On the third Saturday of each month, the Riverwalk Merchants Association in Reno invites you to take a stroll along the Truckee River and neighboring streets while sipping wine. What’s not to love about that?
The Riverwalk Merchants Association was founded in the early 1990s to promote the riverwalk—officially called the Raymond I. Smith Truckee River Walk and named in honor of Raymond I. “Pappy” Smith. Smith, along with his brother, Harold, established Harold’s Club in Reno in 1935, which was considered the largest casino operation in the world until the 1960s. The Smith family donated money to churches, clubs and organizations, just as the Riverwalk Merchants Association does today.
The association is a coalition of more than 60 restaurants, museums, theaters, shops and other establishments, including Greater Nevada Field. The association hosts many events throughout the year to promote its members’ businesses and raise money for various organizations.
At the group’s monthly Reno Wine Walk, you can purchase a decorative wine glass for $30, which includes wine samples at participating locations.
I spoke with wine walk coordinator Ginger Graves, who works for Home Means Nevada Co. She listed several reasons the people attend the event.
“The wine walk experience is just a super-fun time,” she said. “It’s great for the locals to get out in the neighborhood, and some of these folks come every month. Other people love getting dressed up to match the monthly wine walk theme. Many are celebrating various milestones and life events, such as birthdays and anniversaries, and for some, it is a travel experience, with people planning their visits to Reno around the monthly wine walk events.”
Speaking of getting dressed up, past wine walk themes have included Barbie, pirates, ugly Christmas sweaters and cowboys. October’s theme is a “Wicked Wine Walk.” Optionally, some merchants dress the part.
“I can tell you at Home Means Nevada, we go big every wine walk,” Graves said. For September’s pirate-themed installment, her plans included a plank to walk and an appearance by Captain Jack Sparrow.
While the wine walk is themed, you do not need to dress up. Graves estimated that maybe half of attendees show up in costume.
While the wine walk is a lot of fun for the people attending and drinking wine, it is also important for the members of the Riverwalk Merchants Association.
“Our merchants often run sales, special deals and promotions on wine walk day,” Graves said.
A portion of the proceeds from September’s event were earmarked to support riverwalk beautification, cleanup and art installations. Among the local nonprofits that the Riverwalk Merchants Association has supported are Northern Nevada HOPES, the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, Eddy House and Arts for All Nevada. Nonprofits can request consideration to be a wine walk community partner on the association’s website (www.renoriver.org/wine-walk).
The reality is that the wine isn’t the most important part of the wine walk. If you are looking for fine wines, you may want to spend extra time in one of the restaurants, bars or pubs participating in the wine walk, and order yourself a nice glass.
“We have fun wines that people come back for repetitively, so we try to keep the same wines that we’ve always had,” Graves said. “Maybe we’ll bring in a one new one here and there, depending on the mood. The reality is people want to be out and about. The social interaction is what is important. It’s just a big party, and it always has been. It’s a gathering, and it’s a way to meet new people.”
Well, that is great advice, and I look forward to seeing all of you at a wine walk soon.
The next Reno Wine Walk takes place from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19. Tickets are $30. For tickets or more information, visit www.renoriver.org/wine-walk.