Door County Festival: Orchard Country Winery & Market Celebrates Winter Wine & Cherry Fest

Orchard Country Winery & Market is celebrating the joys of winter with a wonderful family festival. The fest will be held on Saturday, February 7 from 11 am – 5 pm and will feature fun activities for the entire family.

One of the county’s original “family farms,” Lautenbach’s Orchard Country is an old world blending of vineyard, wine tasting room, and country market surrounded by one hundred acres of apple and cherry trees. And as the snowflakes swirl, the atmosphere inside Orchard Country’s charming country-style building will be toasty and warm with taste-tempting treats to savor and sample.

The popular Door County Montmorency cherry will be featured throughout the day in celebration of National Cherry Month. From salsa to brats, poppy-seed dressing, or a sip of juice…the ruby red “super fruit” will reign supreme. Complimentary wine tastings will be available throughout the day.

Steaming homemade soups, breads and assorted baked goods will fortify every spirit before a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the surrounding winter wonderland. A warming fire, along with hot wines and ciders, will greet chilled cheeks and tingling toes following the countryside tour.

A highlight of the day’s festivities is Orchard Country’s annual cherry pit spit contest. A favorite of visitors, the contest begins at 2 pm and is open to the young and not so young, with event registration available until 1:45 pm.

Local favorites, musicians Ryan Thompson and special guest Sam Pankratz will perform classic bluegrass tunes from 1 – 4 pm. A wide selection of door prizes will be awarded hourly; the fest’s Grande Prize is a “Door County Romance” package.

Orchard Country Winery & Market, located at 9197 Highway 42 just south of Fish Creek, is open year round. For additional information call 920.868.3479 or visit http://www.orchardcountry.com. Seasonal winter hours are Friday through Monday, 10 am – 4 pm.

Reservations for the horse-drawn sleigh rides are recommended and can be confirmed by contacting John Mayberry at 920.421.1152 or visiting http://www.mayberrycarriages.com.