PHILIPSBURG — The Philipsburg Revitalization Corporation, a nonprofit organization that works on improving the day to day lives of Philipsburg residents, business owners and visitors, hosted its annual Wine Walk and Brew Haha on Friday, May 24, in downtown Philipsburg.
The event, which featured winery, brewery and distillery vendors, is a fundraiser put on by the PRC each year. Funds raised from the event help to support all other events put on in Philipsburg throughout the year by the PRC.
Tickets covered a wristband which identified drinkers or designated drivers and red plastic wine glasses with a Philipsburg logo that attendees used for tastings at each booth.
Ticket sales and the wine glasses were sponsored by CNB Bank. The CNB Bank team also helped to run the first ever 50/50 raffle put on at the event. Jessica Nadonley, community office manager for CNB Bank, said the raffle provided an opportunity for extra funds to be raised to go directly to supporting the PRC and Philipsburg.
“One thing that we pride ourselves on (at CNB Bank) is our volunteerism and being a part of the community and community events. As a small business, we want to support the other small businesses in the community,” Nadonley said. “Being here and actually seeing everyone, and being in the community, hopefully that helps them see us as friendly and familiar and not just a business. And it is amazing for us to see familiar faces from the community out here enjoying themselves.”
And while the event was an opportunity for small-business alcohol producers to share their unique products, for Dale Frailey, owner of Uncle D’s Sassy Glass Winery, participating in the event was one way he could do his part in supporting Philipsburg businesses in addition to showcasing his wine.
“It’s not only a great event for the wineries and the vendors that come in, but it also brings business into local businesses. Having a small business right now is really tough. Just the foot traffic today means a lot to these businesses — as much as it does to us. It’s great to get people here, get them into their doors too and give them a chance to sell their products,” Frailey said. “As a small town, these are the kinds of events that can make a difference.”
Uncle D’s Sassy Glass Winery is a family run business located inside Frailey’s Greenhouse and Garden Center in Smithmill. The business’s website notes that, “all of our labels tell a story about our family, and each one holds a special place in our hearts.” At any given time the winery has almost 30 different types of wine and seven to 10 beers on tap, according to Frailey, and all of the beer and wine is made with the customer in mind.
“Many of the people we have seen here today, we know because they’ve come to our place. Or some of the people don’t come to our place but we see them out at these types of events. And you learn a lot about their tastes and what traits they like, and we get feedback on what we’re doing and how it corresponds with what they like,” Frailey explained. “Taste depends on each person, so we try to have something for everyone. But you get to know a person when they come in and that can sway our opinion on what we are going to make next.”
The event itself featured a wide range of beverages for different tastes. From dry traditional style wine to sweet berry dessert wines, and from hoppy IPAs to summer shandies, crisp ciders and more, there was something for everyone at the Philipsburg Wine Walk and Brew Haha, giving the vendors an opportunity to show off their best products.
“That’s what’s fun about it and why events like this matter,” Frailer said. “Every single one of these wineries are going to be proud of their product because they put their hearts and soul into making it.”
