LAKE COUNTY — More than 20 Lake County wineries will participate in the second annual “Wine & Chocolate” fundraising event on Saturday, Feb. 16, noon to 4 p.m. The activity will take place in an expanded venue at Mt. Konocti Growers cold storage shed, the same location as last year”s affair. Proceeds will support the domestic violence shelter project of the Lake Family Resource Center (LFRC).
Last year the first wine and chocolate event raised $17,000 for LFRC, with more than 400 attendees.
“That money and the money raised at the upcoming event will go entirely to support the domestic violence shelter project,” LFRC Executive Director Gloria Flaherty said. A shelter is desperately needed, Flaherty said, noting the only shelter available in the county is a transitional woman”s shelter in Clearlake, run by LFRC.
“In the last six months we have had an average of 12 residents each and every night. That is up from last year”s average of 11 and 10 two years ago,” Flaherty said.
Currently, when battered parents and their children, or men need shelter, LFRC works with area hotels and resorts to secure temporary housing. More than 4,000 beds are needed each year.
“I”m hoping in the next week or so after the wine and chocolate event to have a more concrete handle on what we need to raise for it. Architectural drawings are currently being prepared and we”re in negotiations for land right now with a donor,” Flaherty said.
She said the project has received “wonderful support” from the community in sponsoring the fundraising event. “Everything that people donate?ticket and wine sales, the box lunch donations, the silent auction all of it is going to the shelter 100 percent?Another exciting thing is we”ll have a jar there for folks in the trade, anyone who can assist in building the project can leave their information or make pledges,” Flaherty said.
Tickets are now available and may be purchased for $25 per person in advance from the participating wineries, the LFRC office in Lakeport, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville, the Kathy Fowler Dealerships and from Lakeshore Feed and Wild About Books in Clearlake. Tickets may be purchased on the day of the event for $30 each.
The event will feature Lake County wineries pouring wines that have been paired with gourmet chocolates by Sommelier Stephanie Green, the owner of Focused on Wine, a wine bar in Kelseyville. Selected wines from these wineries will also be available for purchase, with the proceeds benefiting the LFRC project.
Special activities presented during the afternoon will include a display of antique cars, a silent auction with wine, dining, travel, art packages, demonstrations of wine and food pairing and wine sensory evaluation.
Live music from the duo of Austin and Owens, flamenco and classical jazz guitarists will entertain while guests enjoy sampling the fine wines and chocolates. A Wine Country box lunch will be available for purchase for $8.
The event”s location is Mt. Konocti Growers, 2550 Big Valley Road, between Lakeport and Kelseyville. More information about Wine & Chocolate, ticket purchases, and sponsorships may be obtained from the Lake Family Resource Center, (707) 262-1611.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
