Tickets are $125 per person, some of which is tax deductible; event begins at 5 p.m.
The annual Yavapai Community College Wine & Dine in the Vines fundraiser will be held on the Verde Campus Saturday, October 27 beginning at 5 p.m. The event features over 30 winemakers, restaurant owners and chefs who will provide tastings of their favorite edibles and drinkables at the event.
Proceeds directly benefit the Viticulture and Enology (VEN) program, providing scholarships, student activities and education needs.
Tickets may be purchased for the event by going to the college website by clicking here.
The genesis for the current vineyard began in 2009 when the Greater Verde Valley chapter of the College Foundation, which was shut down by President Wills in 2013, supported construction of an experimental one acre Vineyard. The chapter arranged with the Brewer Brothers Construction company to clear one acre of College land without charge. The experimental vineyard was then developed by local wine maker, Maynard Keenan. With the Community College showing reluctance to move beyond the experimental one acre vineyard, Randy Garrison, Ruth Wicks, Bob Oliphant, Tom Schumacher, and Paula Woosley put together a business plan for a 20 acre vineyard on Foundation property adjacent the Verde Campus in 2010. The plan was later presented to the Foundation by Bob Oliphant. The Foundation, after several months study, decided to move forward with a 20 acre vineyard. The Community College later decided to take over the project from the Foundation and the Chapter supported transferring the 20 acres where the vineyard is now located to the College.
The Chapter put on the first fundraiser associated with grape growing on the Verde Campus. This was the “French Flair” fundraiser in 2010 and it was the genesis for the current Wine and Dine fundraiser. In addition, the Chapter prepared a detailed water study that would lead to the construction of the wastewater line from the Cottonwood Municipal Wastewater plant to the Vineyard.
Pioneers planning for a future College Vineyard: Randy Garrison, Paula Woosley, Ruth Wicks, Bob Oliphant, Tom Schumacher.