Wine, disco and a good cause.
Those are the three aspects of the Rossland Rotary Club’s 25th annual Wine Tasting Festival event this Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Prestige Mountain Resort and the Miners’ Union Hall.
The evening starts at the Prestige Mountain Resort where people will enjoy regional wines and beer, appetizers by Gabriella's, a silent auction and door prizes.
The night shifts to the Miner's Union Hall later on as the infamous DJ Mike Cole will take people back in time to dance to the music of the disco era. Dress to the era of dance and colour is encouraged.
“Just imagine the hall full of dancers in shimmering polyester and hair of disco days,” said Louis Dionne, Rossland Rotary member and chair of the event committee.
Dionne was very enthusiastic about this year's change in the annual event with the addition of the dance.
"We listened to attendees from past years who said they wanted something to do after the tasting event, and we wanted something special for the 25th anniversary of the wine event, so our always creative and enthusiastic member Jon Marion came up with the idea of the disco dance,” said Dionne. “What's not to like about a disco dance?”
Poplar Grove winemaker Stefan Arnason will be bringing four of the winery's award-winning wines to the festival, including 2011 Reserve Chardonnay and 2009 Merlot.
The 2009 merlot has full aromas of raspberry, blueberry and cocoa. Ripe smooth tannins and balanced acidity underscore flavours of dark cherries, cigars and Okanagan sage.
Aged for 18 months in French oak and 18 months in the cellar prior to release makes this merlot ready to enjoy.
The 2011 Reserve Chardonnay was fermented in 100 per cent new French oak barrels for six months. Barrel rolling was used to incorporate the lees into the flavour profile to bring the nutty characteristics forward.
The result is a rich, fruit forward, well-balanced wine with lovely hints of nuttiness.
Event proceeds fund Rossland Rotary projects which include:
• fundraising for the Rossland Skateboard Park;
• temporary housing and essentials for Philippines and Haiti;
• funds to help with the Alberta flood;
• sending local exchange students to Germany and Italy;
• send local students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Program and the Adventures in Citizenship Program in Ottawa;
• scholarships to Rossland High School graduates; and
• support the Interact Club of Rossland, for their local and international projects.
Tickets are available now for the wine festival and dance at $70 per person, or purchase tickets now for the wine festival only $60 per person. Tickets are available at Powderhound in Rossland or from any Rossland Rotary Club member.
Contact Louis Dionne for more information at dionnelouis@hotmail.com or 250-362-3303.