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Plowed red earth contrasts with long rows of purple-blue flowers under the brilliant Texas sun. A lavender fragranced breeze blows gently over the winery’s limestone verandah…. Becker Vineyards hosts its 11th Annual Lavender Festival, May 16 & 17. The event will feature speakers and vendors promoting lavender education as well as herb related products. There will also be gardening tips, cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, and luncheons. Business hours are Saturday, 10 a.m.—6 p.m. and Sunday, Noon—6 p.m. The event is complimentary; parking is $5.

There will be Lavender Luncheons. The Saturday luncheon will be catered by Rails, A Café at The Depot, Kerrville, TX., and the Sunday luncheon by My Own Chef Catering, Fredericksburg, TX. Both luncheons begin at Noon and are $60 + tax, per person. This year includes the Saturday night Lavender Vintner Dinner. The Lavender Vintner Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16. The five course menu by Carte Wheels of Kerrville, Texas, will be paired with Becker Vineyards’ wines. The dinner price is $85 + tax, per person. Reservations required, contact 830-644-2681 for more information.

Becker Vineyards will also have concessions: Shayne Sauce, Wimberly Lavender, Sister’s Best, and My Own Chef Catering. There will also be 35+ vendors selling lavender products, gardening related items, and unique gifts.

Saturday Lavender Cooking Demonstrations: 11 a.m. Chef Ross Burtwell of The Cabernet Grill at The Cotton Gin Village; 1 p.m. Lori Hinze of Lori’s Culinary Company; 2 p.m. Chef Terry Thompson-Anderson; and 3 p.m. Karen Voucher of Old Stone Market; Wayne Lowery of Shayne Sauce. Sunday Lavender Cooking Demonstrations: 1 p.m. Carol Seminara of Fredericksburg Culinary Arts; 2 p.m. Margie Christopher of Rio Cibolo Ranch; 3 p.m. Marla Camp of Edible Austin; and 4 p.m. Paul Gingrich of Twin Liquors/Wine.

Saturday Lavender Speaker Presentations: 10:30 a.m. Chelita Riley of The Meadows at Flat Creek “Lavender Care”; 11:30 a.m. Robbie Wills of Antique Rose Emporium “Planting for Hummingbirds and Butterflies”; 12:30 p.m. Gayle Graham of Sante Fe Lavender “The Many Uses of Lavender”; 1:30 p.m. Jack Williams of Hummingbird Farms “Growing Lavender in the Hill Country”; 2:30 p.m. Dr. John Dromgoole of Natural Gardener and Lady Bug Natural Brand; 3:30 p.m. Bo Masters—Certified Arborist “Solutions to Oak Wilt Diversity”; and Shane Dunford of Natures Herb Farm “Growing Lavender”.

Sunday Lavender Speaker Presentations: 1:30 p.m. Sandi Martin—Master Gardener “Collecting Rain Water”; 2:30 p.m. Jack Williams of Hummingbird Farms “Growing Lavender in the Hill Country”; 3:30 p.m. Gayle Graham of Santa Fe Lavender “The Many Uses of Lavender”; and Camille Langston of Camille’s Herbal Gifts “Lavender Tea”.

Chris Perrenoud is the Lavender Manager for Becker Vineyards. She creates and produces various lavender products which will be for sale to the public during the festival. She makes beautiful lavender sachets, scented wands, lavender bundles, soaps, potpourris, lotions and more.

Becker Vineyards recently opened its new Large Tasting Room 5 weeks ago. The 2200 foot space originally was the Tank Fermentation Room which four years ago became the Barrel Room. In January, Dr. Richard Becker, who co-owns Becker Vineyards with his wife Bunny, began renovating this space due to the need for more wine tasting space.

The Large Tasting Room features a Brazilian Cherry circular bar with antique ceiling tin along the side. General Manager Bret Perrenoud and his father Dave designed the bar, and panelled the ceiling and East and West walls in Pine, and finished the floor in Pecan. Hill Country Masonry of Johnson City rocked the North and South waslls in native Limestone. Kenny Schmidt of Johnson City did the air conditioning and the electrical work.