Fourth annual Wines in the Wild returns Nov. 12
Though Wines in the Wild gives oenophiles and nature-lovers the opportunity to unite under the banner of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, event co-chair Tom Uhler said it’s also a time for islanders to catch up with people who are returning from their summer up north.
“This is a real social event for people to come together with friends in a very informal atmosphere. It’s one of the first things people from Captiva and Sanibel come to after they return,” Uhler said.
And what better way to get reacquainted than with a back drop of wines and wildlife.
There will be several wine tasting stations set up around the grounds of the SCCF Nature Center. Guests will make their way to each station, where SCCF board members and staff will pour and present information about certain wines representing this year’s theme, “Take Flight.”
“We tried to find wines that are reasonably priced and of good quality. They will also have a bird in the name or on the label (to keep with the theme),” Uhler said.
And while Uhler, a member of the Society of Wine Educators, joked about having to withstand taste-testing so many wonderful wines when selecting the line-up for the event — “It’s hard work, but someone’s got to do it!” — he and his wife Linda, long-time sea turtle volunteers and financial supporters of SCCF, think Wines in the Wild is a great way to bring islanders together for a great cause.
“We think because more than half of Sanibel is protected in perpetuity, we need to support SCCF with our actions and our money and Wines in the Wild is one way we can do that,” Uhler said. “The other nice thing about the even is that usually, after it’s over, people come to me and say they’ve discovered a wine thy never had before that could possibly be their new favorite.”
During the event, there will also be a raffle drawing with lots of unique prizes, which includes a beautiful etched pitcher with an osprey returning to chicks in its nest donated by Luc Century.
“This year we have really, really great raffle prizes with a bird in the theme, along with great food by Leslie Adams Catering. We don’t send people home hungry,” Uhler said.
Support for this fundraiser comes from host committee members Nancy and Pete Bender, Linda and Wayne Boyd, Leone and George Graham, Janie Howland, Mike Kelly, Deborah and John La Gorce, Kay and John Morse, Nancy and Chip Roach, Robbie and Geoff Roepstorff, LUcy and Paul Roth, Donna and John Schubert, Martha and Rick Siders, Nanelle Wehmann and Martha and John Wolf.
Reservations for Wines in the Wild can be made by calling SCCF at 472-2329. Cost is $75 per person. Wines in the Wild will be held at the Nature Center, 333 Sanibel-Captiva Road.
SCCF is dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on Sanibel and Captiva islands and in the surrounding watershed through environmental education, land acquisition, landscaping for wildlife, marine research, natural resource policy, sea turtle conservation and wildlife habitat management. Community support through membership dues and tax-deductible contributions, in addition to grants and staff-generated revenue, makes its work possible.
To learn more about SCCF’s conservation efforts, visit www.sccf.org.