TEXARKANA, Texas - A beautiful Saturday brought approximately 15,000-plus wine, foodies and festival fans to Spring Lake Park for the sixth Texarkana Twice As Fine Wine Festival.
The mood was convivial as the wine fans and foodies walked about the food booths and took their wine journeys with wine merchants from all over Texas, from towns such as Sherman, Denison, Naples, Palestine, Fredericksburg and more.
"The Lord blessed us with a beautiful day for this," said Terrie Arnold, executive director of Alzheimer's Alliance Tri-State Area. "We wanted this to be a family-friendly event, something for everyone, wine fans and all others. This is a day of celebrating art, food, music and, of course, wine."
This event is the primary fundraiser for Alzheimer's Alliance, a locally based concern.
"It looks like we will net around $250,000," she said. "This also will be a record year for us in fundraising."
The crowds checking out the sights, sounds and tastes were abundant and the festival officials most certainly took note of it.
"After the previous year, it is clear people seemed ready to get out," said Arnold. "They were ready to not be stuck at home anymore. So we have this lovely day with the attractions spaced out and safe within a nature setting. It is very welcoming and relaxing. This was an opportunity to get out and socialize in comfort and safety."
Lyle McBride, representative of O'Farrel Country Vineyards of Atlanta, Texas, was introducing customers to their wines. Working with his wife, Lisse, he says the winery and vineyard, owned by the Moores, Benny and Judy, has not slowed down a bit, even during the COVID shutdown last year.
"Benny was a wine hobbyist for many years before retiring from the Air Force, then a follow-on civilian career," said McBride. "Eventually, he planted a vineyard and began experimenting with the fruits of that labor. Demand followed supply, and that eventually resulted in a barn converted into a tasting room. Since then, the facilities have been expanded. We stayed open during last year as we served food as well as wine. In fact, it has been a struggle to keep up with demand. Last year was good to us, despite the challenges. And today, people were ready for this festival."
Jeff Vanderbilt of Haute Goat Creamery out of White Oak, Texas, had a full cheese spread, goat cheese made from goat's milk, delivered to their operation weekly from Sulphur Springs.
"My wife (Laura) started the biz," he said. "I was in the chemical research and development field when she first started Haute Goat Creamery. But after a year, it was clear this was going to work, so I joined her."
Vanderbilt describes the business and attending festivals like the Texarkana Twice As Nice Wine Festival as fulfilling.
"It is more immediate, seeing the fruits of your labor here," he said. "In my prior industry, you would work for a long time in developing a product, and at the end of a long line, you may or may not see results. Here, you see the result almost immediately, especially at festivals. You meet those who love your product and they come to you and buy what you produce."
Vanderbilt is a huge fan of the Texarkana wine fests and makes it a point to bring Haute Goat Creamery out there every year.
"We go to a lot of festivals and as far as festivals go, this one is as good as it gets," he said. "They support us every year, and we support them. It is a wonderful festival and a wonderful cause."