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Rotary Event Benefits Community - An Evening Of Fine Wines, Food And Atmosphere
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Over 200 wines from 75 participating wineries will be served at the Oakdale Rotarys Wine Extravaganza at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club on Saturday, Sept. 15. - photo by COURTESY OF OAKDALE ROTARY

Whether you’re a novice or an advanced wine connoisseur, this event has everything local vintners have to offer.

The Oakdale Rotary is preparing for its gala, which will feature the pouring of some “top shelf” wines and serving up of gourmet dishes at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club. The event will also serve as a charitable cause, as money raised from will benefit a variety of projects in the community, courtesy of the Oakdale Rotary.

On Saturday, Sept. 15, the Oakdale Rotary Club will present its annual Wine Extravaganza featuring over 200 wines from more than 75 participating wineries. As part of the event there will be live music and exquisite gourmet creations to pair with lavish red and white vintages from known wineries such as Silver Oak, Rombauer, Coppola, and Chateau St. Michelle, to name a few.

“We try to get the local wineries as much as some of the other known ones,” said Oakdale Golf and Country Club Manager and Rotarian Rick Schultz, who described the extravaganza as the valley’s premiere wine event. “Right now we have about 75 wineries represented. I’m working on more.”

Another benefit to the festivities is that guests will have the opportunity to purchase cases of wine at only 10 percent over the wholesale cost.

“If you come with some others, it’s a great buy to split the cost of a case,” said Rotary Event Co-Chairman Frank Clark. “It’s a fantastic deal for the price of a ticket.”

Food stations will be prepared and overseen by the country club’s executive chef Daniel Quint, who has promised a carving station, pasta stations, assorted cheeses and hors d’oeuvres, and a variety of desserts.

Music will be provided by the Oakdale High School Jazz Band and Fred Stepp’s Wednesday Nite Jammers.

A live auction, raffle, and door prizes will accompany the wine and fare.

Raffle items include $500, $300, and $200 gift certificates to apply to the purchase of wine from the attending vintners.

The door prize will be a case of assorted “premium” wines.

“I guarantee these will be some top name wines,” said Schultz about the door prize selection.

Auction items include a condo stay in Maui and a prepared gourmet dinner. More auction items were being arranged by Schultz and Clark to be available for the event as well.

But the real winner for this year’s event will be the Oakdale Joint Unified School District’s music program and other Oakdale Rotary-sponsored projects that will receive proceeds.

“The (wine) extravaganza is a model partnership between Oakdale Rotary, the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce, and the Oakdale Golf and Country Club,” said Schultz.

Clark said he anticipates about 400 people to attend with tickets at $50 still available.

The Wine Extravaganza starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are available through any Oakdale Rotarian, The Oakdale Chamber of Commerce or at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club.