Girls giggle as they stomp grapes at Round Barn Winery’s Annual Harvest Party.

By KATHLEEN SCHWARZ

Blue Star Highway

It was a gorgeous, sunny day as Lady Sunshine and the X Band belted the blues for Round Barn Winery’s Annual Harvest Party. Crowds of people turned out for the celebration in Baroda on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

The soiree included live music, fantastic food and of course, the wine, micro-brews and DiVine Vodka that Round Barn is famous for. The family-friendly event also included kids’ activities, a short tractor ride through the vineyard and even a chance to make wine the old-fashioned way — grape stomping.

Round Barn has been in the winemaking business since 1992. While originally called “The Heart of the Vineyard,” the unique construction of its round Amish barn drew so much attention it became known as “the winery with the round barn” — and the name stuck. Round Barn is the seventh-largest winery in the area, and one of only a handful that specialize in wine, beer and spirits. Each year it throws a party to celebrate the start of the grape harvest.

Because Round Barn is located in the heart of southwest Michigan’s wine country, its festivities draw people from as far away as Chicago. I met three ladies — Jennifer, Olivia and Corene — who had come from the Windy City with a group of six other women for a full weekend of wine tasting, ending at the fabulous Round Barn bash. They started last summer in celebration of a friend’s 50th birthday, and had so much fun they decided to make it a yearly tradition.

“Wine and women!” they cheered as Jennifer poured me a cup of the brewery’s Summer Wheat from her own jug. (Clearly, the wine-and-women-weekend is not limited to drinking wine.)

Another couple I spoke with, who had happened upon the festival by accident, were enjoying themselves and the relaxed atmosphere.

“We usually just come here because they have great beer and we can hang out … but today there’s a festival,” said Eric, surprised and pleased.

Of course, events like these tend to draw characters as well. One woman was walking around in sunglasses shaped like wine glasses. She had with her a glass large enough to hold a whole 750-milliliter bottle of wine.

“So, how much do you love your wine?” I asked her.

“Oh, I love my wine,” she smiled demurely, cradling the oversized glass to her chest.

The winery and distillery’s first-rate selection of music, food and drink just went to show that the folks at Round Barn sure know how to throw a party.

Said Johnny, another festival-goer from Chicago, “I’m just a beer- and liquor-drinking guy!”

It’s a good place to be, Johnny. It’s a good place to be.