Wine Down Fridays at the Sierra Repertory Theatre

 What is a 'Wine down Friday'?

It's a chance to sample delicious wines from a variety of local vintners and then enjoy an amazing performance of Hairspray.

Each Friday, during the run of Hairspray, eight Calaveras County wineries will host a small tasting of their wines at 6 PM; February 11-April 1at the East Sonora Complex.

For more information call the box office:     (209) 532-3120

With the success of Wine Down Fridays in 2010, many participating wineries were eager to come back as well as new ones come on board.

Eight Calaveras County wineries will host a small tasting of their wines—a selection of whites and a reds--every Friday night at 6 PM during the run of Hairspray, February 11-April 1 at the East Sonora Theatre.

They include Hatcher Winery: February 11, Chiarella: February 18, Coppermine: Febuary 25, Solomon Wines: March 4, Newsome-Harlow Wines: March 11, Albeno Munari Winery: March 18, Laraine Winery: March 25 and Twisted Oak Vineyards on April 1. 

Because of the success of the program and the natural partnership, Newsome-Harlow Wines came on board as a Silver Season Sponsor and Twisted Oak donated engraved wine glasses for the tastings.

 “We are excited about the opportunity to sponsor SRT this year.  In times like these the arts often suffer.  We feel that SRT is such an important part of the community culture that we cannot afford NOT to step in and do our part.  Furthermore, the sponsorship programming that they offer combined with the fact that we share a common target demographic means our message to this important group can easily cut through all the noise.”

Pair that with one of Broadway’s hottest musicals and you have a match made in Heaven.

            “It’s been a win-win for our patrons and the wineries,” says Company Manager and Wine Down Fridays coordinator Lisette Sweetland. “The wineries get an intimate audience with our patrons while our patrons get the opportunity to experience wine unlike at any other venue.”

Each winery will present a sampling of wines (depending on the line-up) for a small tasting after which patrons will choose which glass of wine they would like.  The price per glass is currently set at $7.

            “Patrons not only get a great glass of wine, but the added bonus of the tasting,” says Sweetland. “Consider it more Bordeaux for your buck.”

In most cases, the vintners will be available to answer questions about their wines and otherwise mingle with guests.

Patrons won’t be able to buy bottles at the theatre that night, but are invited to cross the pond and visit the tasting rooms.

 “Wine making and theatre both are beautiful, creative, and exciting art forms that help us both express and understand so much about ourselves and each other.  Every opportunity you have to find out more, you should take it,” says Sweetland.