The Vineyard and Winery Technology Program at Yakima Valley College will host the 14th Annual Grape to Glass Gala — A Winemaker’s Dinner on Saturday, May 20, at 6 p.m. The scholarship benefit event promotes vineyard and winery technology student scholarships. Held at the Yakima Valley College Conference Center, 1704 W. Nob Hill Blvd. in Yakima, the event will include a dinner, beer and wine tasting, live music and a silent auction.
The winemaker’s dinner will include a gourmet meal prepared by Catering Creations by Toni and a dessert auction by The Little Bake Shop at Johnson Orchards. This year’s event theme is “Rooted in Community” and features a dinner paired with wines from YVC’s Yakima Valley Vintners as well as a happy hour with offerings created by alumni of YVC’s program working at WIT Cellars, Enodav Wine Co., Moonshoot Brewing and Wheel Line Cider. In collaboration with the YV-Tech Culinary Arts Program, YV-Tech students will assist the caterer with dinner service and YVC students will serve wine.
YVC student Lorenzo Sanchez said the support provided by this annual event is essential to helping students like him complete their degrees and succeed in Washington’s wine industry. He noted the scholarship money has helped eased the financial burden on him and his family.
“I am honored to be a recipient of the vineyard and technology scholarship,” Sanchez said. “I will make sure I use that money wisely to continue to help my childhood dream of graduating college.”
Yakima Valley Vintners produces 400-600 cases of wine annually and its student-crafted wines have garnered more than 205 awards over the last 16 vintages, most recently six awards at the 21st Annual Wine Press Northwest Platinum Competition including gold, double gold and platinum medals. The YVC student winemakers have earned more Platinum honors than any other winemaking school in the Pacific Northwest.
Tickets for the Grape to Glass Galaare $85 per person for the general public ($95 if purchased after April 15), $75 for Yakima Valley Vintners Wine Club Members and $500 for a table of six. Tickets are on sale online or at the Yakima Valley Vintners Yakima Tasting Rooms in Yakima and Grandview.