LAKEPORT, Calif. – Wine Wednesday took on a new meaning for Melania Ciapponi of Oakland on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

The winner of the 2016 Lake County Wine Adventure raffle, she and her husband Steve made the trip from Oakland to Boatique Winery in Kelseyville to pick up the prize package.
 
Karissa Gutierrez, community manager for Relay For Life, American Cancer Society, and Madi Mount, owner of Boatique Winery, joined Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) Director Terry Dereniuk gathered at Boatique Winery to present the prize.
 
The trip was well worth it. They went home with three and a half cases of award-winning Lake County wine and a certificate for a two-hour cruise for eight in an authentic Venetian water taxi on beautiful Clear Lake.
 
Melania Ciapponi has joined a group of girlfriends for the Lake County Wine Adventure for several years, starting in 2006.

This year, she purchased five raffle tickets for the Wine and Water package to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

The charity has special meaning for her as both she and her sister are cancer survivors.
 
When asked about winning, Ciapponi said, “A big thank you to the wineries that donated the wines for my 'instant' wine cellar and to Boatique Winery for the Venetian water taxi cruise on Clear Lake. I have enjoyed the Wine Adventure Passport Weekends. They are a great way to spend time with friends and enjoy the delicious wines and hospitality of Lake County wineries. A special thank you to Relay For Life and their ongoing efforts to save lives from cancer. I look forward to more wine adventures in Lake County.”
 
This is the third year that LCWA has partnered with the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Lake County, as beneficiary for the Wine Adventure raffle.

The 2016 raffle raised $1,045 for the American Cancer Society’s fight to end cancer. Relay for Life Lake County volunteers set up tables at several of the Wine Adventure locations to sell raffle tickets.
 
“We selected the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life as our charity partner for Wine Adventure to help with the fight against this devastating disease. We are proud that we have helped to raise over $7,000 since 2014 with our Wine Adventure raffles,” said LCWA Director Terry Dereniuk.
 
“We appreciate the partnership between the American Cancer Society and the Lake County Wine Association and what is allows us to do as an organization. The funds raised by our Relay For Life participants and partners help us provide the free programs and services to cancer patients in our community,” said Gutierrez.
 
The 2016 raffle package, called Wine and Water, included three and a half cases of wines donated by passport wineries plus a two-hour cruise for eight on Clear Lake in an authentic Venetian water taxi, complete with wine and gourmet snacks.
 
Robert and Madi Mount, owners of Boatique Winery in Kelseyville and a collection of restored antique wooden boats, donated the cruise for the prize package.

The water taxi is the most recent addition to the Mounts’ boat collection. Boatique Winery is located in the Red Hills AVA in Lake County. The winery sits at 2,266 feet above sea level amidst alpine and oak forests and 47 acres of rolling vineyards. Visitors can tour their boat showroom while enjoying Boatique’s award-winning wines.
 
Wine Adventure weekend, organized by LCWA, was held the third weekend in May, 2016. Twenty-five Lake County wineries opened their doors, offering wine tasting, special food pairings, music, and warm hospitality. More than 1,500 guests explored the region to discover new wines or enjoy old favorites.
 
The 2017 Wine Adventure weekend is planned for May 20 and 21. Tickets will go on sale on Black Friday for next year’s event. Details and more information will be available at www.lakecountywineries.org/adventure .