Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival Sunday Fair

Photo courtesy of Celeste Casas

As always, the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival concludes with the Sunday Fair, firmly ensconced in its home in the at the Salt Lick Pavilion near Driftwood. It's a relaxed and casual setting in which to enjoy wine and food, visit with your favorite vintner, and pick up cooking tips from celebrity chefs. Salt Lick owners have made some improvements on the property since last summer, leveling the grounds and building up the roads, which should make things more accessible this year. Festival organizers have invited more food vendors to help balance all the spirits, wine, and beer choices with more food samples. In fact, look for a tent sponsored by Edible Austin and Whole Foods Market showcasing local artisan foods and beverages. The cooking tent will be farther away from the music stage this year and will feature demonstrations by visiting chefs John Besh of New Orleans (12:15pm with booksigning to follow), Jason Dady of San Antonio (1:30pm), Rebecca Rather of Fredericksburg (2:45pm), and David Bull of Dallas and Austin (3:45pm).

For the first time this year, festival organizers are promoting Sunday Fair as a 21-and-older event and offering reduced-price tickets ($30) for designated drivers. Regular tickets are $45 online at www.texaswineandfood.org, at the festival desk in the Four Seasons Hotel (98 San Jacinto), and at the gate. Sunday, April 18, noon-5pm.