As the thermometer inched up toward a pleasant 74 degrees Saturday, about 1,000 people descended on the streets of Los Gatos to taste the wares of local vintners, during the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce’s annual Wine Walk.
“It was fabulous,” said Chamber Executive Director Catherine Somers. “People were very excited.”
The event featured 30 host businesses and 30 wineries, she said, describing how, from 1-4 pm attendees meandered shop-to-shop, tasting wine inside each establishment.
Businesses revealed they had quite the fruitful day, sales-wise, she added.
But according to Somers, the event had a slightly different vibe than in the past. She attributes this to the all-out party atmosphere of the recent Thursday Promenades events, which shut down the entire main N. Santa Cruz Avenue drag with revelry and music.
“The Promenades, over the summer, were so successful and loud and raucous,” she said, “whereas the Wine Walk was a little quieter, a little more sophisticated.”
Felicia Hernandez, 29, from Santa Clara, met up with her friend from Campbell, Kendra Antonella, also 29, so they could experience the in-person afternoon festivities together.
They described it as a “breath of fresh air” after long months of lockdown, and said they were enjoying the pleasant downtown environment.
This sort of response to Wine Walk is exactly what the Chamber was going for, Somers explained.
“It’s an event where you can celebrate all that Los Gatos has to offer,” she said. “Los Gatos is known as a gem in the foothills of the Silicon Valley.”
One thing that was different this time, Somers added, was ending Wine Walk an hour earlier than usual, in order to encourage people to frequent local restaurants and bars.
“What was great about it is, normally we have it go until 5 o’clock,” she said, adding some local restaurants reported experiencing a rush—this year under the new schedule—at that time. “Our idea worked.”
