Several hundred guests enjoyed wine, art, music and beautiful vistas along the New River Saturday at the annual River House Winefest.

Hosted by Inn Keeper and Owner Gayle Winston and General Manager Sherman Lyle the event, in its sixth year, drew eight wineries from the Yadkin Valley plus the Biltmore Estate winery in Asheville.

Guests from Ashe and as far away as Raleigh and Charlotte gathered along a narrow plain between the River House Country Inn and Restaurant in Grassy Creek and the winding New River.

It is one of Winston’s favorite settings on the grounds of her bed and breakfast establishment. The focal point is a giant Sycamore tree. “It takes six people, holding hands to reach around it,” she said of the tree.

It is the comfortable site of many of the Inn’s events. “This is where we hold the weddings,” Winston said.

On Saturday, it served as shade for the five bands that entertained and the guests who dined on salmon and oriental seafood salad catered by the restaurant.

Laura Cherry was visiting from Cary to stay several days with friends from Raleigh who own a home nearby.

She found it a pleasant get-away to enjoy wine and music. She also visited with Anne Cain of Hamptonville, who owns Daddy’s Girl Dairy. Cain makes fine quality cheese that pairs well with wine.

Hanover Park Vineyard of Yadkinville sells two of her cheese flavors that pair well with her wine. She also hopes to be marketing through Weathervane in Winston-Salem in that winery’s new tasting room.

Cain comes regularly to the River House festival. “It’s not my biggest sales event, but it is very well run and the people are very receptive. I enjoy the music, and the venue is very pleasant,” she said.

The friends that Cherry visited include Raleigh architect Ted Van Dyk. He and his wife enjoy visiting Ashe and the River House, which he has begun to use as a subject for his passtime of painting.

The property’s barns and views of the river provided subjects for a series of paintings he has done and was selling at the festival.

Ashe resident Sara McMillan works the festival for RagApple Lassie Vineyards in Boonville. The winery’s First Blush wine was selling well Saturday, she said “It is a good summer wine.” The merlot was also popular among Saturday’s visitors, she said.

Edith Crutcher, a longtime friend of Winston’s said that she enjoys the festival’s “feeling of community.”

She is also glad to see the arts included and the growth of the arts community in West Jefferson.