Wine for toys

A gondola sleigh filled with toys at last year’s Toys for Tots event at Jordan Winery (photo courtesy of Jordan Winery)

Two local food and wine events are being held this Friday to benefit Toys for Tots, the charity that helps local children in need.

First off is the Toys for Tots Drive Gondola Weigh-In, happening on Friday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. This event brings the wineries of The Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley head to head in a competition to see which region was able to fill a five-ton grape gondola with the most toys and coats. For the past three weeks, the wineries have been swiftly collecting donations for this Friday’s huge weigh in. When the big event arrives, the donations will be delivered in a vintage wine gondola painted like Santa’s sleigh to the scale house at Jordan Winery (who plays host this year). The winner receives bragging rights and the reward of giving back this holiday season.

J sparkling wine will be served, along with sweets from the Jordan chef. Jordan Vineyard & WInery is located at 1474 Alexander Valley Rd., Healdsburg. More information can be found HERE.

The second event, also on Friday, Dec, 14, is at McFadden Farm from 4-7 p.m. The farm is holding a toy drive and wine tasting event in their tasting room, but the details don’t just stop there. By just bringing an unwrapped toy, you’ll receive a raffle ticket for prize drawing for numerous goodies – including a basket giveaway of McFadden Farm goodies worth over $200. The tasting room will be offering tastes of their newly released 2011 Chardonnay, 2011 Gewurztraminer, 2011 Late Harvest Dessert Riesling, and 2009 Special Reserve Brut. And they are offering 20% off everything in the tasting room – wines, grass fed beef, culinary holiday herb wreaths, garlic braids, oil, wild rice, and more.

McFadden Farm Stand & Tasting Room is located at 13275 S Hwy 101, Ste 5, Hopland. For more information, call (707) 744-8463.