On Sept. 8, festivalgoers can eat and drink for the heart, while giving to a good cause.
Sans Soucy will host its third annual Sans Soucy Vineyards Shrimp & Wine Festival Saturday, Sept. 8, at its 1571 Mount Calvary Road location in Brookneal. This is one of few festivals where the event actually takes place in the center of the vineyards.
This year, organizers have added a VIP tent, more wineries and more local eats.
A VIP ticket can be purchased for $40, while advanced tickets cost $15 and tickets at the gate are $20. The VIP tent proceeds will benefit Mended Little Hearts of Lynchburg.
A general admission ticket includes a souvenir wine glass from the festival, live music and entertainment from 12-6 p.m.
Cameron Anctil, director of marketing for Sans Soucy, said if she had to put a theme on the event it would relate to heart.
“Red wine is good for the heart, while the Malaysia shrimp Mark Guthrie will bring in is very low in cholesterol,” she said. “Also, festivalgoers can purchase the VIP tickets, where proceeds will go to Mended Little Hearts, which provides hope and support to children, families and caregivers impacted by congenital heart defects in order to extend and improve quality of life.”
In addition to Sans Soucy, other wineries attending the event will be Lake Anna Winery, Bright Meadows Farm Winery, DeVault Vineyards, Hickory Hill Vineyards, Hunting Creek Vineyards and The Homeplace Vineyard.
Four vendors, Bruno’s GastroTruck, Drug Store Grill, Melrose Bison Farm and Guthrie’s Sugar Hill Sweetwater Shrimp, will be on hand to serve up dishes through the day. Each vendor will also be making a specialist dish using Guthrie’s shrimp.
The Malaysia shrimp are known for their potential of being very large in size, as well as their delicious meat. The shrimp have a texture and color much like a lobster and are iodine free, unlike saltwater shrimp.
The shrimp and wine festival will also feature live music.
Local artist Craig Hanson will open for Deanie Blues. The music will start between 12:30-1 p.m. and run all day.
“We hope this event brings people to the region,” Anctil said. “We all work together, and it’s a good way to show all of our area working together to promote agritourism of the region.”