Author: Jean Towne

GRAPE SESSION

So you’re sitting around your house thirsty for something new and exciting to do, but you don’t even have enough gas money to leave the state? You don’t have to look too far, for a mere twenty minutes from Midtown Memphis, tucked into the rolling hills of West Tennessee, lies a little piece of heaven, where you can sit, relax, and delight in the earthy flavors of homegrown wine.

Old Millington Vineyard and Winery, owned and operated by Perry and Carrie Welch, is the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon. You can enjoy some good company,a little fresh air, and a taste of some of the most unique wines in the area, all for free.

On a lazy afternoon of my own, I decided to take a trip up Highway 51 and see just what sort of winery could possibly be operating in Millington, Tennessee. After all, driving through Frayser isn’t quite the same as a trek through the Napa Valley.

Turning onto a gravel driveway and patiently waiting for some arthritic dogs to pass, I congratulated myself on the assumption that this was going to be a podunk operation complete with some grapes fermenting in the bathtub. The moment I stepped inside onto the cool tiled floor,however, I knew I was mistaken. Sidling up to the tasting bar, I was poured a glass and before I knew it, was enjoying one of the most pleasant outings I had ever experienced.

Opened in October of 2000, Old Millington Vineyards and Winery has achieved local fame as a charming and tranquil spot where you can feel free to roam sprawling vineyards, idle on the patio under a shady awning, or even catch some live music on the lawn.

And if you don’t know a blush from a beaujolais, Perry Welch will be happy to explain the difference. Once you’ve had a taste of his wine and his hospitality, you’ll feel any uneasiness dissipate into pure bliss.

Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or you regularly twist off your cork, there’s a wine for you at Old Millington Winery, but don’t expect to find a cabernet or a merlot here. Welch specializes in fusing indigenous grapes from his vineyards.

You will be invited to taste grapes ranging from the vidal and catawba to the bastard cousin of the grape, the muscadine, He will gently guide you through his tasting menu and patiently answer any questions you may have. Welch offers up an impressive selection of his own blends from a dry Delta Red to sweet Muscadine Blush.

The menu changes with his whims so don’t be surprised to find even a seasonal fruit wine like blackberry or pear. Be sure to take a taste home with you. If you’ve got more than one favorite, don’t worry. Prices range from around $9 to $20 a bottle.

No sooner than I had sampled my first white, I was invited to tour the winery and discover where this potion was divined. Prepared for a long sabbatical from the tasting bar, I finished off my glass and followed Welch down a narrow hall to a back room no bigger than a garage.

Here, I learned, was where the whole process took place. Welch, a virtual renaissance man, does everything from crushing and filtering to labeling and corking every bottle. I was lucky enough to have tried a Vidal Blanc that Welch had just capped minutes before I arrived.

When you visit, don’t miss this chance to see where Welch unfolds his creative genius. You can check out his Italian wine press and oak barrels as he engages you in the art of wine making. If you like, he will take you on a tour of the vineyards right outside the door. Whatever you choose, make sure to take advantage of Welch’s extensive knowledge.

If you’re just in the mood for a little relaxation in a beautiful atmosphere, you can take a picnic with you on Sundays and enjoy live performances from local blues artists on the back lawn. June concerts will feature Memphis artists Tom Gorbea on the 16th and University of Memphis professor, David Evans on the 23rd. Performances begin at 3:00 and are free.

If you want to learn or just want to hear a few stories, Perry Welch can accomodate you any day. Once you’ve had the experience of visiting with him, you may never want to leave. But, alas, we all must go home eventually. So, after we concluded the tasting(no spitting), I stood up with my bottle of Delta Red and turned to go. An hour later, I finally did. After all, nothing goes better with wine than good conversation.

You can visit the Welch’s website at omwinery@bigriver.net or call 901-873-4114.

GRAPE SESSION

So you’re sitting around your house thirsty for something new and exciting to do, but you don’t even have enough gas money to leave the state? You don’t have to look too far, for a mere twenty minutes from Midtown Memphis, tucked into the rolling hills of West Tennessee, lies a little piece of heaven, where you can sit, relax, and delight in the earthy flavors of homegrown wine.

Old Millington Vineyard and Winery, owned and operated by Perry and Carrie Welch, is the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon. You can enjoy some good company,a little fresh air, and a taste of some of the most unique wines in the area, all for free.

On a lazy afternoon of my own, I decided to take a trip up Highway 51 and see just what sort of winery could possibly be operating in Millington, Tennessee. After all, driving through Frayser isn’t quite the same as a trek through the Napa Valley.

Turning onto a gravel driveway and patiently waiting for some arthritic dogs to pass, I congratulated myself on the assumption that this was going to be a podunk operation complete with some grapes fermenting in the bathtub. The moment I stepped inside onto the cool tiled floor,however, I knew I was mistaken. Sidling up to the tasting bar, I was poured a glass and before I knew it, was enjoying one of the most pleasant outings I had ever experienced.

Opened in October of 2000, Old Millington Vineyards and Winery has achieved local fame as a charming and tranquil spot where you can feel free to roam sprawling vineyards, idle on the patio under a shady awning, or even catch some live music on the lawn.

And if you don’t know a blush from a beaujolais, Perry Welch will be happy to explain the difference. Once you’ve had a taste of his wine and his hospitality, you’ll feel any uneasiness dissipate into pure bliss.

Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or you regularly twist off your cork, there’s a wine for you at Old Millington Winery, but don’t expect to find a cabernet or a merlot here. Welch specializes in fusing indigenous grapes from his vineyards.

