by Alan Hodge



Fine wines flowed freely and the charitable contribution cup filled to the brim at the 14th Annual Rotary Club of Lake Norman Huntersville Wine Spectacular. The  Havana Social Club in Cornelius, underscoring the popularity of the Saturday, Oct. 1 event and its billing as the “event of the year on the lake” was the fact that it was a sellout before the rotary popped the first cork.
“Over 450 people attended,” said former Lake Norman/Huntersville Rotary president Chris Jones. “Attendance far exceeded previous years.”
Lake Norman/Huntersville Rotary official Jody Clark coordinated the evening’s activities.
“It was the most spectacular event we have had to date,” Clark said. “We had more guests, more auction items, more food, and more everything this year. It was fabulous.”
The first Lake Norman/Huntersville Rotary wine auction event, the oldest one of its kind in the Charlotte area, was held in 1999 at the Chilean Restaurant, where $3,100 was raised at the gathering. Throughout the years, auction monies recipients have included Lake Norman Community Health Clinic, Waymer Park in Huntersville for the construction of a basketball court and Ada Jenkins Mobile Dental Clinic.
For 2011, the 14th Annual Lake Norman Wine Spectacular once again benefited Lake Norman Community Health Clinic, as well as Hope House Foundation, the Charlotte Chapter of the United Service Organization of North Carolina and End Polio Now.
“Our beneficiaries are very appreciative of what we do,” Jones said.
More than 60 businesses chipped in as sponsors.
The total tally for this year’s event is still being counted as of the Herald Weekly’s deadline.
A splendid array of wines also passed across the auction table. These included 2004 Pahlmeyer Merlot, 2005 Swanson Alexis Cabernet, 2006 Silver Oak Alexander and 2008 Caymus. The Lake Norman/Huntersville Rotary Club put up several bottles of wine for auction including a 2006 Silver Oak Cabernet, 2005 Joseph Phelps Cabernet and 2008 Caynus Cabernet.
In addition to the wines, other auction items and services offered to bidders included two tickets to the Wells Fargo Golf Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club donated by the Compass Group, a private dinner for six with Chef Shane courtesy of A Tasteful Solution Catering and Events and a Les Paul guitar autographed by The Monkees courtesy of Dan Mills.
An added twist to the evening came in the form of a “Man Cave,” which was open to both genders. This enclave sponsored by Burner’s Cigar Co. and Stonehenge, allowed visitors to on fine stogies.
“Our Rotary Club has already received requests from several of this year’s sponsors and donors to take part again next year,” Clark said.
For more information visit the Lake Norman/Huntersville Rotary Club website at www.lakenormanrotary.org.

The Wine List
A variety of companies associated with the wine industry took part in the Rotary Club of Lake Norman Huntersville Wine Spectacular.
Wines were provided by The Wine Maestro of Mooresville. Varieties of wine came from Childress Wineries, Country Vintner, Falcor Napa Valley, Fine Wine Trading Company, Dionysis Wine Distributors, Mutual Distributing Company, and Tryon Distributors. Riedel Wine Glass Company also was represented.
Wines that flowed included Catena Chardonnay 09, Robert Craig 2008 Affinity, Fiddlehead 728 Pinot Noir, Hall Merlot and 2007 Briggs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.