EBENSBURG - They'll taste no wine before it's time.
The Ebensburg Rotary Club is making preparations for its second annual "Wine Time in the Mainline" event, which will be held at The Noon Collins Inn in Ebensburg on Saturday in conjunction with the borough's Art in Bloom spring art show.
Proceeds benefit various high schools, elementary schools and businesses in the Cambria County area.
Article Photos
Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec
Elaine Bonanno, treasurer of the Ebensburg Rotary Club, and Phil Sutton, Rotary Club president, promote “Wine Time in the Mainline” outside the Noon Collins Inn in Ebensburg.
"We're very excited about this," Becky DeYulis, the club's event coordinator, said. "We weren't sure last year what kind of response we'd get. But it was very successful - everyone had fun. It's just a nice social adult event."
DeYulis, 47, who co-owns WorkLink Staffing in Ebensburg with her husband, Mark DeYulis, and another business partner, said this year's "Wine Time" promises to improve on last year's event, adding that six Pennsylvania wineries will be participating, along with several food and other vendors.
"We've added three new wineries, and we're bringing back our favorites from last year," she said.
Fact Box
If you go
What: "Wine Time in the Mainline"
When: 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Noon Collins Inn, 114 East High St., Ebensburg
Admission: Tickets are $20 per session, $10 for those not sampling wines, and can be purchased prior to the event at WorkLink Staffing, Mid's Candy in the Ebensburg Mini Mall, First Commonwealth Bank's Ebensburg office or from any Ebensburg Rotary Club member
More information: Call 214-5435
Plan ahead
What: Annual Home Wine Makers Competition
When: 2 to 7 p.m. May 15
Where: La Ferme Rouge, 238 Marina Rd., Patton
Admission: $25 per person (includes up to two wine entries; $7 per additional entry. Entries must be submitted by May 9 at La Ferme Rouge or Ed's Brew Shop in Patton. Judges' starting time depends on number of entries
More information: Call 674-8889 or 674-8721
"Our goal is to invite three new wineries every year to keep things fresh. You have to have diversity to make it a true winetasting contest."
Wineries returning from last year are Walnut Hill Winery (Blairsville), Starr Hill Winery (Curwensville) and Greenhouse Winery (Rillton). Allegheny Cellars Winery (Sheffield), Volant Mill Winery (Volant) and Deer Creek Winery (Shippensville) are the new additions.
Participating vendors include Mid's Candy (Ebensburg), Italian Village Pizza (Ebensburg), Wine Glass Caddie's (Revloc), Cookie Lee Jewelry (Pittsburgh) and Very Delicious Dip (Dubois).
This year's event will have two sessions - one from 1 to 4 p.m.; another from 5 to 8 p.m. Wine tasting and food will be available at both sessions.
DeYulis said more than 400 people attended last year's event, adding she expects that number to increase this year.
"Having two sessions will give more people an opportunity to have fun," she said.
"Plus, it enables us to split up the crowds, so we'll be able to keep the flow a little bit easier for the people tasting the wines."
In addition to wine tasting, wine will be on sale from each of the wineries, and cheese and crackers will also be available," Phil Sutton, rotary club president said, adding each winery will bring "at least 10 to 15 different types of wine."
"Last year, I was quite surprised with the amount of wines there from Pennsylvania wineries," he said. "If you're a person who likes to visit wineries, this is a very economical way to visit six at once. The entrance fee (tickets are $20 per session for those sampling wine and $10 for those not sampling the wine) is a lot cheaper than traveling around to all the different wineries."
As with last year's event, there will be an amateur wine-making competition.
"We had some outstanding entries last year, and the word is out now so even more are expected," Becky DeYulis said, adding that entries are submitted and judged ahead of time, and the winners announced the day of the event.
"The wines will be judged by an American Wine Society-certified judge, based on clarity, taste and appearance," she said. "We're giving a medal (gold, silver or bronze) this year instead of a certificate. Right now we have between 20 and 30 bottles registered."
Sutton, 57, owner of Comfort Home Systems in Ebensburg, said the most important aspect of the event is rasing money for the local community, adding the rotary club will give out scholarships to four high school seniors in the Cambria County, donate money to local food pantries and purchase dictionaries for all third-grade students in at least seven schools in Cambria and surrounding counties.
"I certainly enjoy watching the people having fun, and I'm really looking forward to having a good time, but the main thing is rasing money for the community here in Ebensburg," he said.
Elaine Bonanno, 56, club treasurer and bank manager at First Commonwealth Bank in Ebensburg, said "Wine Time" is the perfect social outlet.
"It's nice to socialize with people you see on a daily basis, but not necessarily in a social setting," she said. "Everyone who came last year said they couldn't wait to come again this year. So our goal was to make it bigger and better. It really is a first-class affair."
Mirror Staff Writer Jimmy Mincin is at 946-7460.
