Los Gatos Spring Wine Walk goes VIP with Gardenia partnership
New coffee shop will host premium tastings in outdoor patio setting
The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce is upping its game for this year's Spring Wine Walk with a VIP Experience that will give 200 ticketholders a sneak peek at a new business opening at an old downtown venue.
The annual wine walks already give downtown businesses a boost, says Chamber Executive Director Jennifer Lin.
“They bring over 17,000 people to town each time, and they always sell out,” she says. “Compare that to the average visitorship here, which is around 13,400 people for a weekend day. It brings in not just people who are ticketholders, but their families as well. These events have a very positive economic impact.”
The Spring Wine Walk is set for April 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. Besides all of the tasting sites located at downtown restaurants and stores, VIP guests will have access to premium wines on the outdoor patio and garden area of Gardenia Coffee, a new coffee shop set to open later this spring at 115 N. Santa Cruz Ave.
“The new owners are super excited to be participating in this event, as a way of introducing themselves to the community, and giving us a little taste of what's to come,” Lin says.
VIP guests will get to bask in the natural beauty of the lawn of the historic Victorian mansion that was most recently home to The Palms, and prior to that to Palacio, Trillium and The Chart House. From private tables, they'll be able to enjoy wines from at least eight premium labels, including Armitage Wines, Belle Glos,
Daou Vineyards, Faust Wines, Flowers Vineyards and Winery, Quilt Wines and Ridge Vineyards — as well as curated wine selections from Rootstock Wine Bar.
The VIP ticket also includes gourmet charcuterie boxes prepared by Table & Terrace, a Chamber member located in Campbell, along with a takeaway tote and some sweets, plus live music to add to the ambiance of a garden party.
“We hope that these wellknown labels will attract serious wine lovers who want to enjoy a top-level experience,” says Lin. “It's such a highly visible and beautiful space for a premium wine tasting.”
She hopes they can work out the logistics to include a coffee cart as part of the VIP Experience. “That would be the perfect way to build awareness of the new business, and to provide a taste of what they plan to offer.”
Tickets are $60 general, $120 VIP at Eventbrite.com. For a complete list of all participating wineries, merchants and restaurants, visit https://www.losgatoschamber.com/wine-walk.