Lake County’s Wine & Chocolate … and More offers decadence for a worthy cause

Decadent indulgences like wine and chocolate are even more divine when they benefit a good cause. That’s the idea behind a long-running charity event in northern California’s Lake County called Wine & Chocolate … and More, a premium wine-tasting event combining barrels of wine country’s top vintages with gourmet chocolates and other foodie favorites. The ninth annual Wine & Chocolate … and More festival will be held Feb. 7 at the Mt. Konocti Winery and Event Center in Kelseyville, with all proceeds benefiting the Lake Family Resource Center. It’s a decadent and delicious event whose worthy cause serves as a real palate cleanser.

It’s no accident that Lake County would play home to a wine and chocolate festival. Lake County is a geologically unique area in northern California’s celebrated wine country, home to the oldest lake in North America and the cleanest air in the United States. These age-old and unique traits make Lake County’s soil and air unusually clear and pure, bringing forth an exceptional array of high-elevation wines. More than 30 of the distinct Lake County wineries that produce these award-winning wines will be represented at Wine & Chocolate … and More, making this a wonderful introduction to Lake County’s great wines and great people.

And it’s all for a wonderful cause. The proceeds from Wine & Chocolate … and More support the programs and services of the Lake Family Resource Center, a Lake County nonprofit supporting families by providing prenatal, early childhood and teen services and family crisis intervention support. The Lake Family Resource Center provides an array of services for families, mothers and children, with resources ranging from a 24-hour crisis hotline to food and shelter. The center serves as an important bedrock to families in need and at-risk kids throughout the region.

Wine & Chocolate … and More is a celebration of the finest epicurean delights Lake County has to offer. Ultra-premium Lake County wines will be available for tasting and for sale alongside table after table of outrageously decadent gourmet chocolates and fancy foods. Experts will be on hand giving workshops on how to pair wine with various food and chocolates, and a silent auction will include works by many of Lake County’s up-and-coming artists.

The Wine & Chocolate … and More festival makes a wonderful day trip event and showcases the unique artistic character of Lake County’s wine, culture and generous people. When you splurge on yourself at this wine and chocolate festival, children and families in northern California will be­­nefit.

The ninth annual Lake County Wine & Chocolate … and More festival will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Mt. Konocti Winery and Event Center from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door; VIP tables are available for $500. For more information, visit www.lakefrc.org or call 707-279-0563.