Let's Wine About Winter 2023

After a brief hiatus, Let's Wine About Winter, one of Niwot's most popular events, is scheduled to return to Niwot on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Suspended for two years, one of the many consequences of Covid, the Niwot Cultural Arts Association event is now in its sixth year. For those who have not heard about the event, Kristin Alger, who is coordinating the event this year, has an apt description. "I will describe it the way my dad's wife described it," Alger said. "It's trick-or-treating for wine."

To prepare for her role as coordinator, Alger has been shadowing Michelle Henzel, who served as co-organizer of the event for many years. Alger is a long-time resident of Niwot and a volunteer for a number of community activities, and when Henzel decided to step down, Alger was excited about the opportunity to take the reins.

"I really wanted to do something and so, being that I love wine with such a passion and I love volunteering around town, I thought it was the perfect combination," Alger said. "It's just fun. And it's a way to get people into town and see what's here and check out all the different stores and the restaurants and just have a good sense of what's here."

Throughout the day, registered Niwot businesses provide a small wine tasting to individuals who have purchased tickets to become part of the Let's Wine About Winter Club. "The last time we had it," Alger said, "we had 30-plus businesses. You don't have to be a restaurant to participate."

"Real estate agents do it, the vet offices have done it in the past. I've talked to the Wandering Jellyfish, the children's bookstore, and they said they wouldn't necessarily provide wine, but maybe they can do something fun, sparkling grape juice, and something that would make it fun for the kids too." Any Niwot business can participate, and all businesses are asked to provide a food sample with the beverages.

Alger has attended the event many times, and she has always enjoyed herself. One particular memory from Let's Wine About Winter, she said, happened the first year of the event. "Actually the first year we did it...you never know--it's Colorado. So you could have 70s or you could have a blizzard. And that first year it was a blizzard."

"It started out a little overcast," she recalled. "By the time we got halfway down Second Avenue you couldn't see to the train tracks, it was snowing so hard. But it was just so festive. It really made the title kind of stand out, you know, Let's Wine About Winter! And everybody had such a great time. Everybody was walking and it was just so fun to have this horrific blizzard, and have everybody out there doing their thing and chatting with each other. It really does bring a lot of people in from Boulder and Longmont. And it's fun to give everybody a couple of glasses of wine and people start chatting and people make a lot of good connections."

The tickets and the gift bag will be available for pick up on the day of the event at The Niwot Group at Compass, 7915 Niwot Road, the first stop on the tour. "We send every other person a different way," Alger explained. "So some start over in Cottonwood, some start over on Second Avenue, so not everybody is in the same place at the same time."

Tickets are $30 if purchased in advance, and $35 the day of the event. In addition to wine, individuals with a ticket will receive a mug and a coupon for $10 off at any of the participating stores or merchants. "So it costs you $20," Alger said, "for a day of fun and food and tons of wine."

The event is funded in part by the Niwot Local Improvement District. Tickets for Let's Wine About Winter are available from Eventbrite online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-wine-about-winter-in-niwot-2023-tickets-465223535117