MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center is pleased to present St. Olof Cellars and Big Valley Wine Company for the first in the 2017 series of Palette to Palate – an intimate pairing of wine and art.

Join them on Saturday, March 4, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. as the guests share their creations with tastings and stories.

Wine makers and artists share the same creative impulse. A vine is planted and nurtured, a concept composed; harvested and crushed, forms blocked in; varietals are blended and seasoned, colors and textures stroked onto canvas; through creative alchemy a uniquely flavorful elixir, or work of art, comes into being.

St. Olof Cellars produce only about 500 cases/20 barrels per year. The majority of their wines are made from their estate grown grapes: Nebbiolo, Malbec, Barbera and Petite Verdot.

Pamela and Dana Kirkpatrick farm four acres of grapes in Finley. This lush clay soil grows exceptional Zinfandel. They also farm olives, producing delightful olive oil.

The Kirkpatricks produce about 300 cases of Zin. They lost about 200 cases in the Clayton fire last October. Enjoy their spicy and full-bodied wine.

The current exhibit at the Middletown Art Center, “Driven to Abstraction,” is a thought-provoking exploration of abstraction highlighting a variety of artists and mediums. Some of the exhibiting artists will be on hand to share their process alongside our winemakers.

Your $10 cover fee provides wine tastings from both St. Olof and Big Valley wineries. Additional glasses of wine will be available for $5 per glass.

Join them for a great experience sipping wine, viewing art, enjoying light refreshments, and hearing stories from the winemakers and artists.

Proceeds help support the Middletown Art Center, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring every child and adult to express themselves and to grow through the arts and arts exposure.

The mission of the Middletown Art Center is to create art opportunities, art education, cultural enrichment, and ecological awareness contributing to the social and economic well-being of Lake County. Since the Valley fire, the center has provided a strong sense of continuity, community and enrichment to recovering residents and the area.

The center is a project of EcoArts of Lake County a nonprofit 501(c)3. All donations to the center are tax-deductible.

The Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org to learn more about exhibitions, classes, events, volunteer opportunities and membership.