It’s the Eve of Wine-Down Downtown!

Tomorrow is the day we’ve all been waiting for!  The wines are packed and our partner businesses in Independence are ready. The event will kick-off tomorrow at 3pm and the starting location will be River Gallery, 184 S. Main Street.  There is a chance of rain tomorrow so bring an umbrella!  If its raining cats and dogs, we will use our trolley service to make sure you stay as dry as the Cabernet Sauvignons you’ll be sipping on.  As you wind down tonight, be ready to Wine Down tomorrow!  See you soon!

 

Vineyard and Trolley Added!

           

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!  Because this is a Wine-Down, shouldn’t we include a stop at a local vineyard??  BOOM!  We are excited to announce that we have received confirmation that there will be a trolley service taking participants out to Redgate Vineyard, a few miles outside of town, as one of the stops on Independence’s Wine- Down Downtown!   Redgate’s beautiful  vineyard and mountain range views add a perfect mix of countryside to the urban stops in downtown Independence.  Rustic shops? A picturesque vineyard?  Oregonians in February enjoying them all?  Only Wine-Down Downtown brings you this kind of perfect Pacific Northwest blend!

TICKETS are now available for $20/each at Mangiare Italian Restaurant and Artisan Treasures, two participating Wine Down Shops on Main Street in Independence.   They also will be available on the day of the event for $20 at the door.  We hope you are excited as we are about what this Wine-Down is shaping up to be!

Remember….

It’s not time to wind down, it’s time to WINE DOWN!

See you soon!

Wine-Down Announcement: Independence, Oregon (2/15/2014)

It’s that time of year again… Time for another Oregon State Enactus Wine-Down Downtown!  We are proud to announce that our fourth wine-down will be held in Independence Oregon (pictured) on February 15^th from 3pm-7pm.  A few members of our team are in Independence today working with small businesses owners in preparation for the event next month.  An official statement will be released soon to give you a hint as to what kinds of festivities, cuisines, and, of course, WINES to expect, and ticket purchasing information will also be available as soon as possible.  So if you’re looking to spice up your date night or are tired of attending the same ol’ baguette club every week, then grab a bright red Sharpie and mark off the afternoon of February 15^th on your calendar for OSU Wine-Down Downtown! And remember: It’s not time to wind down; it’s time to WINE DOWN!

What is Wine-Down Downtown?

Wine-Down Downtown is an initiative run by Oregon State University’s Enactus club.  Enactus is an “international organization focused on mobilizing university students to create economic opportunity for others while discovering their own potential.”  A Wine-Down is an event in which participants purchase a wine glass and stroll through a downtown area making stops at predetermined local businesses.  At each stop, participants sample a different local wine as well as enjoy hors d’oeuvres, talk with the business owners, and browse the shop’s product selection.  Sounds fun right?  But what greater good comes of this event?

This is where OSU’s Enactus Wine-Downs differentiate themselves.  Our team chooses Wine-Down locations in towns where the small business sector has been struggling.  These wine walks help guide people from the surrounding communities into their own neighbors’ businesses, thus providing these mom-and-pop business owners with free exposure while fostering a “shop local” mentality.  Furthermore, Enactus uses the proceeds from these Wine-Downs to help set up these small businesses for success.  Our students work with them to update and improve the businesses’ marketing materials and business plans.

You all have probably heard the quote:

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” 

Our Wine-Down efforts focus on the latter part of this quote, in that our goal is not only to create short-term excitement for shops, but to create long-term sustainable strategies to improve the success rates of small businesses throughout the state, while also providing our students with experience and skills that will set them up for success in their future professional careers.  We hope to see you soon at one of our Wine-Down Downtown events!