Heritage Square Wine Festival [January 2020]

Now you may be thinking great.. another wine festival!!? I admit that by now, I may have the same thought going through my head but… this one is different!! Why is that?? Location. I think it’s actually more than that, it’s the layout of the festival, the wineries represented, the entertainment. All of this with the location makes it my favorite wine festival!! [yes, I actually said my favorite festival. LOL] This festival is held in the square where the Rosson House sits. [a historical landmark] I toured it during our first winter in Arizona and fell in love with its history and charm. I’m kinda glad I went by myself the first time, I didn’t realize how it would affect me. I mean I love to spend time with myself [hahaha] and this festival was just pure magic.

Before I get into the "location" of this wine event that I’ve been boasting so much about, let’s talk a little bit about what a wine festival actually is. A wine festival is defined a wine-themed event to promote local wines and local culture to the public and visitors traveling through the area. You know, to show everyone what we have to offer!! The Heritage Wine Festival is organized by the Cochise Graham Wine Council, Inc. which is also known as Willcox Wine Country. This particular wine festival is the main reason Shawn took me on a trip down to Wilcox. I wanted to visit the vineyards of wineries such as: Birds and Barrel, Carlson Creek, Coronado, DA Vines, and Page Springs are just a few of my favorite wineries!! [I'll tell you all about them at a later time]

Back to the location... the fully restored 1895, Queen Anne Victorian era Rosson House [seen above] is the main feature in Heritage Square. [now known as The Square PHX] It is part of the Heritage and Science Park and is located in the center of the original townsite of Phoenix. It is also home to the Arizona Science Center and the former Phoenix Museum of History. Add all of this to places for shopping, multiple restaurants, and Lath House Pavilion and you get the most perfect, aesthetically pleasing background for an art and wine festival!! The Lath House Pavilion is my favorite part. [and there I go again, labeling something as my favorite!! LOL] The next two photos are actually taken IN the pavilion!! Needless to say I have too many to share them all!!

My good friend Andrea White, [who you have met several other blogs] was visiting during the time of the Heritage Square Festival one year. She accompanied me along with another friend good of mine, Debbie Flanagan!! I was lucky enough to meet Deb through the world of hot air ballooning. She is another #pilotwife and her hubby Kevin and Shawn became pretty good friends years ago. It goes without saying that Deb and I followed suit. I know I haven’t talked much about my balloon framily [though you have already met another couple Aimee & Taylor Aldous] well, because this is a WINE blog.. Hahaha!! Anywho… you can see from the photos [above and below] that we had a blast!! I’m happy I decided to share the magic of the festival with friends this year.

When we saw this guy’s shirt [pictured above] Deb and I just had to get a picture with him!! [Andrea did the honors] We are always making new friends!! Ok, so a little bit more about the Heritage Square Festival. Everyone is invited, but only those over 21 can purchase tickets and get the Riedel wine glass!! With 21 wineries, over 50 non-winery venders, [fines art, artisan food, vintage clothing and jewelry] and nonstop live music you could spend the entire day roaming this fairytale-ish park!! But wait, there’s even more… this event partners with Horse’s Help, a charity that [in a nutshell] serves at-risk communities by using horses [and their people] to improve quality of life. If you want to know more, look them up!! [cause again, this is a wine blog. HA!!]

You can see in the above picture, the active participants for this years Heritage Square Festival. All of these lovely ladies are part of the hot air balloon community and I'm incredibly fortunate to get to call them all my friends.. framily really. [we are sorely missing Aimee Aldous from our group] You many remember Debbie Flanagan [who I just introduced literally two paragraphs ago so I'd be concerned for you if you didn't!!] Then we have Anna Brewbaker and Amanda Rhae Warren. [who I affectionately call AR] We always have great times, no matter what we get ourselves into!! I could talk so much more about this event and share way more pictures, but you simply must visit for yourself and I will see you there!! I can't wait!!

Sooo, have you ever walked around a grand mansion while drinking a glass of wine!? Well, next week Wine with Wixy will be touring Wrigley Mansion, the home of Jamies Wine Bar!! Tune in to continue on my magic [wine] ride!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!