Wine Committee - Home Wine and Beer Makers Festival
In 2002 members of the CLPA Auxiliary created a unique fund-raiser called "The Lake County Home Wine Makers Festival." Its first "Winefest" -- as it came to be called -- took place in downtown Kelseyville the following year. The event has grown each year, and in 2011 netted more than $11,000 which the Auxiliary contributed to fund Clear Lake Performing Arts programs. The scope of this event prompted the Auxiliary to form what is, in effect, a subcommittee called the "LCSA Wine Committee" whose members solicit donations of wine grapes from local growers, recruit home wine makers from throughout Northern California and generally strive to attract and accommodate the hundreds of visitors to this annual event, taking place in 2014 on Saturday June 21. The wine committee encourages aspiring amateurs to join in pursuing this hobby and, in fact, maintains a central facility equipped with all necessary equipment and supplies for the use of their members.
The 2014 Lake County Home Wine and Brew Makers Festival (formerly the Art & Wine In The Park) will take place on Saturday, June 21 from one to five pm at Library Park in Lakeport. Amateur wine makers from throughout Northern California are invited to participate by pouring samples of their efforts for public judging. Home brewers are likewise urged to do the same. Judging will also be done by panels of industry experts with ribbons being awarded to the winners. Lake County's top commercial wineries will also be on hand, permitting attendees to discover in one place the best that our county has to offer. Artists and Artisans will also be featured at the event, as well as other vendors. The Winefest (as it's come to be called) is sponsored as a major fund-raiser by Lake County Symphony Association, and is now in its twelfth year. All proceeds go to support LCSA's music programs, including scholarships, in-school music programs, a youth orchestra and the much-heralded Lake County Symphony.
The Wine Committee encourages those interested in pursuing this hobby to contact Conn Murray (707) 277-7076, [email protected] or Ed Bublitz (707) 277-8172, [email protected].
Admission to the Winefest will be through purchase of a wine glass at the gate for $25, or $20 in advance.
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