Thousands gather for annual Wiederkehr Village Weinfest

 

story and photos by Ruby Dean
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An estimated 3,500 people from Arkansas and surrounding states visited the 47th annual Wiederkehr Village Weinfest held Saturday (Oct. 9).

Visitors tasted some of Arkansas’ wine and enjoy festivities that included stomping grapes and being enchanted by Bacchus (the Roman god of wine).

Festivities began at 8:30 a.m. and concluded about 10 p.m. with events also including tours of the wine cellar ending in the wine tasting room. Tram rides were available that ran through the vineyards to an observation tower with a panoramic view of the Arkansas River Valley.

Spectators upon entry onto the grounds were met by arts and crafts from area vendors. One could either watch or be a participant in any of the contests that went on throughout the day. Such contests included the Stein Stemmen (stone toss) contest, the Baum Stossen (log toss) contest, and the grape stomping contest.

Live entertainment was provided by the German Waterloo Band which played a mix of authentic German music and comedy. Concession stands were also open which served a variety of international foods such as smoked bratwurst with sauerkraut and old world potato soup to name a few. The famous Weinkeller Restaurant was also open for lunch and dinner with patio dining.

The Weiderkehr family has a long history in Altus, Ark. In 1880, Johann Andreas Wiederkehr and his family emigrated from Switzerland to Altus because of a letter from monks at Subiaco. When Johann arrived, he carved a wine cellar from a hillside that is on the National Register of Historic Places and was converted into the Weinkeller Restaurant.

At first, the family made wine for medicinal purposes for the Catholic Church and therefore survived prohibition. The family has devoted 125 years to American winemaking with many wines made from grape varieties believed to be ungrowable in this portion of the United States. Five generations of Wiederkehr’s have worked at the winery.

The Weiderkehr Festival Queen was crowned during the festivities and enchanted by Bacchus. Lindsay Pottorff , a senior at Ozark High School, was crowned 2010 Weiderkehr Festival Queen. In the 7th grade, she was diagnosed with idiopathic chondrolysis in her right hip and was told she would never be able to walk again.

At the time of her diagnosis, only 15 people in the United States were diagnosed with this disease. She is only one of two people who have been able to walk with a disease that has resulted in rheumatoid arthritis in all her joints and ankylosing spondylitis in her back. Pottorff likes being a role model for young girls to raise self-esteem.

To end the festivities, the Weinkeller catered the Weinfest Banquet where one enjoyed the famous spaghetti and Back Hendel Vienna (a chicken specialty) with salad and bread.