You will be invited to taste grapes ranging from the vidal and catawba to the bastard cousin of the grape, the muscadine, He will gently guide you through his tasting menu and patiently answer any questions you may have. Welch offers up an impressive selection of his own blends from a dry Delta Red to sweet Muscadine Blush.

The menu changes with his whims so don’t be surprised to find even a seasonal fruit wine like blackberry or pear. Be sure to take a taste home with you. If you’ve got more than one favorite, don’t worry. Prices range from around $9 to $20 a bottle.

No sooner than I had sampled my first white, I was invited to tour the winery and discover where this potion was divined. Prepared for a long sabbatical from the tasting bar, I finished off my glass and followed Welch down a narrow hall to a back room no bigger than a garage.

Here, I learned, was where the whole process took place. Welch, a virtual renaissance man, does everything from crushing and filtering to labeling and corking every bottle. I was lucky enough to have tried a Vidal Blanc that Welch had just capped minutes before I arrived.

When you visit, don’t miss this chance to see where Welch unfolds his creative genius. You can check out his Italian wine press and oak barrels as he engages you in the art of wine making. If you like, he will take you on a tour of the vineyards right outside the door. Whatever you choose, make sure to take advantage of Welch’s extensive knowledge.

If you’re just in the mood for a little relaxation in a beautiful atmosphere, you can take a picnic with you on Sundays and enjoy live performances from local blues artists on the back lawn. June concerts will feature Memphis artists Tom Gorbea on the 16th and University of Memphis professor, David Evans on the 23rd. Performances begin at 3:00 and are free.

If you want to learn or just want to hear a few stories, Perry Welch can accomodate you any day. Once you’ve had the experience of visiting with him, you may never want to leave. But, alas, we all must go home eventually. So, after we concluded the tasting(no spitting), I stood up with my bottle of Delta Red and turned to go. An hour later, I finally did. After all, nothing goes better with wine than good conversation.

You can visit the Welch’s website at omwinery@bigriver.net or call 901-873-4114.

THE OTHER TUNICA

At the Bar-B-Q Festival this weekend, a draft beer in one sticky hand, an empty plastic cup that once contained a neon-pink jello shot in the other, I was suddenly struck by an overwhelming urge. Voices began to run together. The faint sounds of “Play That Funky Music, White Boy” whirred in my head. I couldn’t eat another thing. I had it bad.

I had been bitten by the gambling bug.

Not, however, for that glamorous mecca called Tunica. The Preakness Stakes were the next day; so, after too many long goodbyes and mumbled explanations, I practically sprinted to the car and was on my way across that majestic river to the sleepy little forgotten town of West Memphis.

If you haven’t been to Southland Greyhound Park, you are truly missing out on a local treasure. Southland’s your best bet, and if dogs aren’t your thing, you can watch the ponies simulcast from tracks all over the country.

Armed with my sports section and a pencil, I burst through those double doors into the comforting glow of the florescent lighting and tore off to buy a racing form. (You can get these for a dollar but if you’re lucky and a little late, most people will give you theirs as they leave.) Once inside I was faced with a delightful dilemma. Where to make myself comfortable, take a seat, and most of all, where did I feel lucky?

You’ve got several options and I suggest you experience all of them. If you’re looking for a cheap night, you can stay on the lower level amid the betting tickets and the stale popcorn-littered floors. There’s a lot of action going on down there. It’s noisy and crowded and it smells funny, but its free and in my opinion pretty exciting.

From this level you can go out to the tracks and watch the races or you can cheer your dog along from behind a huge plate glass window. If you’re a first-timer, this is the place to learn the lingo. You’ll sound like you actually know what you’re doing after only a short time or at least you’ll know what to yell.

If you’re feeling fancy, you have to go upstairs. It only costs a dollar, but if you’ve got a student ID, it’s free. If you’re a high roller, go to the Kennel Club. (Actually, you don’t have to be a high roller but it’s fun to pretend). In this little haven, the cocktails are served in glasses and there’s not an aluminum ashtray in sight. There are fresh flowers, and the food is better. You can sit at your own little table complete with a monitor so that you can weigh your odds and watch the races without

leaving your seat.

It’s very cushy. They even have valet parking and a sort of Hollywood track lighting. The best thing is that they recently opened The Kennel Club to the public so now any old body can enjoy the high life.

All those bells and whistles, however, are not for me. I prefer a place that’s somewhere in the middle. The Paddock Club is where you must go if you are a serious gambler. No, you don’t have all of the amenities of the Kennel Club, and your beer is going to come out of a plastic tub of ice but it’s still nice enough and you can always find a seat at the bar.

You’re surrounded by big screen TVs, so if you’re

betting on horses too, you can keep an eye on both races. The most important thing to do here is pay attention. The guy sitting next to you has most likely been to the track everyday that week. If you don’t know a trifecta from a quinella, just sit back. These guys know everything from the dog’s sire to what he did last week and in what race. You’ll be a pro in no time.

I finished placing my bets. I lost on the dogs, but convinced that my horse would redeem me the next day, I kicked at an empty nacho container and went on my way with my pockets empty except for the little betting tickets that hopefully held my fortune. If you go to Southland once, you’ll go again. There’ s just something irresistIble about it. Besides, aren’t slot machines so impersonal?

Southland Park is open everyday except for Sunday with matinees on Monday, Wednesdays, and Saturday beginning at 1:00. Nightly races begin at 7:30. Good Luck.