Sip of the Slope moving to Seed Cupboard Nursery

ROYAL CITY - The annual Sip of the Slope Wine Festival will be held this year at the Seed Cupboard Nursery, which is located just west of town on Road H SW, about half a mile from Highway 26.

According to new SOS chairperson Lisa Villegas, owner of the nursery, two factors led to the change. The SOS outgrew the Royal City community hall at the golf course, and the past chairperson, Linda Murphy needed a break.

"She is still going to help," Villegas said. "But she's going to be doing other things too, like traveling."

Villegas expects the same volunteers as in the past to help, but she suspects some of them may want to cut back.

"The Sip of the Slope is a big thing. It demands a lot of time," she said.

The SOS will still be held for the benefit of the SHOC civic organization. It carries out several community projects, including beautification. Villegas became a member last year.

The SOS will be held on Sept. 19, from 5-8 p.m. The center of activity will be a big new red barn constructed at the nursery.

The SOS will again feature eight wineries and one craft brewery. Food oriented businesses will provide snacks to go with the wines. Dinner will be added this year, and a silent auction will be new.

"I'm making contact now with four new wineries," Villegas said. "I hope Slag (Callahan) will entertain again."

The wineries and brewery will be set up in the barn, which otherwise is a retail shop. Stock will be down by then, and what's left will be re-arranged.

In addition to what's available now, 16 tables, with chairs, will be added for the outdoor dinner. Dinner, either prime rib or chicken, will be prepared in the Garden Grill restaurant by chef Danielle Smith. It will be served by volunteers.

"We're going to twinkle light all of the trees so it will be really cheerful out here," Villegas said.

Noting the SOS grew to more than 100 paid guests last year, Villegas said: "Somebody had to keep doing it."