Organizers of the first annual Yadkin Valley Winter Wine Shop remained positive Saturday about the prospects for the event's future.

Participants in the endeavor, billed as a way to showcase local arts and wine in the Christmas shopping season, shared the sentiment that the event was good for the first year.

The Saturday gathering at the Holiday Inn Express was the first attempt by the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Yadkin Valley and Jonesville tourism authorities to collaborate on the event, which drew a dozen wineries, eight craft vendors and 120 shoppers.

Artisans ranged from a stained glass maker to the Yadkin Valley Craft Guild to a specialty fudge maker, jewelry maker, The Yadkin Valley General Store and the candle factory.

They offered seasonal gift items often targeted to wine enthusiasts. The retail shop of the candle factory offered wine scented luminaries. jewelry maker Dale Hooper of Burlington has found a common link between wine drinkers and her specialty jewelry.

A friend wore a necklace Hooper had made to a Winston- Salem wine festival and the jewelry got lots of attention. "She said, 'I could have sold a hundred for you,'" Hooper said.

That experience sparked her to expand her offerings and seek out events that attract wine tasters. She does several gift shows per week during the Christmas season. "I have to make money at them," Hooper said. "I drove an hour and a half to get here."

She made enough off of the event to ask to return to next year. She also is interested in attending the May Yadkin Valley Wine Festival.

Matthew Mayberry of Brushy Mountain Winery was also pleased. " I didn't expect a lot of sales. It is the first year. I think I sold more than I expected to," he said.

Representatives of Black Wolf Vineyard poured wine for tasters from throughout the Yadkin Valley and several from Winston-Salem. They only sold two cases of wine Saturday , less than they had hoped for. Owner Dana Thies still saw it as a successful day. "It was the first year."

They were also handing out coupons to Wolf's Lair Restaurant. Most of the vineyard's business operates through the restaurant, so the strategy is to get customers into the restaurant.

Chamber of commerce organizers will work on improvements for the event next year. They will be looking for advertising sponsors and ways to build the events image and reputation.