Two great things that go great together, wine and chocolate, were the focus of the Saturday event. Photo by Ryan Eldredge.

THIS STORY HAS BEEN CORRECTED REGARDING THE NUMBER OF TICKETS SOLD; IT ALSO HAS BEEN CLARIFIED AS TO THE PROVIDERS OF THE CHOCOLATE.

LAKEPORT – A benefit for the Lake Family Resource Center, the third annual Wine & Chocolate fundraising event, held on the second Saturday of February each year, was a roaring success this year.
 
With between 400 and 500 tickets sold before the event, many more braved the inclement weather and snow-capped mountaintops to pay at the door and enjoy the fruit of Lake County vines masterfully paired with chocolate by sommeiler Stephanie Cruz-Green, owner of Focused on Wine in Kelseyville.

Specialty workshops on food and wine pairing, wine sensory and olive oil tasting also were held.
 
Mt. Konocti Growers was the venue once again for the event, which supports the programs of the Lake Family Resource Center. This year, however, the event was expanded into two of their buildings instead of just one.
 
The largest fundraiser for the center, Wine & Chocolate attracts visitors from around California to indulge in delicious wines and decadent chocolates.

Hooper’s Chocolates, a division of Windsor Confections – whose motto is “Gourmet Chocolate with a Mission” – along with Bruno's Shop Smart and other sources provided tasty chocolate treats that were paired with many Cabernets, Zinfandels, Syrahs and other red varietals.  

This year, the event also featured a Wine Store, where event-goers could purchase the wines they favored most.

Twenty-eight wineries with grapes grown in Lake County, most with local wineries, poured their varietals for the benefit of “strengthening families.”

The Lake Family Resource Center, founded in 1995, serves more than 4,500 individuals each year in Lake County through violence prevention, intervention and treatment, child and youth development, parenting education and personal development, and health and wellness.

The center also is working to build a new domestic violence shelter in Kelseyville.

E-mail Terre Logsdon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Mireya Turner pours wine at the Saturday event. Photo by Ryan Eldredge.

Twenty-eight wineries poured their wines at this year's Wine & Chocolate. Photo by Ryan Eldredge.

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