Organizers of the Portage Wine Walk later this month are encouraging wine lovers to purchase tickets now to be able to sample a variety of red and white wines at 19 different Portage businesses.
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GALLERY: Portage Wine Walk 2021 draws 300 downtown
Caitlyn Mowatt, De Forest, waits for bartender Shawn Jensen to pour her wine Friday during the Portage Wine Walk at Prairie Flower Beads in downtown Portage. Three hundred people bought tickets for the sold-out event, which raised funds for the Portage Chamber of Commerce and brought largely unmasked crowds to the 16 participating local businesses despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Jensen, who works at Cottonwood Bar and Grill, said he's volunteered for the Wine Walk every year for more than a decade. On this year's event, he said, "It's great. I don't mind wearing a mask ... I'm optimistic and so is everybody else."
Sherry Douglas, left, co-owner of Big Dog Saloon, and volunteer Jenny Dornacker pour wine for Portage Wine Walk participants Friday at the saloon. Three hundred people bought tickets for the sold-out event, which raised funds for the Portage Chamber of Commerce and brought largely unmasked crowds to the 16 participating local businesses despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Brad Conrad, marketing director for the Chamber, said participants were "encouraged" but not required to wear masks when not eating or drinking inside a business. Executive Director Marianne Hanson said she was excited about the Wine Walk. "It gets people into all of our shops and our stores, our businesses. They can showcase what they have to people in the community and people who are coming from other communities," Hanson said.
Portage sisters Kendra Dorn, left, and Courtney St. Martin drink wine Friday with their "favorite aunt," Jean Gavinski, Portage, at Bee Alive Yoga in downtown Portage. Three hundred people bought tickets for the sold-out Wine Walk, which raised funds for the Portage Chamber of Commerce and brought largely unmasked crowds to the 16 participating local businesses despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The sisters and Gavinski, among the few participants who wore masks between drinks, all said they were vaccinated and thought most people were being safe. "It's time to get out and get moving," Gavinski said.
