| Casavino Fundraiser Held In Mesquite | |||
| By MIKE DONAHUE Moapa Valley Progress Published Sept. 16, 2009 MESQUITE – The 11th Annual CasaVino wine tasting fundraiser here last Saturday earned $10,225 that will be donated to local organizations including Virgin Valley High School, Heidi’s Cottage and the Salvation Army Food Bank. An estimated 330 people participated in the $25 event that was co-sponsored by CasaBlanca Resort-Casino and Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada, according to Marty Rapson, CasaBlanca’s vice president of marketing. |
 St. George artist John Smith explains his handmade “Wine Rocks” to CasaVino attendee Sheila Frost of Salt Lake City. Smith donated three stones that were auctioned during the fund raiser. |
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| Rapson said that 100 percent of the proceeds from the wine tasting are donated to local charities. “We don’t keep any of the earnings.”
Attendees circulated throughout the CasaBlanca Events Center enjoying a variety of cheeses, fruits and beverages from more than 50 world-class wineries. Tasting stations were manned by Southern Wine and Spirits employees who poured some of the most exceptional wines available in the U.S. including fine Sake. The fundraiser drew people primarily from throughout Utah and Southern Nevada. “This is an absolutely fantastic event,” said Sheila Frost, Salt Lake City. “We watch for it every year and always come down. This is our fourth year to attend.” In addition to fine wines and food, attendees participated in an auction for donated items including picnic baskets, barbeque sets and some unique small wine racks made in St. George from native alabaster. “In the summer you can put these wine ‘rocks’ in the freezer for a while and then take them outside after they’re ice cold and they’ll kept the wine nice and cool for quite a while,” said artist John Smith, who makes and donates the racks. |
