Tenth annual Friday Uncorked a sellout in Hampton

Hampton celebrated a decade of post-Thanksgiving shopping and wine tasting as Main Street businesses opened up for the tenth annual Friday Uncorked.

Organized by the Greater Franklin County Area Chamber of Commerce, the annual "wine walk" has continued to be a successful fundraiser for the chamber and a popular event for the community.

"It was excellent," said Chamber Director Newt Grotzinger. "Not only is this a good time for friends and family to have something to do, it's a great opportunity for the businesses that participate.

The 250 ticket event was a sellout, sending swaths of people downtown to sample wine and browse the selection of goods from Hampton's merchants. Thirteen stops with 35 wines were on the route going from The Giggling Goat all the way up to First & Second Vintage, with a shuttle sponsored by ABCM to take wine walkers out to the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton and Leahy Grove Assisted Living Facility.

Two new stops on the route this year were the Windsor Theatre, where staff dressed up in 60's and 70's attire to pour era appropriate hooch, and Sunflowers and Stardust, a newly opened shop excited to make their Friday Uncorked debut.

"It's been good," said Amanda Simons, owner of Sunflowers and Stardust. "Good wine, good food, and lots of people. I was surprised at how many people were out."

Simons invited TownsEnd Winery out of Hansel to serve a variety of sweet wines for the evening and was pleased to see people stopping in through the evening.

"I'm just thankful they have things like this going on in Hampton," said Simons. "They did a good job."

Along with supporting local businesses, Friday Uncorked is an opportunity to showcase Iowa wines. Ten Iowa wineries were represented this year, each offering up a favored sample to compete for the annual People's Choice award. From Santa Maria Winery's Blackberry Sangria served at Carol's Flower Box to Glyn Mawr Vineyard's Frontenac Gris served at Flower on Fourth, a wide selection of Iowa wines were on display to be rated.

The winner of the People's Choice contest will be announced on Friday. At the same time, a drawing of the voters will be held to see who wins the annual gift basket, sponsored by Christensen Jewelry and Fireside Gifts.

After ten years, Friday Uncorked continues to be a successful Hampton celebration. Dyanne Pralle, who chairs the committee that organizes the event, is glad to see it continue to thrive year and year.

"It's nice to see a lot of people in town," said Pralle. "Everybody seems to be happy."