▲ This undated Yonhap file photo shows the visitors of the Korea Wine Festival, held in South Korea's largest wine-producing county of Yeongdong in North Chungcheong Province. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's largest wine-producing county of Yeongdong in North Chungcheong Province opened the 15th Korea Wine Festival on Thursday, celebrating three decades of the local wine industry.

 

Held under the slogan "Thirty Years of Brewing, the 15th Festival," the four-day event runs through Sunday.

 

An exhibition hall showcasing rare wines, including a 1996 vintage produced 30 years ago, has been set up, while tasting and sales booths offer visitors the chance to sample and compare Yeongdong wines with different flavors and aromas.

 

The festival grounds also feature a small concert stage and various rest areas, allowing visitors to enjoy cool riverside breezes and music in the early summer atmosphere.

 

A variety of hands-on programs are available, including a wine academy operated by sommeliers and workshops on making customized wine glasses and sangria.

 

"We expanded the scale of the festival and strengthened its content to commemorate the 30-year history of Yeongdong wine," an official from the Yeongdong County Culture and Tourism Foundation, the organizer of the event, said. "It is a chance to enjoy Yeongdong's beautiful nature and premium-quality wines."

 

The county's wine industry dates back to 1996, when the Yeongdong Grape Processing Farming Association, the predecessor of Wine Korea Co., first introduced locally produced wine.

 

Since then, family-run wineries have steadily emerged, and the county is now home to 35 wineries.

 

Their products have gained recognition at domestic and international competitions and are now regarded as leading representatives of K-wine.

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]