Festival at Sandpoint hosts annnual Wine Fest
(Courtesy photo) The Festival at Sandpoint’s annual Wine Festival at Sandpoint will be held Saturday, April 27, at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. The annual fundraising event starts at 5 p.m., featuring wine tasting, musical entertainment by Browne Salmon Truck, a five-star gourmet prime rib and planked salmon dinner, exciting raffle opportunities and a special selection of silent and live auction items.
Sandpoint folks know that The Festival at Sandpoint takes place in August but the Wine Festival at Sandpoint takes place on Saturday, April 27, at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.
The annual fundraising event starts at 5 p.m., featuring wine tasting, musical entertainment by Browne Salmon Truck, a five-star gourmet prime rib and planked salmon dinner, exciting raffle opportunities and a special selection of silent and live auction items. Following tradition, The 2019 Festival at Sandpoint poster artist will also be revealed during the festivities, and all attendees are automatically entered in a free drawing to win the grand prize, 2 Festival at Sandpoint season passes. Proceeds will benefit the non-profit Festival’s educational programs including Instrument Assistance Program, 5th Grade Outreach, Youth Strings Orchestra, Festival Community Orchestra, Family Concert, Summer Music Camp and music scholarships.
The wine tasting portion of the event includes with over 100 wines donated by four generous wine distributors: Idaho Wine Merchants, Vehr’s, Click, and Odom Corp. Townshend Cellar and Sandpoint’s own Pend d’Oreille Winery is also featured in the wine tasting as well as providing wine for dinner, along with Woodward Canyon Winery.
“If you love really good wine, you don’t want to miss this tasting line-up from the region’s premier wine distributors,” said Executive Director Dyno Wahl.
Featured wineries include: 1850, Barrister, Bookwalter, Bridgepress, Browne, Buried Cane, Clearwater Canyon, Colter’s Creek, Drink Space, Dusted Valley, Eagle Vino, Felino, French Blue, Inconceivable, Jones, JP Chenet, Kiona, La Delizia, Le Monde, Long Shadows, Maryhill, Mercer, Milbrandt, Momo, Novelty Hill, Paraduxx, Pend d’Oreille, Rocky Pond, Rombauer, Saviah Cellars, Sokol Blosser, Ste. Michelle, Steele, Thurston, Townshend, Two Mountains and Woodward Canyon.
The live auction is packed with unique items including impossible-to-get Zags basketball tickets, a Schweitzer family ski pass package for four, premier blanket placement at your Festival concert of choice, Festival parking privileges & passes, dinner at the Sandpoint Firehouse, and exciting travel packages including a weekend trip to Seattle for a Seahawk football game with a framed, autographed Russ Wilson photo, and a dream vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii.
“It’s a great time for a good cause. I guarantee you will be surrounded by fine wine, fun tunes, fabulous food and friendly folks.” said Wahl.
Tickets are $95 per person including wine tasting, dinner and a complimentary Riedel crystal wine glass. Premier sponsor tables for eight with special benefits are available. Minimum age for this event is 21.
The Festival has announced its summer line-up for August 1-11, featuring: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Walk Off the Earth, Jackson Browne, Lake Street Dive, the Avett Brothers, Kool & the Gang and the Spokane Symphony.
Tickets are available for the Wine Fest event and for all festival concerts online at FestivalAtSandpoint.com., at 208-265-4554, at the Festival offcice, 525 Pine St., in Sandpoint.