Kayla Taylor (left), Trisha Sandford, Stephanie Nixon and Nicole Avenel taste one the varieties of wine at a downtown wine stroll in 2011. Press file photo
The 6 to 9 p.m. event is hosted by the Tracy Center City Association, and will feature 29 downtown merchants and Vino 100 dispensing wine samples to visitors, according to TCCA President Dino Maragos.
Maragos, who runs the Tracy Inn, expects nearly 1,500 people will make it downtown for the stroll scheduled on a Saturday instead of a Friday in hopes of bringing more people to the event.
“Our overall goal is to get people into the downtown businesses,” he said. “Get people who aren’t familiar to see what is available and take a look. … The wine stroll brings a tremendous amount of new faces to downtown.”
Those who wish to imbibe can purchase a ticket and at one of three different check-in stations, and exchange the ticket for a glass that can be used to sample the various wines. Visitors will be able to walk down 10th Street and Central Avenue while sipping.
Courtney Campbell, who works for the city of Tracy and is helping organize this year’s stroll as part of her duties with the TCCA, said there will be wines from Tracy’s La Bonne Vie, Windmill Ridge and Ramon Rios wineries, along with vintages from Manteca, Acampo, Lodi, Livermore, Castro Valley and Hopland.
Campbell said there will be about 50 different varietals for visitors to choose from, including sparkling wines, merlots, cabernets and — new to the wine stroll — a Spanish 2011 Alvarino.
While people have many choices, she hopes people also take the time explore the downtown area.
“The wine stroll is about the downtown — it lets people explore downtown and see what we have to offer and gets our merchants involved,” Campbell said.
Pre-sale tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Elaines’ Boutique, 2nd Avenue, The Salon + Spa, Versailles Salon and Day Spa and My Best Friend’s Closet. Tickets the day of the event cost $30.
For information: 597-8105.
I urge all of you to go, drink some wine, stick with the designated driver and take home the wine glass. Mine ended up on someone's lawn on the way 'home' to Tracy Park Apartments. Great night!