Weekend Recap - Good Friends, Great Wine, and Beautiful Weather

It was a near perfect weekend in Charleston.  I could not have asked for better weather.  I am talking gorgeous blue skies, plenty of sunshine, and a little breeze.

I had a very dear friend come in town with her boyfriend.  We had a wonderful time and had lots of activities in store.

Friday night, we ate at Basil on Upper King.  This area of Charleston has become "trendy hot spot" for grad students, young professionals, and a few CofC students.

Following dinner, we headed over to a friend's house for an oyster roast.  It was not our original plan to go to the oyster roast, but several of our friends from home were there.  So, we decided to forewent the crowds downtown for some oysters, natural light (classy, yes!), and socializing around a fire.

Sara ad I

Bo and Sara

High School Friends

Friday night was very chill and we had many laughs - as you see I am about mid-giggle in the above picture.

Saturday, I pretended that I was a wine connoisseur.  The Southeastern Wildlife Expo was this weekend.  The Expo is held annually in Charleston.  It features numerous exhibits, a soiree, and various wildlife shows.  In the spirit of buying local, a special tent is set-up for products locally produced/manufactured and given the seal of Certified SC Grown.

Close family friends started a vineyard a little over a year ago in my hometown.  They do everything on-site from growing the grapes to bottle, labeling, and corking the wine.  September Oaks wine is made from the flavors of muscadine grapes.  They produce pure muscadine wines as well as blends - Merlot, Seyval, and most recently fruits.

So back to me being a wine connoisseur...I worked the SOV booth and acted as though I didn't buy wine based on how pretty the label looks.  I handed out samples of wines and actually sold a bottle or two.

Peach Sunrise and Kiwi Gold were uncorked this weekend for the first time and were a big hit.

All SOV wines are named after South Carolina icons and symbols - Crescent Moon, Yellow Jasmine, and Carolina Wren (just to name a few).  If you are a fan of muscadine wines, I recommend you trying some.  If you are not, I still recommend you try some.  SOV can be ordered online and shipped in-state (sorry for those out of SC).  It is also available at Total Wines and Boone Hall Farms here in Charleston and Greene's in Columbia.  I got a bottles of the Family Reserve Red, Crescent Moon, and Kiwi Gold.

That afternoon, I meet up with Sara and Bo to watch the Dock Dog competition.  This is similar to the competitions you may have seen on TV.  There is distance and height jumping contest.  Dock Dogs is held on the banks of the Ashley River.

Carolina Sunshine

Saturday night, we braved the crowds downtown.  After only a couple drinks, we decided to go home.  Don't get me wrong, we had a great time but there was almost too many people for it to be enjoyable.

We topped off the weekend with brunch at Fleet Landing.  We were fortunate enough to get a table on the heated porch overlooking the Harbor.

Today, I joined a group of friends from school to watch the Daytona 500.  Uh yeah, I watch NASCAR and have gone to several races.  If you think I am a "redneck" and decide to stop reading that is okay.  I promise I am not.  I, by no means, sit down every Sunday and watch from green flag to checkers.  I mostly enjoy the social aspect and the spectator watching.

I love weekends like this past one - where I am surrounded by long-time friends and new friends.  I, also, ran into many college friends that were in town for SEWE.

I am sooo not ready for Monday or the week ahead.

Hope y'all had a good weekend...can't wait to hear about it!

Soulfully,

Ashton

photo courtesy - Olivia-Rae