likes of which have probably never before been witnessed in their quaint little village. as they play host to an invasion of oenophiles from all over the Upper Miami Valley on Saturday, August 29th.
Now don’t be scared. Oenophiles are not something found on cable television’s SyFy. Nor are they are related to the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer. And shame on you for thinking they might be seen on Dateline NBC! Believe it or not, we have plenty of oenophiles in our very midst, and they are not scary at all.
To the uninitiated, an “oenophile” is a lover of fine wines. These aficionados don’t just dwell in places like LA, NYC, or CHI-town. Yes, they live in Darke County, too. And they have been waiting patiently for this opportunity. From 2:00-5:00 in the afternoon, the area around Fountain Square in beautiful downtown Versailles will come alive with activity. There will be cool music, great wines, cold beers, and scrumptious food available for three of the best hours any late-summer afternoon could offer. Want some details? OK.
The price of admission for this prestigious happening is a mere $35 presale ($40 at the door). Events such as this one customarily cost twice that amount and are wildly popular in such faraway realms as Lima and Dayton. For that ONE LOW PRICE, FareFesters can sample wines from dozens of different vendors, hosted by our very own Winery at Versailles. Up to 300 different wines will be available–all right there under the tents on West Main Street. Wineries committed thus far are: Trinchero, Menage A Trois, Don Sebastiani, Wente Family, Foster Wine Estates, Penfolds, Rosemount, Louis Latour, E&J Gallo (premium), Louis Martini, Alamos, Easley Winery, Kenwood, Valley of The Moon, Lake Sonoma, Korbel, Specialty Wines (Italy), Banfi, Napa Ridge, Columbia Winery, Georges Dueouf, Volteo, XYZin. Just wander through the various booths and ask the pourers to fill your very own souvenir wine glass with a sparkling potable. There is no limit. Sample to your heart’s content!
Maybe wine is not your particular favorite beverage. Beer, you say, is what you drink at any celebration such as this one. Well, the FareFest will gladly take care of your request. Whether you prefer an easy-drinking smooth brew or a glass of something a bit heartier, it will most likely be available from one of the many beer distributors on site. Goose Island, Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegarrden, Becks, Samuel Adams, and the ever-popular Wooden Shoe will be there, along with a plethora of pilsners from all four points of the compass.
Of course, one must have something in his or her stomach in order to comfortably consume wine and beer for three hours. Never fear. The Inn at Versailles will be the host restaurant for a profusion of top-notch chefs from all over. A partial listing of restaurants that plan to be present with their own specialties includes: Coldwater Café (Tipp City), The Main Street Bistro (Lima), Coco’s (Dayton), Ghyslain’s (Union City/Richmond/Indy), The Montage (Greenville), The Bistro (Greenville), Bake House Bread Company (Troy), Caroline’s (Troy), Davis Meat Co. (Sidney–doing BBQ), Toone P. Wiggins (Sidney) and obviously Michael Anthony’s at the Inn (Versailles).
If you still want more, here it is. Higgins-Madewell, a very popular duo will be performing on Fountain Square all afternoon. Their folksy/bluesy style has been a big favorite at all sorts of venues from West Milton to New York City. Just perfect for a brand new festival desiring to be just a bit edgy in terms of food, wine, beer, and music! Maybe it’s time for you to broaden your horizons just a little. Unlimited food, beer, wine, and music for only $35. Wow!
The Versailles FareFest is sponsored by the Versailles High School Alumni Association, with proceeds going toward college scholarships. Tickets can be obtained by visiting The Inn at Versailles or by calling (937) 526-3020 or by going online to www.innatversailles.com
