Image: Downtown Roanoke, Inc.

The shopping experience on the Roanoke Farmers Market was enhanced this summer by monthly cooking demonstrations by Leslie Thomas of the Culinary Institute at Virginia Western. Now, Downtown Roanoke, Inc. is hoping that enthusiasm will extend to a series of monthly events this fall that will feature free tastings of local, artisanal products.

“Cellar Door at the City Market” kicks off tomorrow evening from 4 to 7 p.m. in West Market Square (nearest to the Roanoke Weiner Stand).  It will feature wine tastings from Blue Ridge Vineyard, Virginia Mountain Vineyards and Villa Appalaccia. Also represented will be Blacksnake Meadery and Foggy Ridge Cider, both of Carroll County. Local cheeses and artisan breads will be available, as well.

Wrist bands cost $1 per person, but the tastings are free! Wine by the glass or bottle will also be for sale, and there’ll be live reggae-funk beats by The Lazy Man Dub Band. If you miss this week’s event, don’t worry – DRI will be repeating it on the first Thursday in October and November. Some additional wineries and food producers may be added for the later events, if they are interested.

Downtown Roanoke, Inc. President Sean Luther said he hopes people who attend Cellar Door at the City Market will also take advantage of the Art by Night gallery tour, which runs concurrent but lasts longer into the evening. Also, this week’s Cellar Door happens on the same night as Party in the Park in Elmwood Park. So make a big night of it!