Local Wine Events

Event ID #319011

Event Details

Sixteenth Annual Wine Over Water, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010

Tennessee’s premier wine-tasting festival benefiting Cornerstones, Inc.

 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – For the past fifteen years, the Walnut Street Bridge in downtown Chattanooga has been the site of Wine Over Water. This year's event is set for Saturday, Oct. 2 from 5-8 p.m.

 

Wine Over Water was created as the annual fundraising event for Cornerstones, Inc., Chattanooga’s only non-profit historic preservation organization. Over the past 15 years, Cornerstones has stepped in to help save more than 10 significant buildings in Chattanooga including the Central Block Building, the Strong Building, St. John’s Hotel and the Walnut Street Bridge itself.

 

Featuring more than 100 wineries with nearly 500 different wines, event-goers are able to explore a world of wine from one of Chattanooga’s most significant historical assets.

 

“We created Wine Over Water to support our mission of preserving Chattanooga’s architectural heritage and urban fabric; and also, more simply, to promote downtown Chattanooga,” said Cornerstones Executive Director Ann Gray.

In 1994, the Walnut Street Bridge was newly converted into a pedestrian bridge but downtown didn’t see many visitors and the entire waterfront project was only in the beginning planning stages. Cornerstones was one of the very first organizations that embraced downtown, the waterfront and the saving of the bridge.

 

The event has raised approximately $1 million since its inception and the funds are reinvested into saving local historically significant endangered properties.

“It seems fitting that this fundraiser for Cornerstones is on the Walnut Street Bridge,” said Gray. “We want people to recognize the significance of historical structures like the Walnut Street Bridge and take pride in what saving these structures has meant for our city.”

Ticket holders will receive a logo-engraved commemorative wine glass, an unlimited number of wine tastings and fresh baked bread from Niedlov’s Breadworks and Bluff View Bakery throughout the event. Several of Chattanooga’s finest restaurants will offer cuisine at an additional cost. Live entertainment will also be featured throughout the event.

 

“Wine Over Water celebrates so much of what’s great about Chattanooga – great music, fabulous restaurants and beautiful scenery,” said Gray. “People come for the wine, but the atmosphere is what makes it special.”

 

With more than 3,000 festival-goers last year, Wine Over Water has experienced unprecedented appeal from wine enthusiasts from all over the country. More than 70 percent of patrons come from out of the Chattanooga Metro area.

 

“The festival has grown into a huge destination event,” said Gray. “But we don’t want local Chattanoogans to miss out on this great event benefiting our own city.”

Patrons may purchase tickets online at wineoverwater.org beginning June 15. If purchased before September 17, patrons will take advantage of the Early Harvest rate and tickets will be $60. Two weeks prior to the event, ticket prices will increase to $65 and if tickets are available on the day of the event, the gate price will be $70.

All ticket sales benefit Cornerstones, Inc, Chattanooga’s only non-profit historic preservation organization. Cornerstones exists to preserve the architectural heritage and urban fabric of downtown Chattanooga. Visit cornerstonesinc.org for more information about its preservation mission.

 

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