Wine event goes down well

Almost 5,000 people visited the first Newark LocAle and Weinfest in the castle grounds over the weekend.

The festival was part of events to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of a twinning charter in Newark with its German twin-town, Emmendingen.

Ninety Germans, including the Oberburgermeister, Mr Stefan Schlatterer, attended the festival, which got under way on Friday evening when it was officially opened by the Wine Princess of Baden, Miss Eva Muller (20).

Miss Muller represents wine producers in Baden, from Heidelberg in the north to Lake Constance in the south.

Newark’s Ransome Band played the national anthems of both countries.

Mr Schlatterer said they had held almost 40 wine festivals in Emmendingen involving more than 30 wine co-operatives and wineries, so they were pleased to be involved with the first wine festival in Newark.

A total of 1,200 litres of red, white and sparkling wine was delivered from Germany.

Wine glasses and half-pint tankards bearing the festival logo and town crests from Newark and Emmendingen were on sale for £2 each. Entry was free but visitors had to buy a glass before they could buy a drink.

The Mayor of Newark, Mrs Rita Crowe, who is also chairman of Newark Twinning Association, said the idea for the festival was first raised about three years ago after twinning members enjoyed a wine and beer festival in Emmendingen.

She said the leader of the town council, Mr Max Cope, had said he wanted to see something similar in Newark but on a smaller scale.

She said they encountered red tape with health and safety and food and hygiene regulations, and she was grateful to Ann Hayes, of Ann et Vin in Newark, for helping with an import licence.

Newark Camra organised the real ales, originally bringing in 360 gallons of 40 kinds of ale sourced from a 30-mile radius. Mr Paul Murphy, of Camra, said on Sunday the festival had gone so well they brought in extra supplies and over the weekend almost 3,000 pints were served.

Mr Murphy hoped in the future they could take beers produced in the Newark area to the festival in Germany.

Entertainment was provided throughout. Friday’s programme was started by young dancers from Russia who were followed by the Ransome Band, and the Unusual Suspects of Newark.

The weekend featured Mick The Sax of Newark, jazz musician Andrew Hall of Newark, Decent Chaps of Collingham, and buskers who normally play on Bridge Street who formed the Bridge Street Stompers.

On Saturday evening the music was aimed at a younger audience with pop groups Calling For Heroes, of Mansfield, and Filthy Smith, of Nottingham.

Boundary Sound, Newark’s community radio station, provided links between the acts.

Town council events assistant Tanith Batterham said: “We have had a real cross-section of people from families and older people and a lot of younger people on the Saturday night.”