Kutztown Rotary’s 9th annual Taste of Kutztown wine, beer, food and crafts festival will feature some significant changes when it takes place June 9 in Kutztown Park from noon to 5 p.m.
This year’s event will feature a 5K Run for the Wine, sponsored by local Kutztown business Tommy Boys Pizza and Cafe, which will start the morning of the festival and will wind through the streets of Kutztown. All ages are invited to participate. A custom labeled bottle of wine will be presented to the winners of each age bracket over 21 and the top three men and women overall will win cash awards. Participants are invited to enjoy the festival at no cost. Those who wish to participate in wine tasting may purchase their tickets at a reduced rate.
This year, local and area craft vendors will offer wares that are hand made by themselves. Representatives of factory produced items will not be included.
“This festival was founded to show off locally produced wines and beer,” said Jim Springer, proprietor of Dunkleberger’s Jewelers, Rotarian and festival coordinator, “since we have expanded into crafts and food, it only makes sense to show off what our neighbors are doing.”
Tickets are for sale in advance, $25 until June 8, and $35 at the gate. Vip tickets ($50) will entitle ticket holders to attend a seminar by Wine Living! Marc Supsic. The seminar will feature four wine and four food pairings curated by “The Rebel Sommelier” himself. By way of a blind tasting (the wines are not revealed until afterward), you’ll learn the story inside each bottle, sensory evaluation basics, and get easy food pairing tips that you can apply at home. Tickets for the event may be purchased at Dunkelberger’s Jewelry or online at tasteofkutztown.com.
A portion of the Run for the Wine proceeds will go towards The Potato Project while the proceeds from the Taste of Kuztown will benefit local and global projects of the Kutztown Rotary Club which include donations to local charities, The Potato Project, ShelterBoxes for disaster victims, polio eradication and water sustainability projects in India & Dominican Republic .
