MARYSVILLE — WineStyles of Marysville is becoming a go-to spot for community fundraisers.
The local wine store hosted a charity wine-tasting for the Marysville Strawberry Festival Feb. 4, which Strawberry Festival Events Director and Secretary Kerri Jorgensen described as just one way in which the festival is kicking things off a bit earlier than usual this year.
“It’s the first time we’ve had a wine-tasting to support the Strawberry Festival,” said Jorgensen, who added that the theme of this year’s festival is “Summertime Fun.” “We wanted to do something before Valentine’s Day to put people in mind of the Strawberry Festival. We’ll be selecting our Royalty and staging other coming events earlier too.”
Donated raffle prizes for the wine-tasting included local wines and beers, berry-scented candles and gift certificates to El Paraiso and a honeymoon suite at Holiday Inn Express, all fit for a romantic weekend getaway.
Paul and Helen Wilding are residents of British Columbia, Canada, who happened to be traveling in the area when they stumbled across WineStyles on the evening of its fundraiser.
“I love it,” said Helen Wilding, who had never visited WineStyles before. “It was totally worth all the effort to find this place. We look for wineries and wine stores wherever we go. I don’t know that the people who live here realize how lucky they are to have this place. I’d never heard of the Strawberry Festival either, but it’s certainly piqued my interest.”
Lana Magnan enjoyed the social aspect of the evening, as well as helping out the Strawberry Festival.
“Events like this are good ways to have fun and expose both businesses and fundraisers to broader audiences,” Magnan said. “People can get out and network this way.”
Marysville WineStyles co-owner Eric Emery noted that, with dozens of attendees giving $15 each, their donations will far exceed any contribution that he could have made by himself.
“Once again, we’re just glad to help,” Emery said. “Marysville’s been good to us, and we like being able to give back.”
