The Errigo family, Pat and his son and daughter, Jonathan and Stephanie, won the right to create, name, design the label and bottle a new wine by being the highest bidders at last fall’s Anne S. Thacik Charity Auction.
The win empowered them to select the juices used, design the label for the wine, make the final decision in the blending process and participate in the bottling activities earlier this month.
Taste tests occurred at several points during the process. Everything must be approved by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
Together they created a sweet blend of dragon fruit wine, hand-bottled, corked, capped, labeled and packed about 500 bottles of the wine.
The wine will debut at the 13th annual Groundhog Trail Wine Festival on Saturday, Feb. 2, located at the Expo II building, Clearfield County Fairgrounds, and then will be available at all Starr Hill Winery locations.
Tickets are $20 Pre-sale and $25 at the door; group rates are available. You can log on for tickets at https://altoonatickets.com/events/groundhog-wine-festival.
Kenn Starr stated, “It is always a pleasure working with folks who have the opportunity to create their own wine. We promote the agency throughout Pennsylvania and people are always looking forward to the new blend.
“Starr Hill Winery has been a proud sponsor of the auction for many years and the opportunity to blend, bottle, and name your own wine has always been one of the highest bid items.”
The public is invited to stop by any of the Starr Hill outlets to sample and purchase “Cheaper Then Therapy.” They are located inside Wal-Marts in Altoona, Butler, Clearfield, DuBois and Johnstown, and also at the winery in Curwensville. You can also visit Starrhillwinery.com.
Part of the proceeds from the sale of this wine will be donated to the Friends of the Area Agency on Aging Auxiliary to support their programs and services.
Starr Hill will offer the same privilege (to create, name and bottle your own wine) at the next Anne S. Thacik Charity Auction scheduled for the fall of 2019.
