Seventeen Placer County Wineries to Host Holiday Toy Drive and Wine Tasting Weekend

By Jocelyn Maddux

The Placer County Vintners Association (PCVA) will host “Holidays in the Hills on the Placer County Wine Trail,” a charity toy drive and open-house wine-tasting weekend on December 10 and 11 from noon–5 p.m. at seventeen boutique wineries in Auburn, Newcastle, Loomis and Lincoln.

Visitors will enjoy local wine, food and gifts vendors, music, holiday decorations, and the opportunity to meet the winemakers at these picturesque small production wineries.

Admission is free for participants who donate a new, unwrapped child’s toy to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Toy Drive. All toys collected will be donated to needy families throughout Placer County.

“Last year we collected over 400 lbs of toys – the response from the community was just amazing. We are excited to do it again this year, and with more wineries participating, we except to collect even more toys,” said event organizer, Jill Maddux of Auburn’s Lone Buffalo Vineyards. Participating wineries have agreed to waive regular tasting fees each day for all participants who donate to the toy drive.

Participating wineries will also add to the festivities with special “home for the holidays” themed decorations. In honor of U.S. troops coming home and families reuniting for the holidays, each winery will decorate with their interpretation of what it means to be “home for the holidays.”

Visitors can experience a festive display of patriotic red, white and blue lights at Fortezza Winery in North Auburn, a “Home on the Range” display at Lone Buffalo in South Auburn and a “Country Christmas” theme at Secret Ravine in Loomis.

Visitors can see different displays at all seventeen wineries and enter a drawing for a chance to win a mixed case of Placer County Wines and other prizes.

To round out the festivities, local vendors will be stationed at selected wineries along the trail to offer food and holiday gifts for purchase separately.

Participating Wineries: Bonitata Boutique Wines • Casque Wines • Cante Ao Vinho • Ciotti Cellars • Cristaldi Vineyards • Dono dal Cielo Vineyard & Winery • Fawnridge Winery • Fortezza • Green Family Winery • Lone Buffalo Vineyards • Mt. Vernon Winery • PaZa • Popie Wines • Rancho Roble Vineyards • Secret Ravine Vineyard & Winery • Viña Castellano • Wise Villa Winery

For more information and maps, visit placerwine.com or call 916-663-4486.

PLACER COUNTY VINTNERS ASSOCIATION
The Placer County Vintners Association is a non-profit association formed to provide a forum for Placer County wineries to collaborate on events and programs that support the local communities, develop marketing programs to raise awareness of the Placer County wine region, and to share best practices to encourage all wineries to be the best they can and provide a high quality experience for winery visitors.