Vista food, wine festival returns on Saturday

By: ALEXANDRA DELUCA - For the North County Times | Wednesday, August 9, 2006 11:43 PM PDT ∞

VISTA -- Area residents will have the chance to delight their taste buds and support a good cause at the Grape Expectations wine and food festival this Saturday being held at the Vista Optimist Club.

The second yearly festival ---- sponsored by the Shadowridge Rotary, the Rotary Club of Vista and the Vista Optimist Club ---- will be held from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. and will benefit several local, national and international charities, organizers said.

Twelve local restaurants and caterers and 20 local wineries and importers will be participating in the event, including Ciao Ristorante Italiano, El Callejon, Kabob Cuisine and Macaroni Grill.

Attendees can sample more than 60 wines from local wineries such as Belle Marie Winery, Fallbrook Winery, Orfila Vineyards and Twin Oaks Valley Winery, as well as an array wines from Europe, Napa and Sonoma.

Event chairman Daryl McFarland said he expects nearly twice as many people as last year's inaugural festival, which had more than 600 attendees.

"We're expecting 900 to 1,000 people," McFarland said.

This year's festival will take place both indoors and outdoors on the 12 acre grounds of the Vista Optimist Club.

"They have a beautiful facility with very nice views," said McFarland. "It's just perfectly suited for this event."

Entertainment will be provided by The Orbitz, a classic rock 'n' roll band from Escondido, that will perform hits from the '50s, '60s and '70s.

Attendees will also have the chance to bid on live and silent auction items including vacation packages, sports tickets, golf outings, wine tasting tours and LASIK eye surgery.

Proceeds from the festival will be distributed to dozens of charities, including local organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Vista, North County Solutions for Change and the Vista Academy of Visual & Performing Arts.

Tickets cost $55 per person, and can be purchased by calling (760) 726-4275. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age.

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