Scholarship Association Wine Tasting Fundraiser Planned

Rock Ridge Country Club is the place to be for the second annual wine tasting to benefit Newtown Scholarship Association. The event, sponsored by People’s United Bank, will return to the country club on Saturday, September 27, from 6:30 to 8 pm.

This year’s “trip around the world” line-up will surely please all palates, from the “anything as long as it’s red” crowd to the most serious oenophiles. Featured wines include Castelo di Bolgehri “Varvara,” rated 90 points by Wine Spectator, and Renzo Maranai Chianti Classico Riserva — the only 1997 Chianti riserva available in Connecticut — which received 92 points. The latter comes from Villa di Vetrice, a mountaintop winery in the Rufina area of Tuscany.

From South America comes a great selection of wines from Humberto Canale, one of the only wineries in Patagonia (Argentina), the southernmost wine-growing region in the world. South Africa will be represented by Amani, from Stellenbosch, the first winery to employ a native African female winemaker; Post House, a tiny winery located in the hills, whose winemaker is a 36-year old prodigy; and Stanford Hills “Jacksons” Estates, the number-one rated Pinotage in the country.

Back in the USA, representatives from the Michael David winery of Lodi, Calif., will be on hand to answer any questions about their mysterious “earthquake wines”: 7 Deadly Zins, Petit Petit (be sure to ask where they got the idea for the label), and Incognito.

Sensi Vineyards will present their best (Sensi Chianti DOCG is the number-one selling Chianti in the world!). The Shingleback Shiraz, a 91 pointer from Wine Spectator, will also be on hand, as will a great selection from Washington State.

The event will also feature a silent auction including such items as an African safari, a tailgate basket with four tickets to the 125th Harvard-Yale Game, a dinner party at The Dana-Holcombe House, and a wine tasting party.

Tickets are $35 each and are available at People’s United Bank branches on Queen Street and Stop n’ Shop, or at Sandy Hook Wine & Liquor.

For additional information call 426-1100.