Wine Fest names beneficiaries for 2007

Jace Eddy (center), a patient at The Children's Hospital, poses with the winning bidders of her original artwork poster created by Jace for Wine Fest 2006. The Fort Myers Rotary Club has named The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida as the primary beneficiary and Hope Hospice and Community Services as the secondary beneficiary for its fourth-annual signature event, Southwest Florida Wine Fest 2007.

The Southwest Florida Wine Fest Gala will be hosted at the Bonita Bay Club on Saturday night, November 10, with Chef Vintner Dinners hosted in private homes throughout Lee and Collier counties on Friday, November 9. The 2006 Wine Fest netted more than $178,000 in proceeds for charity and nearly $500,000 since its inception in 2004.

"This year we hope to raise $225,000 for local children's charities all while enjoying the fruit of the vine and outstanding food from our area chefs," said Dr. Steve Machiz, Founding Chairman of Wine Fest.

The Southwest Florida Wine Fest Gala and auction on Saturday evening will feature a global wine theme. The Bonita Bay Group's Corporate Wine Director Hans Holzmann will select an array of wines from some of the most prominent wineries around the world. Some of the wines will include Darioush and Showket from Napa, Hamacher and Domaine Serene from Oregon, Tikal and Catena Zapata from Argentina, Bodegas Muga and Finca Sandoval from Spain and more from France, Italy, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Chile.

Bonita Bay Corporate Sommelier Hans Holzmann takes a break among boxes and cases of wine sorted for the Southwest Florida Wine Fest Chef/Vintner dinners last year. Plans are being made for this year's event planned for November 9 and 10. In addition, Bonita Bay Club Director of Operations and acclaimed Chef Eric Truglas and more of the area's finest chefs will present a delectable array of

food to complement the wine selections.

Silent and live auctions will

feature special wine packages, trips, jewelry and exclusive items

not available

in stores.

"A wine festival is the best way to celebrate fine and unique wines," said Holzmann. "It happens to be something we specialize in, exploring and celebrating fine wine. The fact that this created so much for charity makes the grape all that much sweeter."

The proceeds of The 2007 Southwest Florida Wine Fest will benefit the building of The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida and Hope Child and Teen Care programs of Hope Hospice.

Grandeur Magazine is Southwest Florida Wine Fest's magazine media sponsor.

Tickets for the Chef Vintner Dinners are limited and no more than 500 tickets will be available for the Saturday night Wine Fest Gala.

For more information, go to www. SouthwestFloridaWineFest. org, or call the Rotary Office at 239-332-8158 to secure your tickets now, or for sponsorship information.