For Immediate Release
April 12, 2011
Contact: Mike Finney
Phone: (480) 897-3331
Verde Valley Wine Trail Rolls out the Barrels for the 5K Great AZ Grape Stomp
Cottonwood, Az - The Great Arizona Grape Stomp 5K Fun Run comes to the Verde Valley on Saturday, October 1st. This second of four Grape Stomps statewide is a fun way to make a tour across Arizona enjoying the fresh air and unique landscape and then finish your day resting, eating, and tasting some terrific Arizona wines in Old Town Cottonwood. Participants will receive a Grape Stomp t-shirt, a goody bag, and a logo wine glass good for specials deals on wine tasting after the 5K.
Everyone can enjoy a “Taste of Historic Old Town Cottonwood” with Cottonwood’s four tasting rooms, gourmet food shops and restaurants that offer great local wines, beer, olive oils, cheese, chocolates, and gelato. Visitors can browse the antique, art, book, and specialty stores, and Inn’s, all within a few short blocks.
Along with race-day wine tastings, Old Town Cottonwood is hosting a Verde Valley Wine Trail Painted Barrel Artist Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce and the Verde Valley Wine Trail commissioned area artists to paint wine barrels supplied by local wineries and the results are really fun unique works of art.
“The artists turned the barrels into canvases and worked with hosts to design, sketch, paint or sculpt a unique painted barrel,” explains Lana Tolleson, Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. The completed Painted Barrels were placed at local sponsor businesses. The Painted Barrels have become a fixture throughout the Verde Valley.”
From 10am-2pm on October 1st, visitors can see over 10 of these Painted Barrel sites in Old Town Cottonwood, the artists will be available to discuss their barrel designs and artwork. Visit at least 5 Old Town sites to be entered for a chance to win a fantastic Verde Valley Staycation. Visit at least 10 barrels, and be entered twice. Details at http://vvwinetrail.com/artistdays.html
This fully pampered Staycation prize includes a night for two at The Annabel Inn plus a welcome basket chock full of Dionysian wine from the Wine Cellar, Pillsbury wine, Old Town Center for the Arts' performance tickets, an Art Glitter Institute starter kit, imported olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar from Verde Valley Olive Oil Trader, an art print from The Manheim Gallery, RIOT and Crema Cafe gift certificates, and more!
5K Grape Stomp participants will receive barrel location information in their race bag. Any other visitors coming for the fun can pick up barrel location pamphlets at the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce or any of the participating Old Town Painted Barrel Artist Day locations in Old Town Cottonwood.
At each participating Old Town Painted Barrel Artist Day location, visitors can meet the artist and collect a unique artist card featuring that Painted Barrel and artist. After visiting at least 5 of these barrel locations, bring the artist cards over to The Annabel Inn, 611 N. 7th Street in Cottonwood to be entered into the Staycation drawing. Collect at least 10 unique artist cards to be entered twice.
OLD TOWN PAINTED BARREL ARTIST DAY INFO YOU NEED TO KNOW:
• Date: October 1, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Cost: Free
• Location: at the following Old Town Cottonwood Painted Barrel Locations
o Pillsbury Wine Company featuring artist Joan Bourque
o Ledbetter Law Firm featuring artists Beth Detwiler, Rita Elkins, Teal Sullivan, Rita
Childers
o Crema Café featuring artist Kelley Foy
o Cottonwood Economic Development Council featuring two different barrels by artist Kyla Allen
o Art Institute Glitter featuring artist Barbara Trombley
o Rendezvous in Old Town featuring artist Sallie Cross
o The Manheim Gallery featuring artist Leo Shakespeare
o Old Town Center for the Arts featuring artist Ty Eaton
o The Annabel Inn featuring artist Joan Bourque & Annabel Sclippa
o Jerome Olive Oil Traders artist not present
Details on the Painted Barrel Public Art Project and all 40 Verde Valley artists at: www.vvwinetrail.com/painted_barrels.html.
Proceeds from The Great Arizona Grape Stomp 5K Runs benefit the Arizona Wine Growers Association which serves grape growers and winemakers in Arizona, allying its members for representation, promotion and education. The association strives to advance the sustainable growth and production of authentic Arizona-grown wines.
“The Stomp is an easy and fun way to support Arizona wines. Whatever your fitness level, enjoy a run in our beautiful Historic 89A setting in the lush Verde Valley. And there’s plenty to stay and see,” says Casey Rooney, City of Cottonwood Director of Economic Development. “The Painted Barrels, wine tasting rooms, local shops and restaurants, and the city’s annual Rhythm and Ribs Fest kicks off the same day.”
The Verde Valley Grape Stomp has expanded to include a Pick-Up-Packet-Pasta-Party with live music on Friday, September 30th from 5-8pm at the Crema Cafe Courtyard in Historic Old Town Cottonwood at 917 N. Main St., Cottonwood, AZ 86331. The $7 pasta dinner is optional and open to runners, supporters and the public. Runners can also pick-up registration packets on race day at Crema Café from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Register online now. Race space is limited.
RACE INFO YOU NEED TO KNOW:
• Race Date: Saturday, Oct.1, 2011 at 8:00 a.m.
• Location: Cottonwood, AZ
• Entry Fee: $35. Proceeds support growing AZ wineries.
• Online Registration: active.com
• Check-in and pasta-party-packet-pick-up: Friday, Sep. 30th, 5pm - 8pm at Crema Café, 917 N. Main St., Cottonwood, AZ 86326
• Same-day check-in: Saturday, Oct. 1st from 6:00 to 7:30 a.m. at Crema Café.
• Starting Line: at the Lions Club Park on the corner of Main Street and Willard Street. Be there by 7:30 a.m.
Information on the Verde Valley Wine Trail, the Painted Barrels, and the Great Grape Stomp is available from the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce at 928-634-7593
1050 E. Southern Ave. Suite C-3
Tempe, AZ 85282