Ho, Ho, Ho and a bottle of wine

As all the Thanksgiving leftovers have been consumed and the transition to the holiday season begins, what better way to celebrate than with Santa Claus, homemade goods, and wine? On November 26, Indian Island Winery hosted its annual “Santa’s Sip and Shop” for all comers; the event has been held at the location on the outskirts of Janesville for years. In addition to a large selection of wine, the event featured 24 vendors selling an assortment of homemade goods ranging from baked treats, homemade salsas, woodworking creations, hand-sewn household items and much more. All were welcome to join the festivities, partake in the winery’s selection of wines, and sip that wine while perusing the sales floor. Event manager Angie Winter, who has run the event for the past five years, was ecstatic with the turnout and the number of vendors who signed up. A total of 24 vendors took part: Winter remarked that many of their goods were “homemade jewelry and clothing.” As a promotion, door prizes were donated by each participating vendor. 

One display belonged to  Mary’s Angels–a brother/sister duo specializing in cookies, brownies, and pies of every flavor. The duo started their business to help promote awareness and raise funds for a cure to Alzheimer’s shortly after the passing of their mother in 2012. This was their first year at Santa’s Sip and Shop, but their “ninth year of baking for this cause.” When asked who does the baking between the two of them, the brother chimed in with a “Oh that’ll be me” while the sister laughed, “I just lick the spoon when he’s done.” When asked what they hope Santa will bring for Christmas, the duo knew exactly what to wish for: “A cure for Alzheimer’s.”

Bumble Beads was another vendor at the event. Owner Renae Trumbull has been selling her homemade bejeweled items for over a decade. It was her second year at the Santa’s Sip and Shop, but she noted that  “I used to run my own bead store in Waseca for a time.” Her wares were a sight to behold: candles, bracelets, decorative stars, even pens had been adorned with colorful beads. When asked just how long it takes to bejewel each item, Trumbull stated “It takes time…the stars here took about a week because there were so many beads!” A labor of love no doubt. When asked what she was going to request of Santa, she smiled and said, “A million dollars.” 

Other vendors included Tim’s Engraving–a business that specializes in woodworking projects, Linda’s Decor & More, selling hand-sewn pot holders, aprons, and kitchen towels, and Hunnicutt Hollowae’s Homegrown Canning.

Master gardener and canner Holly Hunnicutt was at Indian Island Winery for the first time, but she is no rookie to her craft. She  has been “growing organic produce and canning for over 30 years.” Hunnicutt says she started with “salsas at first'' and over time expanded her business to hot sauce and an array of canned fruits and vegetables. When it comes to gardening, this grower could be considered a  “Hunni…cutt” above standard. When asked what she would like from Santa this year: “Hmm. I do have a porch that needs to get finished.” 

As a centerpoint of the event, Mr. and Mrs. Claus were in high spirits as they spread Christmas cheer. Mrs. Claus speculated as to the source of the “Sip and Shop’s” success: “What’s not to love? There’s wine, children, and Christmas spirit!” 

Children seemed pleased to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and eager to share their annual requests with  Saint Nick. One child, Sam, wore a smile on his face as he asked Santa for “a big red firetruck!” A small family introduced Baby Brooks onto Santa’s lap; the initial reaction was tears quickly replaced with giggles. The baby’s wishes are unknown, but Mom and Dad had a very practical wish: “a lifetime supply of diapers.” 

Another baby, Elora, sat in Santa’s lap; first she simply seemed perplexed, but Mrs. Claus comforted her and a smile lit up the room. Elora didn’t even want a present from Santa, she just wanted to meet him. Lastly, a child nicknamed Elfie and her baby sister sat with Santa; the baby was…less than thrilled to meet the jolly man but both Elfie and Mrs. Claus offered emotional support as Elfie asked Santa for “a pony.” 

Overall, the Sip and Shop event at the Indian Island Winery was an overwhelming success. It was an excellent start to the holiday season and many left the venue happy. Whether that happiness was because of the wine, their kids seeing Santa, or some Christmas shopping done early–it’s anyone’s guess.