'Time to Remember' is kick-off Wine and Roses Festival event

The ninth annual "A Time to Remember" will be held this Thursday, April 3, at the Willow Creek Country Clubhouse in Le Mars.

"A Time to Remember" will benefit Alzheimer's Association programming in Plymouth County and is the kickoff event to a three-day Wine and Roses Festival with other events to be held in Sioux City.

Serving as honorary chairmen for the Le Mars event are Mike and Patti Donlin of Le Mars. Mike, the administrator of Floyd Valley Hospital and Patti, a well-known community volunteer, both recognize the importance of the Wine and Roses events.

"We know that the Le Mars kick-off for the exciting weekend festivities in Sioux City has become an important tradition every spring. Patti and I have enjoyed our local Alzheimer's chapter and their Wine and Roses Event for several years," said Mike. "It's great to have a local event that's not only a lot of fun, but supports an important cause at the same time. We urge all our friends and neighbors to join us ... this year, and the next and the next!"

The evening begins at 6 p.m. and wine tasting with seven prestigious winemakers from across the United States. There will be a New York strip steak dinner, a comedy troupe for entertainment, and both a live and silent auction. Before-dinner music will be provided by Steve Smith of Marcus.

This year's wineries and winemakers include:

* Katie Madigan - St. Francis Winery in Sonoma Valley, Calif.

* Vance Rose - 5 Mile Bridge.

* Peter Prager - Prager Winery & Pork Works in Napa Valley.

* Jim Callahan - Burgess Cellars in Napa Valley.

* Michael Bonner - Firesteed Cellars in Oregon.

* Kitri Culbertson - Sokol Blosser Winery in Oregon.

* Rick and Tammy Bertrand - Tarini Wines in Argentina.

More than 40 items are available at the silent and live auction this year. Among the items are Dinner for Six by Mike and Patti Donlin, NFL Package of four regular season tickets from Greg and Pam Wells, blue topaz and diamond ring from Dave and Robin Grosenheider, a one-week Escape to Okoboji by Steve and Danna Schuster, framed art from Oak 'n Treasures, a family professional photograph from Christopher's Photography Ltd., dinner for four from Berdene's, along with wines, gift baskets, food and gift items.

Proceeds from the Le Mars event will be used for services of the Alzheimer's Association in Plymouth County.

The dinfference this event will make, with each $75 contribution (the ticket price):

* Ensure six Helpline callers will receive comprehensiv e care consultation on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. OR

* Enrolls one person with Alzheimer's disease in the Safe Return Program, a wandering prevention program. OR

* Underwrite three monthly support group meetings for family members. OR

* Provides four hours in-home respite relief for one caregiver. OR

* Ensures one support group facilitators receive four hours of education per year. OR

* Educates one communty organization on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

Co-chairing the Le Mars event this year are Danna Schuster and Mary Helen McManus. They and their committee have put together an evening to remember to help those who no longer can.

Tickets are $75 and available by calling Schuster at 546-7883 or McManus at 546-3389

Wineries highlighted at 'Time to Remember' event

Seven wineries are featured at this year's "Time to Remember" event. They are:

* Katie Madigan - St. Francis Winery in Sonoma Valley, Calif.

Katie Madigan began her career with a harvest internship with St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, where she was later offered a fulltme position as senior lab technician. She completed the UC Davis Winemaking Certificate program in 2006, and was promoted to assistant winemaker and entrusted with the production of the winery's Chardonnay program.

* Vance Rose - 5 Mile Bridge.

Vance Rose is a veteran of the Wine and Roses Festival. His relatively early interest in wine led Rose to the wine business in college and afterwards he made a plan to work in every aspect of the business. For the past 17 years, Rose has grown small wineries into large ones, started new wineries and helped to produce wines that have been embraced by consumers and critics alike.

* Peter Prager - Prager Winery & Pork Works.

Peter Prager, along with his two brothers and father, established Prager Winery and Pork Works in the Napa Valley in 1979. After working for seven years at the winery, Prager left to pursue a degree in enology at Fresno State University. Upon returning to the Napa Valley in 1992, Prager slowly took on more responsibilities, and by 1995 had assumed winemaking duties.

Prager Winery and Pork Works continues to be a family operation, but Prager's experience has taken the ports and wines to unprecedented levels.

* Jim Callahan - Burgess Cellars

Burgess Cellars, located on the slopes of Howell Mountain Napa Valley, focuses on creating exceptional, hand-crafted estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

The roots of the original winery on the property dates to the 1880s, with the Burgess family there since 1972. They have developed three distinct estate vineyard sites which have been cultivated and nurtured to create the very best handcrafted wines.

Burgess is somewhat unique in the Napa Valley today, an that it is truly a family-owned winery which has employed the same gifted winemaker, Bill Sorenson, since the winery's re-birth in 1972.

* Michael Bonner - Firesteed Cellars

In the early nineties, the public's attention was turning toward red wine and distributors were hard-pressed to meet the new demands: high-quality varietal wine that was vintage dated and very affordable. Enter Howard Rossbach, who represented the interests of wineries from the Pacific Northwest. He located growers producing excellent Pinot Noir grapes in Oregon, a winery that had more room that in it needed, and a highly-regarded winemaker with time to consult. That was the genesis of Firesteed and the business strategy that continues to be successful for the growers, distributors and wine consumers.

Today Firesteed makes two wines, the well-established Pinot Noir in Oregon and a Barbera d'Asti in Italy. Production of the 1992 vintage, was about 7,000 cases. This year, they hope to surpass 60,000.

* Kitri Culbertson - Sokol Blosser Winery

With a background in marketing and public relations, Kitri Culbertson followed her passion for wine and in 2006 joined the team at Sokol Blosser, one of Oregon's pioneering wineries and 100 percent owned and operated by the Sokol Blosser family.

Culbertson, as marketing coordinator, is active in all aspects of direct sales and is responsible for print and digital publications, advertising and promotions. She enjoys the close family atmosphere and the genuine passion for winegrowing that the Sokol Blosser family has upheld for more than 35 years.

* Rick and Tammy Bertrand - Tarini Wines

Tarini Wines is located in Argentina, a land full of unique tradition and priceless treasures. The country has become the adventurous wine lovers' new frontier. Tarini grapes are grown in the sun-drenched "Valle de Tellum at 2,297 feet above sea level, and are completely irrigated underground through the melting icecaps of the Andes Mountains.

JAR Imports was founded in 2004 as an innovated company committed to discovering and exporting high quality South American wines.