Utica Zoo’s 18th annual Wine in the Wilderness fundraising event is Saturday, June 3rd from 6 to 9pm at the Utica Zoo. New for 2017 is the Wine Enthusiast Ticket, featuring early entry at 4pm, wine-tasting education, and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Only 300 Wine Enthusiast Tickets will be sold.

Attendees will be able to sample and purchase New York State wines, including a limited edition “Red Panda Rosé” by Prospect Falls Winery. $2 of every bottle of Red Panda Rosé will be donated back to the zoo. Purchase a wine slushy from Ashley Lynn Winery, or sample beers from Saranac Brewery and Woodland Farm Brewery. You can look forward to live music by the band Simple Props. The first 2,000 attendees will receive a free commemorative Utica Zoo wine glass. Zoo admission and the following light snacks are included: garlic pizza bites, tomato pie, assorted cheese, pretzels, sausage & peppers, beef tips by 99 Restaurant, beet lemonade by Core Life Eatery, and Kettle Corn Bar. Get your face painted by Angela Johnson of BB Designs, or learn how to hula hoop with a member of Upstate Hoopz. The following vendors will be on site: Gyros from the Grapevine, Grassy Cow Dairy, Tibbitt’s Maple, Mr. Nutty, Mustard Seed, Huckleberry Hill Soap Co., and Oneida County Tourism. Wine in the Wilderness is a rain or shine event and you must be 21 or older with photo ID to enter. Sponsored by Business Machines & Equipment, Mohawk Valley Winery, Bank of Utica, PJ Green, and Townsquare Media. All proceeds benefit the Utica Zoo.

NYS Wineries: Ashley Lynn Winery, Crooked Lake Winery, Idol Ridge Winery, Lakeland Winery, Mohawk Valley Winery, Montezuma Winery, Pazdar Winery, Prospect Falls Winery, Stone Age Winery, Thousand Islands Winery, Victorianbourg Wine Estate, Venditti Vineyards, Villa Verona Vineyard, Yellow Barn Winery. Breweries: Saranac Brewery and Woodland Farm Brewery.

Click here to win two Wine Enthusiast Tickets. Brought to you by Business Machines and Equipment.

Ticket Details:

• Wine Enthusiast Tickets: $75 in advance. Only 300 will be sold. Includes early entry at 4pm (all other tickets enter at 6pm), wine-tasting education, live music by Rachele DePalma. Included food: arugula, goat cheese and olive on cucumber. Pear and goat cheese in phyllo with red wine reduction. Caramelized three-onion bruchetta. Crab and avocado crostini. Prosciutto wrapped asparagus. Endive filled with curried chicken salad and grilled corn. Assorted cheese. Strawberries. Garlic pizza bites and Pairwell wine sticks.
• General Admission: $35 in advance and $40 at the door.
• Utica Zoo Members: $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
• Designated Drivers: $20 in advance and at the door. Designated driver tickets to do not get a wine glass and will not be served alcohol at the event.

General Admission and Designated Driver Ticket Locations: UticaZoo.org/wine, Eventbrite.com, Utica Zoo Gift Shop, Bremer’s Wine & Liquor, City Liquors, Clinton Wine & Spirits, Ilion Wine & Spirits, Lichtman’s Wine & Liquor, Seneca Wine & Liquor, Valley Wine & Liquor, Village Liquors, and Yorkville Liquors.

Wine Enthusiast and Utica Zoo Member Ticket Locations: UticaZoo.org/wine, Eventbrite.com, and the Utica Zoo Gift Shop. Members can use their email as the promotional code on Eventbrite.com to get the member discount. If you run into any issues, please contact the zoo at (315) 738-0472.

Parking: Free parking at the Utica Zoo with free overflow parking at MVCC Payne Hall parking lot and the Parkway Rec Center. Shuttle buses will take you to and from the zoo at no cost from 5:30 to 10:00 pm. Attendees may be dropped off and picked up at the zoo. Free cab rides home brought to you by Martin, Harding & Mazzotti by calling 1-800-LAW-1010 the night of the event.

Zoo Hours: Please note that the Utica Zoo is open from 10am to 1pm on this day and will reopen at 4pm for the event.