What could be more fun than live music, art and wine??

The Downtown Issaquah Association will begin its second annual Downtown Issaquah Wine Walk Series Friday, Feb. 1.  Last year’s series was met with great success, so the association is expanding the event to four months this year.

The Downtown Issaquah Wine Walk is a first Friday evening event which supports the Downtown Issaquah Association, FISH, artEAST, Village Theatre and Issaquah Historical Museums. Live music, art happenings, refreshments and local boutique wines will be poured in various tasting locations up and down Front Street.  Front Street shops and restaurants are open to the general public during Wine Walk and all ages are welcome.

Front Street Wine Walk venues include ArtByFire Glass Blowing Studio, Illuminate Electrical, Museo Art Academy, artEAST Art Center, Opus Bank and First Stage Theatre.

Featured wineries include Issaquah’s own Estrin Estates, owned by Rich and Violet Estrin. The couple have been making wine since 2009, sourcing their grapes from three different Eastern Washington vineyards. They will be presenting 2009 Cabernet/Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

Amelia Bleu of Woodinville, just opened in Sept. 2012. Husband and wife Heather and Doug Roberts grow their grapes at their own vineyard near Lake Chelan. They grow four varietals: Barbera, Merlot, Cabernet/Sauvignon and Syrah. They will be pouring a 2009 Barbera and a red blend called Riverenza, a blend of Syrah, Cab and Merlot. They will have both the 2009 and 2010 Riverenza to sample.

Icon Cellars of Carnation’s owners, Jim and Ramona Garner, have been in business since 2010 after Jim spent time at Pleasant Hills Winery. Jim Garner is the winemaker, sourcing his grapes from the Elephant Mountain Vineyards near Yakima. They will be pouring two award winning wines; a 2010 Syrah, a bronze winner at last year’s Seattle Wine Awards, and a 2010 Tempranillo, which won silver at the 2012 Seattle Wine Awards. They will also be offering a 2011 Seraphina, a white blend.

Nardone Winery has been in business over 50 years, in Montalcino, Italy, (Tuscany) known for the Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy’s most famous and prestigious wines. The family imports the wine to the United States; their Poggio Nardone Brunello Di Montalcino was voted No. 1 of the top 100 wines in the world by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The family owns Montalcino restaurant in Issaquah. They will be offering a Merlot, Rosso Di Montalcino Poggio and Brunello Di Montalcino Poggio Nardone.

Bob Def of Northwest Cellars in Kirkland said three of its wines will be poured, and all will be for sale. They include a 2011 Chardonnay for $16, a 2008 Merlot for $19 and the 2008 Intrigue, a Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet-Franc blend at $28. Def started the winery in 2004, producing about 4,000 cases a year.

Northwest Cellar specializes in private labeling of wines, for corporate and personal gifts, nonprofit events, restaurants, hotels and special occasions. Northwest Cellars sources its grapes from 10-15 vineyards, mostly Horseheaven, Walla Walla and the Yakima Valley.

Redmond Ridge winery will be opening a tasting room in Redmond in April, but you can sample Wayne and Sarah Wheller’s wines at the wine walk. Currently based in Walla-Walla, they source their grapes from various vineyards in the Walla-Walla area. In business for two years, Wayne is the winemaker. The wines they will be serving are a 2008 Malbec, 2008 Cabernet/Sauvignon and a 2009 Riesling.

The music for this first wine-walk include Boadacious Ladyhood, back by popular demand. This trio of vibrant voiced chanteuses are a must-see in the Seattle cabaret scene. Enigmatica featuring James Masterson and Fred Hopkins from The Studebakers entertain with their easy-listening instrumental two-guitar duo act.   Megan Biegalski has been singing and performing jazz for over 10 years in the Pacific Northwest area and will be performing with Mike McGee. The Debutones are a group of veteran musicians playing an eclectic blend of country, folk, and bluegrass music, featuring tight harmony singing and stellar instrumental accompaniment.

At ArtByFire you will be able to view goblet making as master glass blower, Leonard Whitfield, shows off his collection of hand blown wine goblets. There will be studio demonstrations on how goblets are created utilizing traditional Italian glassblowing techniques that are over 300 years old. artEAST will feature a stitch exhibition, showcasing an expressive use of stitch imagery and stitch making.

The Downtown Issaquah Wine Walk Series is a rain, snow or shine event. Tickets are available online at www.downtownissaquah.com/wine-walk or at the Historic Shell Station. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the event and includes 10 one-ounce drink tokens. Check in starts at 5 p.m. at the Shell Station, 232 Front Street. You must be 21 to purchase wine tasting tickets. Will call for pre-paid tickets require identification for the name tickets were purchased under. Maps of tasting locations, plastic wine glasses, tokens and wristband provided at check in. Feel free to bring your own glass if you don’t want to drink your wine from a plastic glass. Wine to take home will be available for purchase at the Shell Station.

Additional dates are March 1, April 5 and May 3.