Firefly Friday Aboard The Palmetto Breeze--Intoxicating

Thunderstorms were scattered about the Charleston area but the Harbor around Mt. Pleasant's popular waterside mecca of watering holes at Shem Creek was luckily spared and was basking in a moisture-rich late afternoon sun. Departure time had arrived.

With a full compliment of passengers, the catamaran's crew loosened the moorings and it eased away from the dock into the gentle out-going current. The age-diverse crowd of passengers gave out cheers of approval. We waved to the patrons lining the weatherworn rails along the waters edge of Red's Ice House as they gave us a Titanic send off. The party was now officially underway.

While navigating the narrow waters around recreational crafts of all sizes, the captain introduced himself and shouted out some pertinent instructions. It was Firefly Friday. Complimentary glasses of a Firefly Vodka laced drink were passed out. We crossed glasses and caught a glimpse of a shrimper dancing to some island music as our vessel passed-by. The bird sanctuary called Crab Bank Island came into view and the open waters of Charleston Harbor spread before us like a sparkling glass of Firefly Vodka. The sails were unfurled and the stimulating harbor breeze softly embraced our host, the Palmetto Breeze.

The Palmetto Breeze was built in Charleston and is the largest capacity catamaran north of Ft. Lauderdale accommodating 100 passengers plus crew. It featured a spacious wooden deck and covered seating by the bar with elevated seating across the back. In the front of the catamaran under the jib sail, three rows of eight leg-less chairs each were set up across the deck. If you were among the first to board, you had the ideal option of choosing one of these chairs. They were actually very comfortable and afforded a great view.

There was by far more passengers than there was seating. Most of the passengers, which consisted of families, couples, and one bachelorette party, sat wherever it was convenient or stood along the roped edges.

With the Ravenel Bridge towering over Patriots Point and the Yorktown in the near distance, the Breeze crossed the harbor waters passed Castle Pinckney toward White Point Gardens and sailed along the waterfront from the Battery to the South Carolina Aquarium.

The earlier storms had moved out of the area and through breaks in the slow moving marine blue clouds, the descending sun afforded some beautiful shots. Passing the port docks, next was the Ravenel Bridge where the Breeze briefly lingered under the soaring cabled-spires and then made the turn towards the Yorktown and Patriots Point. By then, the near-full moon had made its appearance, adding to the splendor of the darkening azure skies.

Finally, after four glasses of Firefly and one glass of wine, it was time to head back to port. The sun had disappeared below the clouds and the fading Charleston horizon. There was no mistaking Shem Creek. It was colorfully lit like a theater marquee--resplendent.

The harbor tour aboard the Palmetto Breeze is well worth the $35 ticket. It was comfortable, it was relaxing, and it was enjoyably fun. There is no narrative. History is not on the agenda. It is all about soaking in the romance of the Charleston Harbor ambiance--salt water, ocean breezes, and the unrivaled, beautiful waterfront of Charleston. Firefly Vodka was complimentary. Water and soft drinks were provided along with a cash bar as refreshments.

April-October, Charleston Harbor cruises aboard Palmetto Breeze include:

Margarita Monday
Pirate Sailing Adventure
2 for Tuesday Sunset Sail
“Windsday” Sail from Red’s Ice House on Shem Creek
FIREFLY Friday (sponsored by Firefly Vodka and benefitting Susan G. Komen Lowcountry)

Seven Unforgettable And Unusual Charleston Lowcountry Sights Worth Experiencing

From the majestic surf-laden skeleton forest of Boneyard Beach on Cape Romain's Bulls Island to the shell-laden fallen timbers of sun soaked Botany Bay Beach on Edisto Island and from every iron gated, cobblestoned alley way and oak draped byway in-between, unforgettable estuaries and landmarks are a hallmark of Charleston's Lowcountry. Many of these unforgettable sights are natural wonders. Some of them are long standing, man-made constructions. And a few of them are audaciously imaginative fabrications that leave you amusingly scratching your head.

