Uncorking the Sumner Food + Wine Festival

Inaugural two-night event promises elevated experience in Hendersonville

By Michelle Farnham

September 2023

HENDERSONVILLE – Sumner County has seen an upward trend in its local food and wine industry, motivating the folks behind the Nashville Cocktail Festival to set their sites on Hendersonville for their next project, the Sumner Food + Wine Festival.

Organized by Jon and Lindsay Yeager of PourTaste and Edit Tropical Cafe and Cocktail Bar, the two-night event is scheduled for Sept. 22 and 23 at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville.

“We live in Hendersonville and the demographic here is changing – this is a growing part of town – and that inspired us to use our festival experience and experience with all the brands that love us,” Jon said of the motivation behind this inaugural event.

Friday night’s 100-seat Chefs Dinner promises to be an elegant evening, starting with a 6 p.m. cocktail hour and live entertainment.

The five-course meal with wine pairings starts with a Moroccan roasted carrot salad from Skylar Bush of Edible Magazine. Move on to sweet corn soup with smoked trout by Chris Crary of 1 Hotel and a deconstructed scallop BLT with pork belly from Erik Kohl. Chef Joey Molteni presents rabbit two ways, while Pastry Chef Jessica Collins offers her panna cotta with blueberry and corn ganache.

After a good night’s sleep, take on Saturday’s Grand Tasting from 4 to 10 p.m., to enjoy “an elevated food and wine showcase” including unlimited tastings of over 80 wines from around the world.

“We're expecting 800 to 1,000 people,” Jon explained. “Participating restaurants and chefs will have complimentary bites, but then there’s going to be sales opportunities, so guests will be able to purchase maybe a larger portion or a retail item to go. Some of these guys might have their own condiments that you can retail to take home.”

The Yeagers were able to preview food coming in from regional farmers and purveyors who will also be on hand.

“We have a lamb farm from Southern Kentucky, a beef dealer, some local people in addition to the local restaurants. The quality of this meat, the cheese, the vegetables, is just mind-blowing. We are excited about showcasing high quality items that are starting to come into our market.”

At press time, food and beverage vendors included Bread & Butter Wines, Folktale Winery & Vineyards, Lulu, Maker’s Mark, Simply…, Retrograde, Edible Nashville, Washington Wine Group, Kayak Jamaican Patties, Slow Burn Hot Chicken, Edit, My Story Wine Co., 1 Hotel Nashville, Beatbox, Newman Family BBQ, Better Than Booze, Tea Tree Co., Kandy Kreations, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, WCW, Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co., Oak Ridge Winery, Stella Rosa, Francis Coppola Diamond Collections, The Pasta Bar Company, Cancun Lagoon, Hearst Ranch Winery, Like A Virgin Sober Bar, Poké Nash, Underwood and Urban Grub.

There are a number of ticket options available for those 21 and older: Friday’s Chefs Dinner, Saturday’s Grand Tasting, a 2-event weekend pass, or while quantities last, select a ticket that includes a 12-ounce ORCA Sumner festival-branded mug to pick up at the front gate.

Don’t forget your ID, but ticket-holders who aren’t interested in wine can enjoy tea and coffee, or visit some of the non-alcoholic vendors. Bring the kiddos, too. Young adults ages 14 to 20 can purchase a special wristband that only excludes them from the alcohol sampling, and kids 13 and under are admitted for free.

“Saturday is family-appropriate,” Jon assured. “I feel like my wife and I and our two little girls are our demographic. There will be plenty of food. Whether it be sweets or something else, there will be plenty of things to snack on and there will be non-alcoholic vendors, too. We’ll have a mocktail bar, so there’s something for everyone.”

Everyone includes even toddlers, as the festival will host a children's area by Tots Aloud, offering wine fest chic soft play areas.

“We encourage people to bring their picnic blankets and their lawn chairs and just enjoy an evening under the stars with us,” Jon said.

All this merriment delights more than just the palate. A portion of proceeds benefit HolidayFest, a community-focused nonprofit that has earmarked the funds for Gallatin Shalom Zone.

For more information and to purchase tickets,

find Sumner Food + Wine Festival online at www.sumnerfoodandwine.com or get tickets below.