Taste of the Vine, the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute’s annual fundraiser, will return as an in-person event on Sept. 23 at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.
Now in its 15th year, Taste of the Vine will include a two-hour reception with appetizers featuring 18 area wineries, a brewery, distillery and a coffee company — all from Santa Barbara County.
Nonalcoholic wines produced by Hand on Heart Wine will also be available.
Ticket sales open Aug. 14 and will be available here: https://sansum.org/taste-of-the-vine/.
A sit-down dinner prepared by Duo Catering and a live auction, featuring Andrew Firestone as auctioneer, will follow the reception.
SDRI board treasurer Matt Rowe will be the event’s master of ceremonies. A flamenco guitarist will provide music for guests seated in the museum’s courtyard, said Katie Haq, director of marketing for SDSI.
Among the many lots for the event’s live auction are a Tuscan villa and a home in the South of France.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taste of the Vine was limited to an online auction, with prizes delivered to the homes of high bidders. While this year’s fundraiser returns to an in-person format, an online silent auction will run for three days to accompany the Saturday event, organizers said.
The purveyors scheduled to pour during the tasting reception are Camins 2 Dreams, Chanin Wines, the Central Coast Group Project, Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, GoGi Wines, Grimm’s Bluff Wines, Hand on Heart Wine, the Hilt Estate, Kimsey Vineyard, LaBarge Winery, Lepiane Wines, Lindquist Family Wines, Native 9 Wines, Paul Lato Wines, Rusack Vineyards, Storm Wines, Two Wolves Wine, Validation Ale, Vega Vineyard & Farm, Verdad Wine Cellars and Zaca Coffee.
Many winemaking participants or donors have personal connections to diabetes, be it a child, parent or other relative, said Wendy Thies Sell, Taste of the Vine co-chairwoman.
Others, such as actor/winemaker Kurt Russell of GoGi Wines and his partner, Goldie Hawn, have been longtime fundraising supporters.
“We are so appreciative of this community’s support,” Haq said. “It empowers those of us at SDRI.”
As she noted, an event of this magnitude would not be possible without a committee of dedicated volunteers — many of whom have donated time for years: Tamara Free and Thies Sell, event co-chairwomen; Judy Anticouni; Joan Arnold; Sydney Bush; Phil Carpenter, general manager of Santa Barbara Vintners; Deborah David; Marina Delio; Katie DeWitt; Elena Engel; Deb Gibson; Connie Gillies; Mike Karmelich; Christy Madden; Christian Menard; Sherrill O’Neill; and Natalie Rowe.
“Everyone on the committee has a direct link to diabetes,” said Thies Sell, mother to a daughter with Type 1.
Haq and Free also have children with diabetes.
“Our work (for SRDI) is very personal,” Free told me.
Through the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute’s extensive research efforts, “we have access to incredible care,” she continued.
To sponsor a table or to donate to the event, contact Kara Hornbuckle at khornbuckle@sansum.org or 805.682.7640 x246.
Click here for more information about Sansum Diabetes Research Institute.