Sip of the Slope this weekend

ROYAL CITY - Except for the final three-day logistical push, everything is set for the annual Sip of the Slope wine tasting festival this Saturday, Sept. 20.

Sip of the slope is held at the Royal Community Center from 4-7 p.m. The cost is $30 per person for eight tastes, hors d' oeuvres, and a souvenir glass.

"There are also corked bottles of wine from each of the participating wineries for sale for off site consumption," co-chair Linda Murphy said.

Sip of the Slope is a year-round project for many members of SHOC, the organizing group. The last three days are the most hectic.

"We spend about three days collecting and hauling decor items into the Community Center," co-chair Georgene Ricker said. "An important piece is the authentic wine barrels loaned to us by Frenchmen Hills Winery."

Lisa Villegas, of Seed Cupboard Nursery, planted several pots of flowers for the show. They have to be picked up at her nursery and taken to the center.

"We borrow tables from a variety of places that have to be collected throughout the course of the three days prior to the tasting and taken to the center," Murphy said.

The interior decor and outside table decor is assembled elsewhere prior to the event and then transported to the center. Finally the day before the event, volunteers pick up the table linens and other rented items.

This year in particular, volunteers have spent parts of several days cleaning up the grounds around the Community Center. Fortunately they have had the help of community members.

"I know Ted Christensen and his son Peter have done quite a bit to improve the golf course and surrounding areas," Murphy said.

On the day of the event, tables are decorated, and the wineries appear and set up their displays. Volunteers set out all of the wonderful hors d' oeuvres prepared by numerous vendors.

Bill Krieger from Cheese Louise carefully arranges his cheese selections, and Hugo Ledezema sets up his taco kitchen.

All of this so members of the Royal Slope community can enjoy three hours of tasting products made by their neighbors.

The returning wineries are: Neppel Cellars, Camas Cove Cellars, Ginkgo Forest Winery, Foxy Roxy Winery, Gard Vintners and Frenchman Hills Winery.

Those providing a wide variety of hors d' oeuvres are: baked potatoes by Blue Sky, domestic and imported cheese from Cheese Louise in Richland, chocolates by Karen Lasen, appetizers from Deli-sh, fresh tacos from Hugo Ledezma, appetizers from La Cabana, Pie Samples from Ronna's Pies and appetizers from Royal City Harvest Foods Deli.

Pete Beaumont and Beaumont Cellars of Quincy is joining the fun this year. Danielle Smith of The Garden Grill and Bakery will bring additional hors d' oeuvres to the edibles selection.

Slag Callahan and Gavin Rose will return to entertain visitors with their wonderful dual guitar music selections. Tom Hinde, publisher of the Royal Register will conduct a raffle that offers a variety of prizes.