Milan Wine Walk Marks 10 Years Downtown

Downtown Milan’s Wine Walk marked its 10th anniversary April 25, drawing about 360 walkers downtown for wine samples, music, local business stops and community connection.

The sold-out event ran from 3 to 7 p.m. and featured 10 stops and 12 tasting samples, with check-in at The Center on Neckel Court.

Host locations included Pink Shamrocks, Emily Rose Imagery, Lavender Lane, Hungry Howie’s, Shadow Light Collective, The Owl, Fenders Bar & Grill, the American Legion, BHP and The Center.

Jessica Meingasner said Wine Walk gives people a reason to step inside businesses they may not usually visit.

“It also allows the businesses to host and showcase who they are and what they do, giving them time to actually interact with attendees,” Meingasner said. “Many of the businesses see a spike in sales the days after this event with people who circle back to shop.”

That downtown energy was easy to see throughout the afternoon. Jesse Nie said people were coming in waves, while Ryan Wilman at The Owl summed up the crowd there simply: “We’re hopping.”

At The Center, Milan Mayor Ed Kolar helped sell full bottles of wine, while Carrie Ritchie volunteered for her 10th Wine Walk, even though she is not a wine drinker herself.

Local organizations also helped keep the event running. Milan CrossFit helped serve at Fenders, while Knights of Columbus, Aid in Milan and Milan Seniors for Healthy Living helped pour at The Center.

First-time hosts helped broaden the event’s reach. Emily Rose Imagery welcomed walkers into the studio, while Shadow Light Collective used the event to introduce people to its wellness space in a low-pressure setting.

Dierdre Fudge of Shadow Light Collective said she knows it can be nerve-wracking to try a new yoga or wellness space for the first time.

“So I figured if I had the potential of getting 300-plus people in the door and they could get the vibe and see who we are, that half the battle was won already,” Fudge said.

Fudge said wine, French fries and conversation helped make the stop feel inviting and lighthearted. As someone more than seven years into sobriety, she said she also sees events like Wine Walk through the lens of balance and boundaries.

“I’m grateful to be at a place in my 7-plus-year journey where I can appreciate other people’s own stories and know our paths are all so vastly different,” Fudge said.

Other highlights included karaoke at the American Legion, music at The Center, Howie from Hungry Howie’s walking around and a steady crowd at BHP.

Wine Walk serves as a fundraiser for the Downtown Development Authority, but Meingasner said its impact goes beyond that.

“Wine Walk is such an interesting event because it allows us to showcase so much of what and who Milan is, while benefiting so many people,” she said.

Meingasner said people came from places including Lake Orion, Brighton, Rochester, Detroit and Perrysburg, with many groups making the event an annual tradition.

“It’s less about drinking and more about connection,” she said. “I am incredibly proud of Wine Walk. It brings people in from all over. People love this event, they make a tradition of it. It truly is remarkable to see the joy this event brings downtown!”