The Women’s Wine and Chocolate Walk, organized by Americus Mainstreet, was held February 22. 13 Local businesses provided wine tastings along with chocolates from Koinonia Farm to participants ranging from locals to out of towners. Three’s Company Too provided a favorite, Anthony D’or’s Twenty Toes No Clothes.

The Americus-Sumter County Arts Council gallery served Blanc Dubois, a dry white wine, with many tasters getting hints of grapefruit. Police Chief Mark Scott served Rose at Southfitters, and at Code Black ATL, Sumter County NAACP President Eugene Edge and Americus City Council member Daryl Dowdell served blackberry wine, chilled and at room temperature. At The Spot, guests enjoyed music with their wine, with Mike English performing piano, guitar, and vocals, and Curry Bushnell on the drums.

Four college friends, Lindsey Young, Nicole Cook, Morgan Whaley, and Rebecca Jones used the wine walk as an opportunity to reunite.

Young is from Americus. “I was born and raised here, and I’m lucky enough that the people I met in college said yes to coming, and some even live here still, and we just had a fun day out.”

Cook gave the peach wine, Twenty Clothes no Toes, at Three is Company as her favorite. Lindsey also enjoyed the wine at Three is Company. “But I liked the Merlot because I’m more of a dry red.”

Cook shared what she enjoyed about visiting the town. “I love the historical feel of Americus.” She described seeing the inside of The Windsor. “It’s beautiful. I love that, and that you guys have the whole square to walk around. It’s really nice.”

Morgan Whaley shared her favorite part of the experience. “Just the friendship.” She expressed appreciation for the camaraderie with other women, recalling spontaneous conversations about kids or parenting. “Everybody’s so encouraging.”

Young notes improvements in the town. “For Becca and I, who have known Americas for 30 odd years, we like how much they’re putting into downtown and the atmosphere and just bringing constant like activity to it.”

Tracy Smith and her friend Stephanie Harvey were waiting for the line at Wolf Creek to shrink. Smith shared their experiences. “So far it’s been good.” She encourages others to come. “More people should get out, because it wasn’t expensive, it was like $45 dollars.” She noted it came with a bag and cup, and also an opportunity to shop.

Harvey also enjoyed spending time down town. “It’s just nice to come down here and see what’s new, [because] they have added on some new stores.”

Virgilia Edge and her friend Carnesha Mosley also enjoyed the walk. Edge also considers Twenty Toes no Clothes her favorite wine, and shared their experiences. “It’s been great. I have enjoyed every place I’ve been. The atmosphere has been amazing, and it’s just so good to just be outside in Americus’s downtown, and to see the community come out and support such an amazing event.”