Orchard Country Winery Celebrates 4th Annual Cherry Fest

4th Annual Cherry Fest is happening this weekend at Orchard Country! See their Press Release below!
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It will be all things cherry when Orchard Country Winery & Market honors the ruby red fruit with its own special day Saturday, July 19th. The 4th Annual Summer Harvest Cherry Fest will begin at.10 a.m. and continue throughout the day with activities for the entire family.
“The Fest is all about giving back,” said Carrie Viste, co-manager. “This year we experienced a shortage, but there are plenty of cherries to go around. And what better way to celebrate summer than with a festival featuring food, fun, and entertainment.”
One of the county’s original “farms,” Orchard Country is an old world blending of wine tasting room and country market surrounded by one hundred acres of trees orchard and vineyard. Under the direction of Viste and her sister Erin Lautenbach, and their father Bob Lautenbach, Orchard Country is recognized for its award-winning fruit wines, refreshing ciders, and diverse selection of Door County products.
The Cherry Festival’s activities will begin with free guided tours conducted every hour and wine tastings throughout the day. This spring a unique new wine--a semi-dry cherry Riesling—was introduced. Door County Lighthouse arrives in a blue lighthouse-shaped bottle whose label features a Kathy Glasnap painting of the Rock Island’s Pottawatomie Lighthouse. A limited number of the collectible bottles are available.
Family-themed activities will include clown face painting and animal balloon art, fun inflatables, and a visit with the alpacas. The Door County Trolley will offer tours from 10 – 3 pm and horse-drawn wagon rides will be available from 11 – 3 pm.
A festival is never complete without food, and Orchard Country’s menu of the day will definitely fill the bill. A traditional pig roast, as well as cherry brats and hamburgers will be available from Door County Custom Meats. Fresh baked treats will also be on the menu. Lakefront Brewery will provide tastings, including Cherry Lager brewed with Lautenbach Orchard’s fruit.
Demonstrating the versatility of cherries, Orchard Country’s personal cherry ambassador Debbie Dewitt will conduct food demos from 11 – 4 pm. Cherry pie eating contests will be held at 11 am and 1 pm; the ever-popular cherry pit spitting competition will commence at 1:30 pm. “For the children we have a special mini pail so they can share in the cherry picking experience,” added Viste.
A special afternoon treat will be live music performed by Green Tea. The four-member group is high-energy Irish with a strong infusion of Celtic. Their distinctive sound—a blend of the traditional and the new sound—Green Tea fuses pop, folk, African, rock, jazz, and, of course, Celtic.
“We hope the entire family comes out to join us in the fun,” Viste encouraged. “There will definitely be plenty to do. But the highlight will be cherries! There will plenty to go around the day of the event,” she added.
Orchard Country Winery & Market, located at 9197 Highway 42 just south of Fish Creek, is open year round. For additional information contact Orchard Country at 920.868.3479 or visit the website www.orchardcountry.com.