Wine tasting fundraiser to benefit local youth

People Helping People, a local non-profit organization, is partnering with home winemakers across the valley to provide effective solutions for at-risk youth. The result: a wine tasting fundraiser fit to impress anyone passionate about wine and its creation.

The First Annual Hidden Gems of California Tasting, Competition, and Auction of Hand Crafted Wines by Home Winemakers will be held on September 13 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Clover Creek Ranch and Vineyard in Santa Ynez.

The goal of the event is to generate funds for People Helping People’s children’s programs.

Services are directed at children who require additional support to succeed at home and at school, and include medical and dental care, after school teen programs, drug and personal counseling, and basic assistance for families in need.

The fundraiser will feature about 12 different winemakers and 15 different varieties of wine not available to the public. As part of the entry conditions, all participants are amateur vintners with no ties to commercial wineries.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample everything from white wines to dessert wines while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and live music. Guests can even bid on their favorites in an auction starting at 5 p.m.

Professional winemakers will be on hand throughout the afternoon to judge the various vintages and present awards. There also will be a “people’s choice” award for the best in each class.