Main Street businesses go the extra mile to impress during Wine About Winter

Lucky the dog dropped a rose at people's feet as they walked into Country Charm Flowers & Gifts. He sat down in front of them begging for attention as they waited for their wine samples during Main Street Mt. Pleasant's Wine About Winter event on Thursday, Feb. 21.

'I thought roses and wine go well together,” said Sherry Bertsch, owner of Country Charm. 'And Lucky likes to deliver roses. I think he likes being petted.”

At least 17 stores opened their doors downtown for Wine About Winter, brushing off the snow and ice from the long, cold months and welcoming in community members with wine and a smile.

'It's spring fever,” said Peggy Welcher, at The Vintage Raven. 'Cabin fever is what's going on.”

Dale Beckman served Boone's Strawberry Hill wine at Breadeaux Pizza. Beckman said it's a 'retro” wine that was popular in the 1980s.

'It was pre-wine coolers,” Beckman said, calling it 'the poor man's wine.”

Beckman went with Boone's because he wanted to serve something different that no other business was serving during Wine About Winter.

Walking into Breadeux, Keith Snyder said Boone's wine took him back. It was possibly the first bottle of wine he ever purchased.

Dave Rogers, with Airport Road Winery, served their sangria at Brown's Shoe Fit. Rogers said they too wanted to served something different, especially because he knew a lot of businesses had purchased Airport Road Winery wine for this event.

Earlier that afternoon, Rogers had made a few bottles of white peach sangria, that cannot be found on the shelves. 'It's made special for events,” he said.

'The more we can showcase different things, the better,” Rogers said. '(Airport Road Winery) is a vibrant member of this community. We like to think of Airport Road as much of the community as Brown's Shoe Fit. It's that family atmosphere.”

Mirror Image Salon and Spa teamed up with Batter & Dough (and more) - which plans to open at 114 N. Main Street next week - to serve Winking Owl wine along with cupcakes. Mary Garmoe, owner of Batter & Dough, said that Wine About Winter offered the perfect opportunity to introduce new customers to her new business.

'I've been baking for 17 years,” Garmoe said. 'I've outgrown the house. We did 84 dozen cookies for Valentine's Day.”

Lillian Grace Boutique unveiled some new items during Wine About Winter, which Sarah Lauer said was a happy coincidence.

'There will be people tonight who have never been here before. It's a great way for people to mingle and see what the town has to offer,” Lauer said.

'It's a fun evening to share with friends and get into stores we don't always get into,” said Linda McDowell and she sampled wine at Lillian Grace. 'There's no wind, and it's a beautiful night.”

Central Park Coffee Company served mimosas, scotcheroos and brownies.

'No more icky snow,” Barb Thirtyacre said as she poured herself a mimosa.