The spell was cast for a wickedly wonderful evening

Provided.

On Jan. 25, the Rotary Club of Tehachapi hosted its annual Wine Pairing Dinner Fundraiser, an event that brought together wine enthusiasts and community supporters. The evening featured exquisite wines from Tlo Winery, pronounced like "hello," which hails from Paso Robles and has a convenient Tasting Room located in Downtown Bakersfield on 18th Street. Guests enjoyed a delightful culinary experience provided by Bord A Petite Catering Inc., led by Lisa Borda.

The event kicked off with a smooth and refreshing white wine called Vinka, setting a positive tone for the night. With 110 attendees, there was plenty of time to socialize and explore the 45 auction items on display. A delightful surprise was added to the evening with a delicious walk-around appetizer featuring cheesy artichoke rounds, which received rave reviews from guests.

Around 6:45 p.m., attendees were invited to take their seats for the official appetizers. The first course featured goat cheese with jam on a crostini accompanied by an arugula apple salad, perfectly paired with a 2019 Tlo Syrah. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as guests relished the food and wine. Following this, a hearty minestrone soup with bread and a red wine called Visko was served. Avery Zaninovich, the owner of Tlo Winery, shared that the white wine Vinka honors the women of her family, named after her Croatian grandmother, while Visko pays tribute to the men, named in honor of her grandfather, the original winemaker in Croatia.

Having a representative from the winery made the evening extra special. Avery engaged the audience with stories about the winery's history and the family's passion for winemaking. She introduced the main course wine, a 2019 Zinfandel, which was the last of that vintage. I had the pleasure of tasting it earlier at their lively tasting room and had requested Avery to reserve some for the dinner. It paired flawlessly with a delectable braised short rib, garlic mashed potatoes and perfectly spiced green beans. An unforgettable experience!

To conclude the evening, the talented Linda Pettitt, a well-known baker in Tehachapi, presented an attractive assortment of individual meringue-topped pies, including lemon, chocolate, pineapple and coconut. These delightful desserts were served alongside the final wine of the night, a 2019 Reserve Malbec.

The evening embraced a vibrant "Wicked" theme, featuring three large character prints that served as stunning backdrops for countless photographs. The tables were adorned with pink and green tablecloths, reflecting the film's colors, and were enhanced by twinkling green and pink lights along with charming bud vases.

The Rotary Club of Tehachapi extends heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors: Lance Patton Financial Services, AltaOne, BHE Renewables and The Loop newspaper. A special acknowledgment goes to Christal Wheeler for providing exquisite place settings, and to Linda Pettitt for her outstanding culinary creations. We are also incredibly thankful for all the generous businesses and individuals who donated items for the auction, contributing to its tremendous success. This year's Wine Dinner fundraiser was the best yet! Thank you to everyone who attended, shared in the joy and made the efforts of all the Rotarians truly worthwhile.

The Tehachapi Rotary Club meets at noon every Thursday at Kelcy's, and is a time to gather for fellowship, learn about important and relevant topics and work together to support our local community. Rotary is the largest service organization in the world, and is committed to "Service Above Self," devoting time and resources to projects that make a difference around the globe. For more information about the Rotary Club, you can visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubofTehachapi/.