Sixth annual Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting: Toast raised to successful wine event

Memorial Park was filled Sunday afternoon with area residents who turned out for the sixth annual Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting. Sampling a host of wines and tasting the varied food offerings, attendees also had the pleasure of supporting the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada, the La Cañada Educational Foundation and the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge through ticket and wine sales, as well through silent and live wine auctions.

According to officials with the LCF Educational Foundation, that organization earned more than $30,000 in the one-day event, which will go to its endowment fund.

With items made irresistibly tantalizing by auctioneer Sunder Ramani, a local resident and former LCFEF director who provided his talents for the third year in a row, the live auction enjoyed more than 50 bidders vying for the 29 lots available. At least another 25 individuals bid on the 22 lots listed in the silent auction.

Highlights of the live auction included a 2000 Bordeaux valued at more than $1,040, a Caymus Collectibles valued at $900, and another Bordeaux beauty valued at $1,500. A “Central Coast Getaway” included two nights at the Peachy Canyon Guest Cottage, 12 bottles of Peachy Canyon, a private tour and tasting at Justin Winery, and three bottles of Justin wine. For a fun diversion, a four-hour set with “Stunt Road,” the band that played at the wine event, was auctioned off with the LCFEF and the Kiwanis sharing the proceeds from that item.

“We are so pleased to have partnered with the La Cañada Kiwanis for the third year in a row for this spectacular event in La Cañada,” said Mike Goldberg, LCFEF Endowment Fund Committee chair. “It’s a wonderful afternoon for our community, with delicious food from local businesses and great wine to taste, and everyone enjoys the opportunity to gather and socialize. Even better, La Cañada has a sizable number of individuals who enjoy excellent wine in addition to supporting our schools, making our wine auction a perfect fundraising vehicle. We’re grateful to everyone who donated wine or funds to purchase wine as well as those who bid and helped us raise a record amount of money.”