Join fellow wine, art, music and food lovers at Mercer Island’s fourth annual Art Uncorked on Friday in the Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Gallery.
The Chamber of Commerce and Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) partner to present the event, which will be held from 5-9 p.m. on Sept. 8, with a “Meet the Winemaker” hour from 5-6 p.m.
Chamber Director Laurie Givan said that robust marketing efforts seem to “really be creating a buzz in the community,” and that ticket sales are way above last year at this same time.
Art Uncorked has an active Instagram account (@miartuncorked) with “fantastic pictures and calls to action,” along with a Facebook page, Givan said.
A few of the featured wineries, which have a connection to Mercer Island, include: Convergence Zone Cellars, an award-winning, family-owned winery located in North Bend; Lodmell Cellars, a Walla Walla winery known for its estate merlots; and Cave B Estate Winery, an award-winning boutique winery located in the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA.
The evening will feature 10 other local wineries — Abbe Vineyard and Winery, Cadaretta Winery, Coach House Cellars, Descendent Cellars, Goose Ridge Estate Winery, Harewood Estate, Leony’s Cellars, Long Cellars, William Church Winery, Wm. Grassie Wine Estates — along with two breweries, Four Horseman Brewing and Sumerian Brewing, and Pear Up Cider.
One of the event’s presenting sponsors, Wells Fargo, will provide stemless wine glasses for the event. New sponsors this year include Caruccio’s, a culinary event center that will officially open on Sept. 14, and Island Books.
The wineries will offer tastings of at least two wines each, but you don’t have to drink to enjoy the evening. Local musicians will entertain the crowd, which was more than 500 people last year, and juried artists from both Mercer Island and the Seattle area will show a selection of fine handmade artworks. New additions to “Art Alley” along 78th Avenue Southeast include Mercer Island residents Andy Shanks and Lisa Nordale.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds go to support Mercer Island Youth and Family Services and Mercer Island High School scholarships. Wines poured will be available for purchase that evening at a 10 percent discount.
The musicians contributing to the ambiance will be Americana group Pineola, singer-songwriter and MIHS senior Sophie Feldman and the Colson Jimenez Trio.
The event is free and open to all ages, but for wine tasting, you must be 21 years or older. There will be several food options on site, including Mercer Island resident David Youssefnia’s Pastrome, and the event is also close to several shops and restaurants in Town Center.
Tasting garden admission is $25 in advance or $35 at the door, with $10 added for the “Meet the Winemaker” hour. For information, visit www.mercerislandartuncorked.com.
Artists at Art Uncorked
MIVAL Gallery
Boejack Designs
Brinkemaphoto- Caren Brinkema
Coco Beza – Patricia Deiparine
Driftwood Secrets – Bill Griffin
Earth and Clay – Stacy Murphy
IMP Wear – Tracy Krauter
Isabel Mirabeau Jewelry Design
JMJ Designs – Joni Johnson
Marianne Bond
Lisa Nordale
Marceil DeLacy
Mary Gunn Designs
Moondance- Paula Allegrini
Semilla Designs – Zena McCoy
Visualize Art – Louise Hankes
Urban Soule – Kim McCarthy
Outside the Box Creation
Encaustic Art
Food at Art Uncorked
314 Pie: steak pie, chicken pot pie, curry pie and more
Buns: gourmet natural burgers
Got Soup?: fresh, local, organic ingredients
Island Treats NW – S’mores, caramels, toffee and more
Pastrome: delicious and authentic knishes
Sweet Bumpas Ice Cream: fresh, homemade from scratch ice cream treats
