CHEERS! 5TH ANNUAL FOOD & WINE MIXER TO BE HELD JUNE 15 AT MANOR VINEYARD ON MT. HELIX

Honors to be presented to “pioneering women” in local wine industry at Maness Vineyards’ event

May 27, 2013 (Mt. Helix) –  East County Magazine  Editor Miriam Raftery is among three honorees slated to receive an “Award of Merit” on June 15 from 12 to 4 p.m. at the 5th annual Maness Vineyards; Food & Wine Mixer.  This year’s event will be held at Stephanie Young’s Manor Vineyard on Mt. Helix.  Other honorees are Supervisor Dianne Jacob and Teri Kerns, Executive Editor of the Ramona Valley Wine Region Magazine.

Guests are invited to bring two bottles of wine to share and enjoy a barbecue luncheon and wine-tasting. An opportunity drawing will also be held, with proceeds benefitting St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center for developmentally disabled adults.

“I have chosen three strong, powerful women who have been chosen as this year’s award of merit recipients,” said Greg Maness, vineyard consultant and owner of Maness Vineyards. Winners were chosen because of their efforts to spread the word about the expansion of San Diego County’s emerging wine growing and wine making industries. Raftery and Kerns have publicized efforts of local vintners and growers through journalism; Supervisor Jacob introduced a boutique winery ordinance that made it easier for small wineries to open tasting rooms, providing a potent boost to East County's economy.

In future years, additional inductees will join the ranks of these leaders, Maness said ,adding that these initial three honorees “will always be the chosen first of many to stand tall and make a difference.

Wear comfortable walking shoes to tour Stephanie Young’s beautiful Manor Vineyard on Mt. Helix.  (Note: this site is not ADA accessible) Young is a cofounder of the Mt. Helix Wine Growers’ Association, which ECM has previously covered.

This event is limited to 200 guests and is filling up fast, so be sure to RSVP at (619)442-5129 ext. 333, nfullerton@STMSC.org.  A shuttle bus will provide free transportation to the event from the Vons parking lot at 1201 Avocado Blvd. in El Cajon.