Wine Over Water flows into weekend of events
Early-bird ticket deadline tomorrow; two of six events already sold out
Wine Over Water was the forerunner in local wine-tasting benefits when it launched 23 years ago.
Its scenic setting on the 1890 Walnut Street Bridge, in combination with the chance to sample multiple wines in one location with small plates from local restaurants, was a new premise that appealed to a broad range of wine enthusiasts. And the fact the event raised money for Cornerstones’ preservation of historic sites in Chattanooga — one of which had been the very bridge on which the event was held — was the equivalent of a good bouquet.
Since 1994, Wine Over Water has raised nearly $30 million that Cornerstones director Ann Gray says has been directly reinvested into the community for historical preservation. The anticipated event has continued to grow in number each year until organizers decided this year to turn the one event into seven.
Now Wine Over Water is expanding into events beginning Thursday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Oct. 8. They include the bridge event on Saturday, Oct. 7, as well as six off-thebridge events.
Amanda Carmichael, Wine Over Water publicist, says the addition of off-the-bridge events is a way of bringing attention to locations around Chattanooga that have benefited from the fundraiser. For example, a MLK Brewery & Bites Tour is scheduled Friday evening, Oct. 6.
“The MLK district was one of our projects last year and the year before. We will be able to highlight that whole district with this event,” she says.
“Wine Over Water is good for our mission because we are able to showcase these projects. Another early Cornerstone project was St. John’s Restaurant’s building. Feed Co. (where a yoga brunch is scheduled) was a historic building that’s been adaptively reused,” says Carmichael.
Money raised at next month’s Wine Over Water will help fund renovation of the Ross Meehan Foundry building, as well as be divided among other Cornerstone projects.
“The city and county gave Cornerstones that building in August. It was in dire straits in its unstable condition. We are working on the stabilization of that building before we can put it into someone else’s hands for reuse,” says Gray.
“It may be one of the older properties in our city — from 1875. It started as the Wason Car Works,” says Gray of the foundry beside First Tennessee Pavilion. In fact, she adds, the pavilion was originally part of the foundry as well.
All Wine Over Water events have separate tickets, allowing patrons to customize their party package.
“You can do one thing or you can do all things. It’s up to them to choose what they want to do for the weekend,” Gray explains.
Carmichael says the early-bird ticket discount of $75 ends Saturday for Wine Over Water on the bridge. From Sunday on, tickets will be $80, then go up to $85 if there are any left to sell on the event day.
Tickets may be purchased online at www. wineoverwater.org. For more information, call 423265-2825.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress. com or 423-757-6284.