Flickering candlelight, the aroma of wine and chocolate, and the sounds of talk and laughter filled the Clear Lake City Hall Feb. 6. The occasion was the seventh annual Clear Lake Lions Wine, Liquor, and Beer Tasting event.

 

Approximately 70 to 75 people attended the event, which was, according to event co-chair Joe Gruenes, “A great way for the people of the community to get together, mingle, and raise money for a good cause.”

 

Gruenes said the Clear Lake Lions Club has held many different fundraising activities and members are always open to trying new things. The wine tasting event began with an idea from a couple Lions members and grew from there, with Gruenes and Randy Lyon volunteering as co-chairs.

 

This year’s event consisted of five tasting tables, three offering wine, one liquor, and one beer. There were tables of hors d’oeuvres, a chocolate fountain, and meat trays donated by McDonald’s Meats. Throughout the dimly lit room were small, intimate tables and larger group tables draped in white tablecloths with candles and scattered chocolates. Groups of people slowly strolled the room, stopping to sample the selections and converse with friends.

 

 

Gruenes stated Clearwater Coborn’s partnered with them to help make the event successful in their goal. They contacted their liquor suppliers who were eager to help; most of the people pouring at the event were salespeople supporting their products. 

 

“With an event like this it’s important for people to not only be able to sample the products but to gain knowledge about them,” said Gruenes. “Having the individual representatives here helped ensure that.”

 

Clear Lake residents Missy Stahovich and Trisha Eberle decided the event was perfect for girls’ night out. Eberle was attending for the first time; Stahovich attended last year and said she had fun and was able to try a lot of things she wouldn’t have tried before.

 

First time attendees Dan Truax and Lucia Pinto heard about the event less than two hours before it started when their nephew Jessie Truax stopped by to visit and told them about it. He was there with his fiancé Kylie Goenner and their friend Amanda Kannas. Pinto said she was excited to come because she loves wine and there were so many things to try.

 

Sisters Brooke and Ellie Schendzielos from Palmer weren’t expecting all the food.

 

“We like wine but it’s also great to see a lot of the locals,” said Brooke. “This type of event brings people together.”

 

Tickets for the wine tasting were $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The money raised goes back into the community in numerous charitable ways including local food shelves, fire departments and school organizations, along with helping individual hardship cases. 

 

“The only way we can have events like this is with the support of the community as we’ve had,” said Gruenes. “I want to give an enormous thank you to McDonald’s Meats, Coborn’s and the public for supporting not just our wine tasting event, but all of the events we hold.”