It was a full house at the 18th Annual Wine Festival on Saturday.
The Castlegar Sunrise 2000 Rotary Club hosted a successful and sold-out fundraising event at the Castlegar Complex. Between the attendees, winery representatives and volunteers, festival chair Alexia Turner estimates the evening brought out 300 people.
“People seemed to be having a really good time,” she said.
This year’s event featured 33 B.C. wineries, nine of which were new to the festival.
“Nine of them were new, they had never been here before, and … one of them, [La Casa Bianca Winery], this was their very, very first. They’d never ever been to an event like this before,” explained Turner.
She has already received requests for invites from three new wineries for next year as well. “Which is exciting.”
The evening also included a grand door prize.
Claira Gerrand was the lucky winner of a night in Penticton at the Sandman Hotel and a $50 gift certificate to the Mile Zero Wine Bar, both of which were donated for the event.
As of press time, the club was still waiting on some invoices for the event, so Turner couldn’t say exactly how much the festival raised, but she believes it was successful.
“It looks to me like it’s going to be a very worthwhile fundraiser for us,” she said.
Next year’s wine festival has already been set for Saturday, Mar. 24, the weekend before Easter.
Tickets will likely go on sale in early February, but Turner warns to get yours early as there are a limited number.
“Avoid disappointment by buying your ticket early.”