The wine will be flowing once more in the Yadkin Valley in May.

The seventh annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival, sponsored by Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Elkin Municipal Park.

"The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival Committee has been working for months in preparation for our seventh annual event," says Brent Cornelison, festival chairman. "Despite some difficult weather conditions in previous years, we have enjoyed growing participation."

The 2008 Festival expects to feature 24 wineries pouring the Yadkin Valley's best, as well as displays from other vineyards with vines still too new to produce wines. Four of the participating wineries are new within the past year, and attendees will have their first opportunity to taste the new wineries' vintages.

The festival showcases wines from the Yadkin Valley Appellation -- consisting of Surry, Yadkin, Wilkes, parts of Stokes, Forsyth, Davidson and Davie counties. The appellation, which was approved in 2002, allows vineyards in the region to bottle their wines under a label saying it was produced in the Yadkin Valley. Elkin is at the geographic heart of the Yadkin Valley wine-producing region.

Compared to the 2002 inaugural Yadkin Valley Wine Festival attendance of 4,500 people (some 1,200 of whom tasted wine from the seven open appellation wineries), last year's festival drew more than twice as many attendees, and tasters experienced the fruits of 20 wineries. While most 2006 attendees arrived from surrounding areas, including Charlotte, the Triangle, the Triad, Wilkesboro, Mount Airy, Boone and parts of Virginia, one visitor was from China, and visitors attended from over 30 states.

The festival allows people to sample the Yadkin Valley wines, learn about making wines, enjoy food including rattlesnake chili, elk and boar bratwurst available for purchase from local dining establishments, shop various craft vendors and listen to music throughout the day, with music by Natty Boh Duo from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., topped off with music by headliners, The Part Time Party Time Band from 3 to 6 p.m.

Tickets are $20 at the gate. Each ticket includes a commemorative wine glass with the Festival's logo. Admission is free for those who choose not to taste or purchase wines and for those under 21.

There will be a roving Bacchus, a grape stomp and other activities for the youngsters. The festival will be held rain or shine. Additional information, is available at the Festival Web site, www.yvwf.com.