Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Wine A Little
You’ll feel better; the WAC promises
If you still have yet to visit the newly renovated Walton Arts Center, an evening where you can explore the venue freely while sipping wine might be the perfect excuse to check it out. The 17th annual Art of Wine Festival begins June 8 and incorporates three nights of casually sophisticated partying.
“It’s such a balance of having a really good time and getting to taste some wonderful wines, and really learning a little bit, if you want to, about your wines,” says Missy Kincaid, WAC vice president of development.
Patrons who may remember an event that felt crowded or cramped in years past can expect a brand new experience. The same amount of tables and tickets sold last year will be part of this year’s event but with all the new space — expanded lobby (Walker Atrium), expanded Starr Theatre and use of the Sudduth Garden Room on the east side of the building.
“I think the new space is really going to lend itself to the festival in a new way,” Kincaid shares. “When I think about people now up in the balcony lobby being able to look down into the Walker Atrium, but also look up and see Old Main, and enjoy that feeling and that vibe of the entertainment district here on Dickson Street, I’m just really excited about it.”
A celebration of vino and cuisine, Art of Wine offers guests a selection from all over the world, presented by brand ambassadors who can often speak to the flavor profile of the wine, the growing conditions of the grapes or the history of the vineyard where it was produced. Vendors come from the West Coast — California, Washington, Oregon — and from as far away as South Africa and France.
“I have vendors who say, ‘I need to make sure I have a really good bottle of wine for under $20, but if somebody wants to have a $65 to $80 bottle of wine, I have that as well. So we like to present a pretty broad offering,” Kincaid reveals.
That broad offering also comes in the form of three different ways to experience the festival. On June 8, the event begins with the Winemaker’s Dinner. A six-course meal created in the Bordinos kitchen (but exclusive to the festival) takes place on the Baum Walker stage, which is pulled out into the house to make room for guests to dine where Broadway stars perform. Each course has been thoughtfully paired with a J Vineyards & Winery pick, while the meal concludes with a taste of Dalmore Scotch.
“The wine dinner is one of my favorite events,” Kincaid gushes. “It’s always really impressive I think, because when you walk in, there are 40 tables, and there are seven glasses per person — the whole room sparkles because of the glassware, so it’s just a really beautiful setting.”
Friday and Saturday will consist of tasting events — the latter more geared toward those looking for exclusive, reserve bottles. But Kincaid says the most important thing for people to know is the Art of Wine Festival is actually one of WAC’s biggest fundraisers.
“A lot of people still don’t realize that Walton Arts Center is a nonprofit arts organization,” she says. Money from fundraisers like this event covers educational and children’s programming, but also some of the venue’s most beloved series.
“This is an important fundraiser for the organization so that we can continue to provide Colgate Classroom Series and the 10x10 Series and our Artosphere Festival that so many people enjoy and may kind of wonder, ‘How can you afford to do it?’ Well, we have some very generous funders in the area, but we also have events like the Art of Wine.”