Check out the 6th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival in Des Moines, Washington. The event begins March 5 and continues March 6 and 7. The event proceeds will go to the Rotary Club to fund their charitable projects and activities. For more information visit the website.

A visit to Charleston will give you the opportunity to participate in the BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival. This event is scheduled from March 4 – 7. For details and ticket information, check the website

Will you be in Portland, Oregon this weekend? On March 6, there will be a Classics Wine Auction. This auction will help five local charities involved with children and families. More information is available at http://www.classicwinesauction.com/.

If you can’t visit a festival or auction this weekend, how about trying a new varietal wine or perhaps a wine from a winery you haven’t had before.

Cheers! Kathy

The Julia Cekala Charitable Foundation is sponsoring their 3^rd annual wine event on Friday, March 12^th from 7 to 11pm.  The event will be at Christina’s in Foxborough (Foxboro), Massachusetts. The event includes wine tasting, food, music, dancing, raffles and a silent auction. Tickets are $45 per person.

The Julia Cekala Charitable Foundation was created to remember Julia, a nine year old with many medical problems but a love of life. Visit the foundation’s website to learn more about Julia.

If you want to volunteer or donate to raffles and auctions, visit The Julia Cekala Charitable Foundation website.

Cheers! Kathy

This weekend, plan a trip to your neighborhood winery and discover a new wine or new release. Ask questions about how the wine was made, where the grapes were sourced from, about pruning and bud break. Enjoy tasting wines and perhaps purchase a bottle to take home with you to enjoy with dinner during the week.

Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Bryan, Texas is offering a Wine Appreciation class, “Wines and Chocolates” on February 28 at 3pm. Reservations are necessary and the cost is $19.95 per person. Classes last an hour & a half and include light cheeses.  Most classes have five to eight wines so Messina Hof suggests lunch at the Vintage House. Make reservations for lunch.

On February 28, Three Fox Vineyards in Virginia is having a Three Fox Piano Lounge and Burger BBQ between 2 and 5 pm. Music and grilled burgers are a great combination.  Burger plus potato chips are $5 and with the purchase of wine, half-price.

Want to enjoy wine and dinner, then go to Foti’s Restaurant in Culpeper, Virginia. On February 28, Chris Pearmund of Pearmund Cellars, Winery at La Grange and Vint Hill Craft Winery will be hosting the dinner at 6pm. Cost is $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Call 540-829-8400 for reservations.

Barrel Oak Winery offers a variety of events almost every week. Check out their events for February 27 and 28^th. This weekend’s events include A Paws For The Cause: Charitable Chili Over A Dog At Bow, Haitian Relief on Saturday (10% of every bottle sold goes to Haiti relief). Other activities at the winery include a watercolor exhibit, music and the opportunity to purchase jewelry. Be sure to check the days and times.

Check with wineries for details of their events. Enjoy a relaxing visit to a winery this weekend!

Cheers! Kathy

Check out the 16^th Annual Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience in Minneapolis that will be held February 18 to the 21. This annual event will include wine seminars, chef demonstrations, book signings and a cake competition. What a great way to spend a cold winter weekend. Tickets are available online.

On February 20, the Anderson Valley Winegrowers will have the 5th Annual International Alsace Varietals Festival in Boonville, California. Participants can choose to attend the Technical Conference, a Grand Tasting and the winemakers dinner. Designated driver tickets are also available.

Remember to check out the wineries in your own backyard for events and as always check out Wine Trail Traveler’s featured partners events.

Enjoy the weekend!

Cheers! Kathy

There are a couple of festivals scheduled for the last weekend of February. In Oregon, wine and seafood lovers will discover the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival. This year the theme of the festival is “The Grape Wild West.” The festival starts on Friday, February 26 and ends Sunday, February 28. Depending on the day you choose to visit the cost of the tickets vary between $5 and $15. For more information visit the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce website.

In Florida, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival is scheduled from February 25-28, 2010. This is a popular event as many events have been sold out, however a few of the events still have tickets available. To find out what events are still available, visit their website.

Have a great time planning a visit to Oregon or Florida!

Cheers! Kathy

Are you still contemplating traveling a wine trail this weekend? Here are three more wine trail with special events for the weekend.

Ohio
Vines & Wines Trail
February 12-13, 2010
Chocolate is for Lovers

New York
Niagara Wine Trail
February 12, 13, 14, 2010
Be Mine with Wine

Indiana
Indy Wine Trail
February 13-14, 2010
A Romance of Wine and Chocolate

If you are looking for another alternative way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this weekend be sure to check out the events that our  winery partners offer during the year.

Cheers! Kathy

Enjoy this weekend by participating in a Valentine’s Day Weekend event. Below are three events but there are many others to be discovered!

February 13-14
8th Annual Mardi Gras
Cayuga lake Wine Trail
New York

February 12-14
Texas
2010 Wine Lovers Trail

February 13-14
Pennsylvania
Brandywine Valley Wine Trail

Different chocolate and wine events at seven wineries

Cheers! Kathy

While I’m not sure how the weather will be in Texas this weekend, it may be better than the major storm threatening the east coast of the US. With that in mind today’s blog is about a Texas wine trail event in the heart of Texas. This annual Way Out Wineries Mardi Gras Road Trip involves eight Texas wineries. Included in the event are Cajun-style food and wine pairings, beads and music. At every winery, participants will be able to draw a doubloon from the treasure bag. Doubloons can be redeemed toward merchandise at the Texas WOW wineries.

The Mardi Gras Road Trip takes place Friday thru Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Tickets: $20 plus tax

For more information about the Mardi Gras event, visit the website.

Anyone wishing to learn more about some of the participating wineries can read reviews on Wine Trail Traveler.

Cheers! Kathy

Several Canadian wineries are sponsoring the Eat, Drink & Give Event on February 9, 2010. The event is held at the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto beginning at 6:30 pm. Other contributing organizations are international wineries and restaurants. Wines and foods are donated to this event.

The proceeds will benefit Doctors Without Borders and will be used for the needs of Haiti. According to a press release, “Eat, Drink and Give is a small group of food and wine lovers in Toronto brought together by their support for local products.  They have taken the opportunity to combine their common passion with the idea of helping Haiti recover from the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.”

Tickets and more information are available at http://eatdrinkandgive.com/ . Let’s help by filling the Roy Thomson Hall on February 9. Also, if you have wines or food to donate contact the Eat, Drink & Give organization.

Some of the Niagara wineries involved in this event include wineries we have visited. Those we visited and wrote reviews about include Southbrook Vineyards, Château des Charmes, Vineland Estates Winery, and Cave Spring Cellars.

While in the area for this event, take the opportunity to enjoy a taste of a “true” Icewine for which Canada is renowned.

Cheers, Kathy

If you will be in Temecula, California for Valentine’s Day, consider making reservations at Thornton Winery. This dining specialty will include a table for two with a rose for your sweetheart. Price is $85 per person with discounts available for club members. The price includes a choice of seating locations, live music and a gourmet dinner. The three course dinner also includes a passed hors d’ oeuvres tray. Wines included will begin with a Thornton Brut and follows with Chardonnay, Sangiovese and a late harvest Zinfandel with dessert. No matter when you visit Temecula, Thornton Winery is a delightful winery to visit. To discover special events, visit their website event’s page.

Cheers! Kathy