A Holiday Wine Tasting Fundraiser to Support Project MOST

Save the date for a holiday wine tasting to support a great cause! The wine tasting fundraiser hosted by Project MOST will take place virtually over Zoom on Thursday, December 16th at 7pm. These delightful wine options will have you feeling merry while spreading cheer this holiday season!

When asked how Project MOST decides where to put their fundraising efforts, Jacqueline Gravina-Wohlleb says, “We carefully consider the goals of our fundraising efforts and look to our community for inspiration. Last year’s Holiday Wine Tasting event featured two wines from local winemakers here on the East End – a white wine from Michael Cinque of Amagansett Wine & Spirits, and a red wine from the private Leo family vineyard. We were proud to offer access to our participants and to showcase these two great wines through an event led by the Virtual Wine Coach. This year we expect the options to be equally exciting, with wine supplied by Michael Cinque of Amagansett Wine & Spirits and John McGovern of East Hamptons Wines and Liquors, Inc.”

Melissa Principi and Michelle Waters are the co-founders of Virtual Wine Coach, and they are each Level 2 Certified Sommeliers. They will be guiding participants through the event with the pre-selected wines, all from the comfort of your own home. All proceeds from the event will support Project MOST to continue their mission in the community.

Jacqueline of Project MOST says, “Our mission is to inspire students and families to achieve their utmost in life through after school, summer, and community programming. Our objective is to encourage all children and families to be empowered community members—to want to learn, create and express themselves, and to help others.”

The wine tasting fundraiser was a huge success in 2020, so after community feedback Project MOST decided to bring the event back for a second year. Jacqueline says, “This wine fundraiser is a direct consequence of having to adapt and shift to virtual events. We met the hosts of the Virtual Wine Coach, Melissa and Michelle, and learned more about their fun and interactive virtual wine tastings. The idea appealed during the holidays of 2020, when we were in the height of home-celebration, as a fun experience that people could feel safe and comfortable participating in. This year, we decided to offer a second annual wine tasting fundraising event because the feedback we received was that our participants enjoyed relaxing in their cozy homes while nibbling on good cheese and sipping delicious wine…all in their comfy clothes! They were able to have the festive experience combined with the low-stress atmosphere of home.”

Project MOST provides affordable access to dynamic enrichment programs for all children. They help members of the community bridge the experience gap that some children and families may not be otherwise able to reach. Jacqueline says, “Our central focus has always been to provide quality enrichment programs for children, both within the local schools and at our Community Learning Center. We are responsive to the needs of the community as a whole though.”

With every event that they host and each fundraising effort, Project MOST, at its core, is about supporting and enriching the local community. Jacqueline notes, “With every program that we offer, no matter the location, we consider how we can positively impact the lives of the students and their families, whether it be through encouraging personal interest, bravely trying a new activity, helping them to strengthen a skill, or even connect to other people. The human connection between each other and between our educators and the students, and providing access to experiences, are both very important to us.”

Amagansett Wine & Spirits and East Hampton Wines & Liquors, Inc. have kindly donated the wine for this event. Get ready to cozy up at home with a great wine selection and recommended cheese pairing while supporting a mission that makes a difference in our wonderful community!

Registration is $80 per household and includes two bottles of wine and advanced recommendations of cheese pairings. Spots for the event must be reserved by December 15^th. The Zoom link and cheese recommendations will be provided upon sign-up. Project MOST and Virtual Wine Coach can’t wait to give you the ultimate wine experience this holiday season!

For more info, visit https://www.projectmost.org