Aptos Village businesses have announced they will host the first-ever Aptos Wine Wander, a fundraiser for Aptos-area elementary schools held in partnership with the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association, on Saturday, May 14 2016.

The inaugural event, which will be 1-4 p.m., will feature wines from 10 fine Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries. Participating wineries include: Armitage Wines, Bargetto Winery, Bottle Jack Winery, Mindego Ridge Vineyard, MJA Vineyards, Nicholson Vineyards, Sante Arcangeli Family Winery, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Windy Oaks Estate Vineyard & Winery and Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery.

Tastings will be offered inside Aptos Village businesses, located on Soquel Drive and Trout Gulch Road. Wine Wanderers will be encouraged to walk business-to-business to explore the shops and sample wine. Wine tastings will be offered at Cantine Winepub, Warmth Company, Mulberry Gallery, Armitage Wines, Talmadge Construction, Gravity Saddlemaker, Jet Set Bohemian, Claudia DeMaranville Allstate, Aptos Village Garage, Print Smith and Epicenter Cycling.

“The Wine Wander is one of several new events local businesses will be hosting to remind Aptos residents of the wonderful services that are available here in the ‘heart of the Village’” said Claudia DeMaranville, agency principal for Allstate Insurance, a longtime Aptos Village business. “The Aptos Village is a diverse shopping area that allows our residents to buy local and receive fantastic customer service close to home.”

Barry Swenson Builders, Appenrodt Commercial Properties, Testorff Construction, Aptos Village Merchants, Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association and Times Publishing Group are sponsoring the event.

“We are excited to be a part of this whimsical, community-oriented event that draws people into locally owned businesses while showcasing the amazing wines made in our region,” said Mary Gourlay, Development Project Manager at Barry Swenson Builder, which is developing the Aptos Village Project.

Proceeds from the Aptos Wine Wander will benefit Mar Vista, Rio del Mar and Valencia Elementary Schools. Tickets, which include a commemorative glass, are $35 in advance and are available online through the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association, http://scmwa.com/event/aptos-wine-wander. Tickets will be $40 at the door.