One strange and unusual spectacle that left you scratching your head was the sight of an old mattress hanging by four ropes from a large oak tree located on Edisto Island. At first glance, I thought it to be repulsive, but reflecting back on it I found the contrivance posing as a double-wide hammock to be amusingly uncanny, and so did many others. An ingenious invention of practicality and southern comfort, it was enterprising. So enterprising, the maker and owner of the swinging quilted pad, Frank Gadsden, charged drive-bys $10 to take pictures. The "Mattress Swing" no longer hangs from the old oak tree standing at the bend in the road on Highway 174. Time and unforeseen circumstances have vanquished it.

With that tidbit of Lowcountry trivia in mind, I have selected seven of the more unforgettable and unusual sights located around Charleston's Lowcountry for your consideration and amusement. Some of the them are associated with various notable restaurants and establishments, and others stand alone. You will want to make specific plans to visit some of them and a few of them you may unsuspectingly happen upon while traveling the highways and byways of the Lowcountry. Armed with the necessary background information, you will enjoy them all the more--"To be prepared is half the victory."

1) At the entrance of the Shem Creek Park boardwalk, you are greeted by Pete the Pelican; a 9-foot tall sculpture covered with marine debris collected from Charleston waterways during the 2011 Beach Sweep. The boardwalk extends 2,200 feet from the park's entrance on Coleman Blvd to near the mouth of Shem Creek. The $2.5 million park and boardwalk were built and inaugurated in 2011. It includes a 250 foot floating dock where visitors can tie their boats. Pete the Pelican has been there since April of 2012.



2) In the middle of a grassy marsh on Edisto Island where Botany Bay Road intersects Highway 174 stands a solitary, ragged tree covered not by the assumed green foliage one would expect for that species of topiary, but by pink inflatables and a ship's wheel--at least on the day I saw it. This peculiar sight is called the "Mystery Tree" by Edisto locals. Stories suggest nobody knows who started the tradition--thus the mystery. Throughout the year for generations, it’s been adorned with beach chairs, flip-flops, seasonal decorations and a host of other things by locals and vacationers alike. The original tree was sadly up-rooted by an unknown group of pranksters, but happily replaced with another to carry on the tradition--once again by an unknown party. One story insinuates it is a bottle tree.

3) This retired tractor can be seen on your approach to Freshfields Village, which sits at the crossroads of Kiawah, Seabrook and John's Island. Quaint and walkable, it is a perfect mix of shops, businesses and restaurants. Nostalgic murals, sidewalks integrated with oyster shells and lush landscaping are some of its features. It is also a venue for cultural events like outdoor concerts, art exhibits and festivals. The new Andell Inn opened in the spring of this year--named after the Andell family, who settled in the region in 1876 and once owned all of Seabrook Island. It has 100 rooms with rates beginning at $250 a night.

4) Pirates and Shem Creek go together like oyster festivals and Charleston. This knife wielding scallywag can be seen on the Tiki level of RB's Seafood Restaurant. The original restaurant, a 35-seat eatery located in an old fish shed next to Red's Ice House, was reduced to ashes and rubble by an accidental fire. Rebuilt, RB's now seats more than 300 guests and has been nominated "the number one waterfront restaurant" several times. On your visit, request seating on the Tiki level where table arrangements are a wooden swing with a grass-thatched top--very relaxing. Read the review.

5) Infamous Hurricane Hugo indelibly left its mark on the Lowcountry and in the psyche of its residents. Another Shem Creek restaurant established in 1994, this eatery was named after a shrimp troller victimized by the storm to commemorate the occasion. Its name is the Wreck of the Richard and Charlene or quite simply The Wreck. The vanquished troller was lifted from where it was moored and impaled onto the pilings of a nearby dock. The wreckage was eventually removed. Displayed on the restaurant's property is the wreckage of another boat called Great Aunt Margaret, shown in the photo. An interesting side point about the restaurant: You mark menu selections with a crayon instead of the waitress writing them on a pad. Read the review.

6) This compilation of metal pieces and parts has no apparent significance that I know of--it just simply is. I came across it driving on Bears Bluff Road to the Irvin House Vineyards on Wadmalaw Island. Irvin House is a 48-acre winery and vineyard. It is the only domestic winery in Charleston, South Carolina. Some of its other amenities are walking trails, a petting zoo, a garden, large pond, winery, gift shop and the Firefly Distillery--home of the world's first hand-crafted sweet tea flavored vodka. The Lowcountry Trolley features a tour of the vineyard called Island "Sip n See." When you take the tour and are heading down Bears Bluff Road, look out the windows on the right side. You will see this Lowcountry oddity featured in the photo. Be sure to say hello to the white Brahma bull that roams freely among the vines.

