The annual Wine and Food Tasting, put on by the Gabilan chapter
of Kinship Center, was held Saturday at the Paicines Ranch.
Paicines – San Benito County residents enjoyed local wines and tasty bites from area restaurants – and all in the name of charity Saturday night.
The annual Wine and Food Tasting, put on by the Gabilan chapter of Kinship Center, was held Saturday at the Paicines Ranch.
Event Co-Chairwoman Kris Waller said she was “very pleased” with the turnout. Of 1,200 tickets available, the event “didn’t quite” sell out. Still, Waller said it was successful,and a lot of money was raised for the Kinship Center, which provides adoption and foster services in Monterey and San Benito counties.
“We were very thrilled with this event,” Waller said. “The weather was one of the nicest we’ve had, and all the way around it was very successful.”
Waller said they did not know the exact amount the group had raised as of press time. She estimated that about $20,000 was raised from the silent auction on top of the money made from the tickets – which were sold for $50 each.
A record number of businesses were involved with the event this year, Waller said. Thirty-one restaurants and 28 wineries participated, so attendees were free to eat their fill and taste a wide array of wines.
People enjoyed themselves so much, Waller said, that when the event ended it was hard to get people to leave.
Still, Waller said she didn’t feel attendants forgot the true meaning of the event: the children.
“Our Kinship booth was pleased – there were quite a few people coming up and asking about adoption and foster care,” Waller said. “I want to thank everyone who went and all the contributors.”
