Back for a second year, Art UnCorked promises to bring on and off-Island neighbors together for an evening of wine, art, music and food at 6 p.m on Friday, Sept. 11.
Twelve local wineries, many with Mercer Island connections, will be set up on 78th Avenue and in the Sculpture Garden on Sunset Highway, known for its ever-evolving display of art for sale.
“[Art UnCorked] is fine-tuned and reorganized a little bit from last year,” said Island Chamber of Commerce Director Terry Moreman. “It’s the same event, but with more offerings.”
There will be live music by Patrick Daughtery and The Archtops rhythm and blues quartet. Food choices, besides those in nearby Town Center restaurants, include food trucks for burgers and pies, Island Treats and hors d’oeuvres from Aljoya.
Moreman said she worked with the Mercer Island Visuals Arts League (MIVAL) to come up with the idea for the event last year. The Art UnCorked coordinators learned a lot from 2014’s event, which brought out more than 500 people. About 20 percent came from off-Island.
“Last year was such a huge success, we had wineries calling us this year,” Moreman said. “We wanted something that would bring people downtown with energy and enthusiasm.”
Wine seemed like the way to go, especially with so many Island connections. Resident Peggy Sullivan owns OS Winery in downtown Seattle. City employee Scott Greenberg, who heads up the Development Services Group, moonlights as a winemaker at Convergence Zone Cellars in Woodinville. Walla Walla’s Lodmell Cellars was founded by the children of Carol Lodmell, a former teacher in Island schools.
It’s a win-win: an event that brings the community together and provides exposure for emerging artists and winemakers. With more than 650 wineries in Washington state now, it can be hard to stand out.
“We want everybody to be successful,” Moreman said.
Much of last year’s proceeds were reinvested into the event, Moreman said, going toward the purchase of canopies and tables that will also be shared with the Farmers Market.
Each winery will offer tastings of at least two wines. Wines poured will be available for sale that evening at a 10 percent discount.
The promenade is free and open to the public, but you must be 21 or older to enter the tasting garden. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door, and include 10 tastings. This year, there will be VIP tickets ($35 in advance, $40 at the door) that include an hour to “Meet the Winemakers” from 5 to 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Chamber office.
Wineries:
Ballaboureen Wines
Brian Carter Cellars
Convergence Zone Cellars
Lodmell Cellars
Naches Heights Vineyard
OS Winery
Patterson Cellars
Wilridge Winery
WT Vintners
Woodinville Wine County
Schilling Cider
Artists:
MIVAL Gallery
By Marilyn
Jesse Kelly Glass
Leslie West and Janice Reingold Designs
Mary Gunn Designs
Forest Life Creations
Hare Raising Design
Marianne and Eddie Bond
Joan Johnson Glass
Raven Lunatic Studios
Ship of Fools