7) Another boat made famous by Hurricane Hugo is The Folly Boat. Carried off on the storm's surging waters, it came to rest on the edge of Folly Road. You will pass it on your way to Folly Beach--known for Charleston's only full-service oceanfront hotel; Tides Hotel, a famous pier; the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier, and surfing area; the Washout. Amateur graffiti artists cover the boat with their inspirational creations with the permission of the city of Folly Beach. Not far from this landmark is the locally loved Bowen's Island Restaurant, made famous by a movie and oysters. Read the review.

A One Of A Kind Distillery On Charleston's Only Winery-Firefly and Irwin-House Winery

On the port side of Charleston, discreetly tucked away on moss-draped Wadmalaw Island, is the Lowcountry's only winery featuring vino made from domestic muscadine grapes and distilled spirits imbued with locally grown tea. Located on a road that ends at a fish hatchery, blanketed with the gnarled branches of age old oaks and a peek-a-boo view of the intercoastal waters of Wadmalaw Sound, two modest brick pillars marked the beginning of a long, winding stone-packed driveway leading to two unpretentious wood-constructed buildings - the humble tasting rooms of Irwin-House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery. Out of this simple island setting comes five of the South's finest wines and the world's first hand-crafted sweet tea flavored vodka.

On this beautiful morning of October, for the first time since moving to the Lowcountry, I visited the Irwin-House Vineyards finally fulfilling a long standing want - to see and taste first-hand the sweet tea flavored vodka that was featured in a drink I had the pleasure of consuming while dining at the Husk in Charleston. It was there I saw the name Firefly for the first time and after finding out it was brewed locally, visiting the brewery became an unrelenting desire.

 

Irwin-House Vineyards spreads out over the island some 48-acres consisting originally of 2,700 vines planted by Jim and Ann Irwin in March of 2001. Fulfilling a dream, Ann's gardening and painting and Jim's wine making, they purchased the property and converted the original farm barns into a winery and distillery with tasting rooms for each. Ann's gardening hobby is apparent by the large fenced in area where sugar cane and an assortment of indigenous plants grow with a small weather-worn shack in the middle rising above it all. I asked if that was the sugar cane they use in their distillery process. "We grow the sugar cane on our farm on John's Island," Mr. Irwin informed.

As you drive up the long winding driveway, the vineyard comes into view. Fenced-in rows and rows of mature muscadine grape vines spread out before you. After parking my truck under the tall oaks, it was a short walk to the rustic buildings housing the tasting rooms. A patio with a variety of chairs, potted plants, overhead strung lights, Firefly signs, and two joggling boards separated the buildings. There was a large group of parents, mostly mothers, with their children eating at tables scattered about the grounds outside of the Firefly tasting room, which was my first stop.

The interior was farm modest and down-to-earth island simple, one main bar and two smaller bars. Bottles of Vodka and Moonshine lined the walls, accompanied by a couple of electric guitars and a popcorn machine. There were six other patrons standing at the main bar chomping on popcorn and downing shots of Firefly.

I paid the $6 for a choice of six tastings from a list of Firefly's offerings. My choices were Sweet Tea, Raspberry Tea, and Peach Vodkas, Sea Island and Java Rums, and Raspberry Moonshine. My bartender served a shot glass of each one at a time while two ladies standing to the left of me, captivated by two puppies running around at the feet of the bartenders behind the bar, oohed and ahhed at their antics.

I savored each pour. They were all uniquely tasty and very smooth. Picking a favorite was difficult, but Sweet Tea and Raspberry Moonshine won out at $20 a bottle, although the Java Rum was very tempting. "The Java is very good in making Black Russians," she added.

You are free to roam among the vines where clusters of aging grapes still hung. You will likely be greeted by a friendly white Brahma bull that also roams freely among the vines. I walked around the distillery building containing a room full of barrels and another room designated the laboratory. There was also a shiny, silver still and huge vats housing the fermenting spirits. I watched workers bottle and package the Firefly brand.

