Toast of the Coast wine tasting to benefit wetlands

The 2007 Toast of the Coast wine tasting will be 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach. Proceeds will benefit Orange County Coastkeeper, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Orange County’s marine habitats and wetlands through education, advocacy, restoration and enforcement.

Conservationist Joan Irvine Smith will be honored at the event for her dedication to water supply and water quality issues in the region. The event will feature some of the Central Coast’s finest wines and a bid for a weekend getaway at a winery, where the winner will experience the fall grape harvest and create a personalized blend of barrel-aged wine.

Tickets are $200 and can be purchased at www.coastkeeper.org. For more information, call (714) 850-1965. The event will feature 10 wineries from Paso Robles: Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines, Denner Vineyards, Anglim Winery, Linne Colodo, J. Lohr, Turley, Jack Creek, Halter Ranch, Tablas Creek and Four Vines. Food will be provided by Saltwater Events and Midnight Blues will provide music. Several items will be auctioned live during the event. The weekend will include a tasting and blending seminar, dinner at the old farm house and a classic barbecue with all the trimmings paired with wine and beer.

— Brianna Bailey