Annual wine-tasting fundraiser benefits Scouts

Staff Reports

The 10th annual Wine-A-Ree wine, beer and spirits tasting festival will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at The Commons in downtown Columbus.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Unlimited tastings and a commemorative wine or beer glass are included in the price of the ticket.

About 600 people attended last year and raised slightly more than $20,000, according to coordinator Virginia Moats. It has now generated more than $170,000 for the Hoosier Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America since the event began.

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The nonprofit serves more than 6,000 young people in 18 counties of south-central Indiana.

Proceeds go to everything from maintenance at Maumee Scout Reservation in Norman to supplies for a broad range of merit badges.

Moats mentioned that early ticket sales totaled about 100 by the end of last week — ahead of the past few years’ advance sales.

“That may not seem like a lot , but most people still seem to wait until the last minute,” Moats said.

Columbus resident Jon Ocheltree, Lenni Lenape District director, mentioned that the gathering remains Scouting’s biggest single-day fundraiser and is a key to being able to launch new programs such as a Hispanic outreach.

A VIP tasting hour will be from noon to 1 p.m., with those tickets priced at $45, and limited. They are available only in advance online or at Viewpoint Books in Columbus. VIP guests will receive a gift and a chance in a drawing for a special door prize, including a wine refrigerator.

General tickets will be available at Viewpoint Books in Columbus, Jackson County Visitors Center and This Old Guitar Store in Seymour, Village Lights Bookstore in Madison, and Levenstein’s Flooring in Greensburg, as well as on the hoosiertrailsbsa.org website.

A new winery, Hunter’s Ridge, will be offering tastings for the first time.

Returning vendors include Best Vineyards and Spirits, Butler Winery, Cardinal Spirits, Cedar Creek Brew Company, Cedar Creek Distillery, Cedar Creek Winery, Chateau Thomas Winery, Ertel Cellars Winery, Hard Truth Distilling, Holtkamp Winery, Huber Winery and Spirits, Mallow Run Winery, Quaff ON! Brewing, and Winzerwald Winery. Returning again this year is de Tours of Indiana Wines.

Food from First Class Catering will be available for purchase. The event will include a silent auction with many items up for bid.

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What: 10th Annual Wine-a-Ree tasting festival with 16 vendors to benefit the Hoosier Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

When: 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 3 plus noon to 1 p.m. for those with VIP tickets.

Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus.

Tickets: $25 in advance at hoosiertrailsbsa.org or at Viewpoint Books in Columbus, Jackson County Visitors Center and This Old Guitar Store in Seymour, Village Lights Bookstore in Madison, and Levenstein’s Flooring in Greensburg or $30 at the door.

Information: hoosiertrailsbsa.org

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