Thousands of people are expected to visit the downtown area of Warsaw on April 27, for the 13th Annual Benton County Wine Stroll sponsored by the Benton County Community Foundation (BCCF).
According to BCCF Board member Suzie Brodersen, over 800 tickets have already been sold and many of the participants will purchase tickets the day of the event.
“We are really excited about the Wine Stroll and are anticipating a great turnout,” said Brodersen
Twenty-one Missouri Wineries have committed to serving up samples at the annual event. Those wineries include: A1 Bottling, Baltimore Bend Vineyard, Beckett’s Winery, Bee’s Knees Brewing Company, Dale Hollow Winery, DeLaney Vinyard and Winery, Endless Summer Winery, Fahrmeier Family Vineyards, Giggling Grapes Winery, Lindwedel Winery, Luna Umbra Winery, Primitive Olde Crow & Winery, LLC-Clinton w/ Adam Putcha Winery, Red Fox Winery and Vineyards, Skullsplitter Spirits Distillery, St. James Winery, Summit Lake Winery, The Local Tap, Timber Ridge Winery, Welpman Springs Brewing, Wenwood Farm Winery, and Wildlife Ridge Winery.
According to Benton County Foundation treasurer Tracey Spry, tickets for the event can be purchased at the Community Building the afternoon of the event. Tickets are $30 on the night of the event. The Benton County Wine Stroll will begin at 3 PM with participants turning in their tickets at the Community Building to pick up their wine glasses. The Wine Stroll will begin at 4:00 PM.
“The Wine Stroll is a great kick off to the summer tourist season for Warsaw,” said Spry. “It brings a lot of people to our town and is a fun way for friends to get together.”
In addition to the wineries, food will be available along Main Street as well including: Balke Q-BBQ; Ella Belle’s Bakery and Coffee Shop, Get Drizzled Wine Drizzle, Granny’s Ole Fashioned KettleKorn, Hibachi Ice Cream Co., Meant to Bee Honey Inc., Mexi Snacks and More—Charcuterie cups and snacks, Benton County-Missouri Farm Bureau—hamburgers and hotdogs, The Train Station- pizza, Yoders Fried Pies.
There will also be music on Main Street, The Groove Pilots and Fred Kennedy-acoustic guitar.
In addition to the Benton County Wine Stroll wine glass there will be lanyards for sale as well as wine bottle bags and t-shirts.
The Benton County Wine Stroll is the main fund-raising event for the Benton County Community Foundation. The BCCF’s main goal is to establish endowed funds for the purpose of conducting a flexible community grant making program which addresses the most important needs of the community at any one time. This year the Patterson Family Foundation will be matching the money raised by the Benton County Wine Stroll to double the money that will be available for grants issued to local non-profit organizations.
“We are very fortunate to have such a successful Wine Stroll,” said Board member Randy Eaton. “The Wine Stroll has grown every year and is the main fund raiser for the BCCF. Because of the Wine Stroll and the Patterson Family Foundation, we have been able to offer $50,000 in grants to local organizations.”
Any non-profit organization (501c3) in Benton County can apply for a grant in the fall.
In the past several years, BCCF has granted funds to the Benton County Historical Society, the Cole Camp Museum, the Food Bank, the three county school districts and annual scholarships to a graduating senior in each of the three county high schools.
Since the founding in August 1999, Benton County Community Foundation has distributed thousands of dollars in grants to the community. They now hold assets totaling over a million dollars.
The BCCF’s Board of Governors include: Dorcas Brethower, president; Tracey Spry, treasurer; Cheryl Petersen, Alice Wilson, Amanda Lutjen, Randy Eaton, Suzi Brodersen, David Knuth and Marcia Knuth.
Make plans to attend the Benton County Wine Stroll on April 27 and taste the best of Missouri wines.
