Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a novice sipper, the North Market’s Food & Wine Festival give you a great opportunity not only to taste great wines from around Ohio, but to get to know the people who grow and create them. It’s grown to be a very popular event, so I’m going to give you some tips on how to get the most from the experience:

• First of all, the basics: It’s July - it’s going to be hot. Wear sunscreen, and bring a hat. Take breaks from the sun to explore the North Market, and cool off with a scoop of Jeni’s ice cream from the booth inside. Don’t forget the food part of the festival, either! Curds and Whey offers a huge selection of wine’s perfect match: cheese.
• To get the most out of the festival, visit the Ohio Grape Industries Council ’s great website to learn the history of wine-making in Ohio (it goes back almost 200 years!) and to get tasting notes for the wine varietals that grow best in Ohio.
• Because Ohio has a cooler climate than more popular wine regions like California and Italy, you might not see the types of wine you’re used to finding at the store. Never fear! If you like Cabernet Sauvignon, you can try its cousin - Cabernet Franc. Gewurztraminer is a light, aromatic white wine with just a touch of sweetness. Chambourcin is a full-flavored red wine that is surprisingly light on the palate.  More common varieties that do great in the state in include Riesling (Ferrante regularly takes home national awards for its Golden Bunches Riesling,) and Pinot Noir (St. Joseph Vineyard’s Pinot is outstanding.)
• Do a little research before you go to seek out the wineries that make wines you like. For instance, if you like sweeter wines or wine made from fruit other than grapes, try Maize Valley Winery. If you like drier wines, seek out Meranda-Nixon Winery. And if you’ve never tried honey wine, don’t miss Columbus’ own Brothers Drake Meadery !
• If you really like a sample, buy a bottle right away and ask if there are any retailers in your area that carry the product. That way, you won’t have to wait in a tasting line again, and you won’t risk the vintner being sold out by the time you return. Bring a reusable wine tote to cut down on unneeded bags, and to keep your bottles safe from breaking.
• Of course, drink responsibly, and enjoy yourself!

Ohio State Fair

Festival season continues in Columbus, and so do the giveaways.

Like we mentioned last month , members of the Greater Columbus Events Council are helping us celebrate lots of events by sharing lots of prizes.

This time, we’re featuring July and August happenings, and the ante is definitely upped: FIVE LUCKY READERS will win the following:

• A North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival package, which includes a $20 North Market gift certificate and 2 entries to the preview party
• A VIP parking pass to Jazz & Rib Fest
• 2 tickets to the Ohio State Fair
• 2 tickets to the Dublin Irish Festival
  

To win is easy:

Simply leave a comment below, and name at least one July or August Columbus festival or special event you plan to attend this year. If you need a few ideas, visit this list of Greater Columbus Events Council members.

One entry per person, please. All entries must be posted by noon on Tuesday, July 6 . After that, we’ll randomly select five winners who are going to have a lot of fun this summer. Good luck!

P.S. Don’t forget the third and final giveaway:

Stay tuned for the last prize package, which we’ll give away in August. Check back or subscribe to this blog via your RSS reader or email to receive updates.

UPDATE (7/6): The winners have been selected and are posted in the comments. Congrats!