September 6, 2007

31st annual Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival set for Sunday, Sept. 16

Voted one of the best festivals in San Jose, the 31st annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival is set for Sunday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Presented by the Almaden Valley Women’s Club, the festival will be held for the fourth year at Almaden Lake Park, near the intersection of Almaden Expressway and Coleman Avenue in San Jose’s Almaden community.

This free, family-oriented festival includes a juried arts and crafts show, premium wine and beer tasting, entertainment and a special children’s area. All festival proceeds are donated to the community as contributions to schools, charities and scholarships for local students.

Come hungry, as once again local community and school associations will be serving Chinese chicken salad, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheese steak sandwiches, sausage and pepper sandwiches, pizza, egg rolls, root beer floats, popcorn, fruit smoothes and more.

Local wineries will be pouring their premium wines, including Bargetto Winery, Byington Winery, David Bruce Winery, Cooper-Garrrod Estate Vineyards, Ventana Vineyards, Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery, Picchetti Winery, J. Lohr Vineyards, Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards and Leal Estate Vineyards. Two new wineries, Seghesio Family Vineyards and Fortino Winery, will be joining the festival this year.

The women’s club is also bringing back its popular beer garden, featuring ice-cold premium beers from local breweries such as El Toro Brewery and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery.

Plus, don’t miss the children’s area where the younger set can enjoy games, rides, crafts and an art exhibit featuring work by local children. Councilmember Nancy Pyle and the district attorney’s office will sponsor fingerprinting from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Entertainment is even hotter this year. Featured on the main stage will be Nuthin Fancy’s Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Seven Reasons, Cocktail Monkeys and Smurfy Brown Band. There will be music and entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

There also will be handcrafted work from over 85 artists and craftspeople at this juried show. These artists will be showing off their wood, ceramics, jewelry and other works of art.

The annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine is entirely organized by the Almaden Valley Women’s Club. Since 1965, the club has been committed to serving the needs of the Almaden community and those of greater San Jose, through funds raised at this annual festival.

More information about the Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival and the Almaden Valley Women’s Club is available at www.almadenwine.com.

Much work goes into the Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival. Those who make the festival a success include, from left, back row: Jeannine Henry, beverages; Corrin Degnan, volunteers; Tracey Chiappe, VIP; Sherry Bertolin, treasurer; Dawn Clarkson, parking and electricity; Rosemary Self, information booth; Kelly Dippel, children’s area; and Linda Bronson, administrator. Middle row: Sharyl Quinn, corporate sponsors; Jennifer Teixeira, co-chair; Lauren Wilson, festival chair; and Betty Newkirk, scheduling. Bottom row: Bonnie George, artists; Maureen Harrington, city liaison; and Kim Pertner, silent auction. Not pictured: Cindy Griffeth, equipment; Karen Bratcher, food booths; Sherri Penny, information booth; and Charlene Chavez, glasses.