According to Sil Lutkewitte, who again chairs the event with Sal Barbagallo, the wine tasting will benefit the Sight First II campaign of the
Lions International Foundation that focuses on the 80 percent of blindness that is preventable and curable. Lutkewitte said the average cost worldwide for eye care is $6 and the cost of a ticket to the wine tasting could treat five persons and prevent them from becoming blind. “The entire cost of the tickets will be donated to the Lions International,” he said. “That’s because of the generosity and support of local businesses.” The Four JG’s Vineyards offers a variety of semi-dry table and rich red wines. It was started in 1997 and is owned by Janet and John Giunco, with Janet as the winemaker. The vineyards’ award-winning flagship red wine is the Chambourcin Riserva, a wine with blackberry, spicy nutmeg and coffee herbal flavors and tannins. The Giuncos’ best-selling white wine is Cayuga, is a semidry, light and fruity wine with an aroma of apples and a hint of melon. While the Four JG’s Vineyards, 127 Hillsdale Road, Colts Neck, is officially closed to the public until September, it is open for events such as the Mother’s Day Wine Trail weekend, May 9-10. For more information call 732-817-9463. Joe Danek, owner of Colts Neck Buy- Rite Liquors, said his wine distributors will participate in the Lions’ wine tasting benefit on May 16. “There will be about 10 distributors showcasing both domestic and international wines,” he said. “Ninety percent of the wines at the event will be from these distributors.”
Wine-drinking music will be provided by Bob Leibner, owner for four years of the Custom Shop Music Store, a full-service business, including offering lessons, repair and sale of musical instruments. The shop is in the Colts Neck Shopping Center.