Today's Wine on Wayzata Bay fundraiser kicks off the Wayzata Yacht Club’s annual regatta weekend, which draws sailors and visitors from throughout Lake Minnetonka and across the Midwest.
"The forecast is still looking lovely," Terri Ross wrote on Lake Minnetonka Patch's Facebook page. "You'll have the opportunity to sample more than 150 wines, try some wonderful hors d'oeuvres (think ahi tune wraps, spring mascarpone crute, steak bites, and assorted desserts, to name a few) from our six sponsoring restaurants."
Barbara Speltz sits on the fundraiser’s events committee and says about 300 guests are expected to attend tonight’s Wine on Wayzata Bay. Wine on Wayzata Bay will raise in the neighborhood of $10,000 for the Wayzata Community Sailing Center, a nonprofit arm of the Wayzata Yacht Club. The multi-pronged mission of the Wayzata Community Sailing Center includes providing scholarships, performing outreach to intercity youth groups and partnering with local boy scouts on learning and service projects.
“A lot of people think the Wayzata Community Sailing Center is where members of the community send their kids for summer camp, and that’s true, but they also have a whole piece of them that does all kinds of nonprofit work—including outreach to inner city youth to bring them here to experience sailing,” Speltz said. “They also bring out kids who have disabilities and give them this opportunity to do something that really brings them independence and builds self esteem.”
Arriving guests at this year’s Wine on Wayzata Bay will receive a wine glass and have a chance to sample top shelf pours while the jazz quartet “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” provides the evening’s soundtrack. A cooperating wind will also allow for sailboat rides, and a silent auction stocked with items from business both in the Lake Minnetonka area and the greater Metro is also planned.
Limited restaurant sponsorship slots have essentially been filled by eateries from around the Metro and Lake Minnetonka—including Lord Fletcher’s, Biella’s, Hazelwood Grill, Sunsets Restaurant, Ike’s and Jake O’Connors. The Wayzata Bar and Grill is the event’s major sponsor and provides all the wine vendors, expected to number around 20 who will supply more than 120 different wines for tasting.
Wallace Carlson Printing and Peter Ice, Edina Realty, have so far signed on as corporate sponsors.
A full list of sponsors and supporters can be found online at the Wine on Wayzata Bay's website.