 

 

It was an informative and relaxing day. I did not do the wine tasting, saved that for the next visit. For now, I achieved my goal. Address: 6775 Bears Bluff Rd, Wadmalaw Island.

BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival, February 28 Thru March 3-Charleston's Only Winery And Distillery Rocks

Charleston, the toast of the coast, beautiful, hospitable, and drenched in romantic, southern history, is a sort of living museum. A plethora of 18th century homes, plantations, churches, galleries, and shops line its vintage roadways and waterfronts. A considerable number of historic hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts cordially beckon travelers to partake of their opulence. Award-winning restaurants featuring the famous Lowcountry cuisine entice hungry visitors at every turn of the corner and for the surf and sand lovers, four beautiful beaches wrap its coastline. But despite this abundance of old city amenities, Charleston is home to only one varietal repository, the Irvin House Vineyards on Wadmalaw Island.

The Irvin House Vineyards is a 48-acre winery about 30 minutes south of Charleston. The vineyard offers walking trails, a petting zoo, a garden, large pond, winery, and gift shop. You can take advantage of the winery's affordable and informative wine tastings. For $4, you can taste all 5 of their varietals and will receive a complimentary wine glass for a keepsake to remember your time at the vineyard. Afterwards, you can enjoy a self-guided tour through the muscadine vines. Muscadine grapes are a fruit native to the Southeastern United States, perfectly matched to the climate needing fewer chilling hours than better known varieties and they thrive on summer heat.

One event to hone in on is the annual Grape Stomping Festival. In 2012, the event was in August. Check the event news on Irvin House Vineyards website for updates on this years stomping. Interesting fact: After naming their wines, they chose fine Charleston artists to create the labels.

The winery is also home to the Firefly Distillery, South Carolina's only distillery. Firefly became the world's first hand-crafted sweet tea flavored vodka. It is distilled four times, infused with tea grown on the Charleston Tea Plantation just five miles from the distillery. The distillery has a tasting room, where people may taste Firefly products and purchase bottles right on the property. Tastings are $6. It is one of the very few in the country to be both a vineyard and a distillery. Visitors can also take a quick drive down the road to the Charleston Tea Plantation for tours any day of the week. The tasting room is located at 6775 Bears Bluff Road.

Now that I have you all wined-up, it is time to attend the annual BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival, February 28 - March 3, 2013. There will be 80 events over the course of the Festival weekend, affording you the opportunity to interact with and learn from the country's best chefs, authors and beverage professionals. The heart of it all is the Culinary Village in Marion Square Park where the JetBlue + Piggly Wiggly Grand Tasting Tents with over 80 food and beverage vendors from across the country will be set up. Firefly will be part of the Charleston Wine + Food Festival March 1 - 3. You can see them in the Piggly Wiggly Tent. For a complete list of venues and locations click on map. Events and tickets are posted here.

Here are some interesting wine facts:
1) The smell of young wine is called an "aroma" while a more mature wine offers a more subtle "bouquet".
2) Wine tasting is essentially wine smelling, women tend to be better wine testers because women, particularly of reproductive ages, have a better sense of smell than men.
3) Red wines are red because fermentation extracts color from the grape skins. White wines are not fermented with the skins present.
4) The world's oldest bottle of wine dates back to 325 A.D. and was found near the town of Speyer, Germany, inside one of two Roman sarcophaguses. It is on display at the town's Historisches Museum der Pfalz.
5) There is increasing scientific evidence that moderate, regular wine drinking can reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and gum disease.
6) Wine grapes rank number one among the world's fruit crops in terms of acres planted.
7) There is a right and wrong way to hold a wine glass. Wine glasses should always be held by the stem and not the bowl because the heat of the hand will raise the temperature of the wine.
8) One ton of grapes makes about 60 cases of wine, or 720 bottles. One bottle of wine contains about 2.8 pounds of grapes.
9) Most wine is served in a glass that has a gently curved rim at the top to help contain the aromas in the glass. The thinner the glass and the finer the rim, the better. A flaring, trumpet-shaped class dissipates the aromas.
10) Red wine represents 55% of restaurant wine sales.