Ten Local Wineries Partake Aptos Village Businesses’ Inaugural Event
Aptos Village businesses announced they will host the first-ever Aptos Wine Wander, a fundraiser for Aptos-area elementary schools to be held in partnership with the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association, on Saturday, May 14.
The inaugural event, which will be from 1 – 4 p.m., will feature wines from 10 fine Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries. Participating wineries include: Armitage Wines, Bargetto Winery, Bottle Jack Winery, Mindego Ridge Vineyard, MJA Vineyards, Nicholson Vineyards, Sante Arcangeli Family Winery, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Windy Oaks Estate Vineyard & Winery and Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery.
Tastings will be offered inside Aptos Village businesses, located on Soquel Drive and Trout Gulch Road. Wine Wanderers will be encouraged to walk business-to-business to explore the shops and sample the wine. Wine tastings will be offered at Cantine Winepub, Warmth Company, Mulberry Gallery, Armitage Wines, Talmadge Construction, Gravity Saddlemaker, Jet Set Bohemian, Claudia DeMaranville Allstate, Aptos Village Garage, Print Smith and Epicenter Cycling.
“The Wine Wander is one of several new events local businesses will be hosting to remind Aptos residents of the wonderful services that are available here in the ‘heart of the Village,’” said Claudia DeMaranville, agency principal for Allstate Insurance, a longtime Aptos Village business. “The Aptos Village is a diverse shopping area that allows our residents to buy local and receive fantastic customer service close to home.”
Barry Swenson Builders, Appenrodt Commercial Properties, Testorff Construction, Aptos Village Merchants, Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association and Times Publishing Group are sponsoring the event.
“We are excited to be a part of this whimsical, community-oriented event that draws people into locally owned businesses while showcasing the amazing wines made in our region,” said Mary Gourlay, Development Project Manager at Barry Swenson Builder, which is developing the Aptos Village Project.
Proceeds from the Aptos Wine Wander will benefit Mar Vista, Rio del Mar and Valencia Elementary Schools. Tickets, which include a commemorative glass, are $35 in advance and are available online through the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association, http://scmwa.com/event/aptos-wine-wander. Tickets will be $40 at the door.
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Aptos Village at 8050 Soquel Drive is a one-of-a-kind collection of businesses and services that cater to the area’s unique coastal lifestyle. From food and wine to interior accessories to mountain bikes, picture framing to saddle making, these small businesses are an integral part of the Aptos community. Almost every store is owner-run, creating a connection between customers and shops that gives the community a small-town familiarity.
Formed in 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation is nestled in one of the most unique winegrowing regions in the world, beginning just south of San Francisco spanning the mountain range between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific south to the Monterey Bay. Mountain terrain, marine influence, varied microclimates and distinctive soils combine to produce ideal conditions for high quality winegrowing.
The association consists of more than 70 wineries, most of them family-run, working to promote the unique aspects of the wines & region. The small size of the wineries allows for greater attention to detail and a handcrafted wine quality that maximizes the potential of the grapes grown here. Learn more at http://scmwa.com.