Riverside Wine Festival

Finally, I can do an honest «local flavor» review. My favorite one-​liner is Findlay’s local color is beige. It’s pretty bad, and a nightmare for anyone trying to find entertainment around here. If you aren’t working, you’re sleeping. Why would you do anything else?!
This is the 3^rd annual wine festival in the city of Findlay, and I can say it’s worth the $ 20 to get in. I’ve only been to one other city’s festival (Austin, TX) and can say this is the better value for the money.
In the three years I’ve attended, this has been the best laid out. The regular vendors were mixed in with the wine vendors. The last couple of times, they were segregated and I think people didn’t get to see them all that well. This year, there were ten tickets and ten wineries. That’s fair. The one in Texas had fourteen tickets for thirty-​one wineries. Needless to say, the wineries had a better chance of getting business here.
I didn’t purchase any wines yesterday, as there weren’t very many that stood out as a buy BUT I had a great time tasting them. I’m a dry, red wine drinker. I also like my reds low on the earthy/​peppery/​leathery side and more in the currant/​vanilla area. Yeah, I’m that obnoxious guy who can actually pick out some flavors. Drink what you want, but I’m going to find something that tastes good.
There was a new addition this year, and that was the inclusion of beer tasting. The Rivertown Brewing Company was present and seemed to have a big sponsorship in the festival. I’ve never heard of the company until town, but it’s from Cincinnati. The big problem I had with this addition was the entrance to the beer garden. It was tucked all the way in the back of the event, and I was a little confused why they would go to such great lengths to segregate the event that way. They must of had good reason to do so, right? When I finally wandered back there, I found out that they had only one of the two brews available from the new-​to-​me brewer. It was a hoppy beer, and I don’t care for those at all. It seems like the company sunk good money into the sponsorship only to be pushed off to the side. I think it really hurt RTB’s chances of picking up business at the festival and should be addressed for next year.
Of all the events the Arts Partnership brings in, this is the best. It’s the only one I make sure I’m in town to see, and I will definitely be going back next year. Did I also mention it’s something worthwhile to do in Findlay? Yeah, that’s important too.