A few of last year’s Wine Walkers smile, mid-Wine Walk, from Blue Earth’s Main Street.

For 364 days out of the year, uncorking a bottle of wine is a way to unwind after a difficult day or relax with friends and family.

Each year, however, there is a day when Blue Earth area residents can simultaneously sip a Sauvignon and contribute to a charitable cause.

This year, Blue Earth’s sixth annual Wine Walk will make that possible on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

“It is a day for ladies to get out and have fun,” Julie Loge, a member of the Business Improvement Committee (BIC) Wine Walk Committee, summarizes. “And, it is important to remember this event benefits something every year.” 

How does it work, exactly? 

Loge explains each year local businesses around Blue Earth sign up to be a part of the Wine Walk route. They work in conjunction with Blue Earth Wine & Spirits to select a variety of wines to tempt participants.

Upon purchasing a ticket, Wine Walkers can stroll between local businesses to sample 27 individual varieties of wine.

Participants will discover some non-alcoholic treats as well.

“It’s mostly wines, but some people do iced coffees and sodas. A lot of places do little treats,” Loge says.

The Knights of Columbus will also provide Wine Walkers with heartier fare at a burger stand in Juba’s parking lot.

The BIC Wine Walk Committee, which includes Loge, Becki Steier, Emily Davis, Shellie Poetter and Marie Northwick, selected the Blue Earth Community Sprout Project as the beneficiary of this year’s Wine Walk.

Loge explains several Sprouts are in need of repairs due to vandalism and the ravages of inclement weather.

“The price of new Sprouts has more than doubled since we started this project,” she adds. “We need to raise funds to replace and put out some new ones.” 

Though the BIC Wine Walk Committee will not be announcing a specific fundraising goal, Loge does note, “We always like to do a little better than the year before.” 

This will be no small sum. According to Loge, to date BIC Wine Walk proceeds have generated $20,560 over the past five years.

Each year, those funds went to one of five worthy causes: Bucs 4 Hope in 2017, Interfaith Caregivers in 2018, Blue Earth Area Mentors (BEAM), the Blue Earth Pool and the Giant Welcome Center in 2019, the Faribault County Humane Society in 2020 and the Faribault County Women of Worth organization in 2021.

Loge shares the wine samples themselves are generously provided by its local business participants, thereby increasing the Wine Walk’s charitable revenue.

“It is a decent financial responsibility,” Loge says. “I’d like to give a shout out to the businesses who help us out with this and participate.” 

This year, participating Main Street businesses include 230 Fix Coffee & Ice Cream Shoppe, Armon Decorating, Average Jo’s Bar and Grill, BS Studio, the Blue Earth Community Library and Fossil Discovery Center, Blue Earth Custom Embroidery, Dikken’s Decorating, Inc., Gartzke’s Floral & Gifts, Headlines Plus, Heartland Embroidery, Michele’s Quilting and Sewing Center, Prairie Chic, Prevail Boutique, Rainbow Food Co-op, Rural Renaissance, LLC, Thrivent and Wild Soul Boutique.

Meanwhile, additional stops around town will include the Blue Earth Chamber at the Giant Welcome Center, The Blue House, Re/Max Total Realty, Twisted Vine Floral and Welcome Stitchery.  

As some stops are not within walking distance of others, the event will also provide a limo to chauffer participants safely between locations. The service, which will pick up Wine Walkers at Hamilton Hall, is generously provided by Bass Lake’s Carol Ward.

Pre-sales for Wine Walk tickets, available exclusively to participants over 21 years of age, closed on Saturday, April 30. However, Loge hints that a handful of tickets will be available at the door of the event for $35.

“We plan for 300 walkers and we have 325 tickets available,” Loge says.

She also shares a substantial door prize will be available to all participants.

“All walkers’ names, no matter when they buy a ticket, will go into that drawing,” Loge says.

The Wine Walk is made possible by local sponsorship. This year’s sponsors include American Family Insurance, the Business Improvement Committee, Davis Outdoor Services, ESCO-Electric Service Company, Farmer’s Daughters Kitchen, Juba’s, Minn-Iowa Agency, Inc., NAPA Auto & Farm Parts, Rollenhagen Tax & Accounting, United Hospital District and Winnebago Manufacturing.

Loge is looking forward to the event, which tends to be a community favorite each year.

“It’s just so enjoyable to see the streets of the town full, and people smiling and happy to be out with their friends and families,” Loge says. “There’s just a buzz and excitement around town.”