'Taste of Temecula Valley' to Feature 100+ Vendors Selling Food, Wine, Beer for Charity

Organizers of the the fourth annual Taste of Temecula Valley are gearing up for another fun-filled day, that's just now two months away.

On April 26, Town Square Park will be taken over by some 15 microbreweries, 15 wineries, 60 food vendors and more than a dozen other merchants, event organizers tell Patch.

Among those confirmed to attend the event are Karl Strauss Brewing, Wilson Creek Winery, The Tilted Kilt,  Third Street Smokehouse (formerly Sweet Lumpy’s BBQ) and Mariposa Ice Cream, according to organizers.
The event-- which costs $10 to attend for those 13 and older-- is held to raise money for the more than 29,000 students in Grades K-12 in Temecula Valley Unified schools to provide funding for art, science, and technology programs.


The following is more from a news release from Taste of Temecula Valley:

“We want the community,  especially families and parents, to understand that, when you support TOTV, you are supporting all schools in the district,” said Mark Katan, TOTV chair. “The funds we raise from summer school enrichment classes and public events like TOTV go back to school sites in the form of grants to benefit students,” he noted.

In November 2013, The Temecula Valley Foundation for Excellence in Education (TVFEE) presented 50 educators in the Temecula district with funds to support programs benefiting students at 21 sites. Called “mini grants,” the awards ranged in value from $50 - $500, and totaled over $20,000. Since 2011, TVFEE has awarded more than $40,000 in grants to schools across the district. 

      Examples of the types of projects funded include:

• Art supplies for Gardner Middle, Bella Vista Middle, and Great Oak High Schools
• Science books for frog studies for Rancho Elementary
• Robot kits with software for Temecula Middle
• Forensic detective lab materials for Vail Ranch Middle
• Solar car kits for Temecula Valley High School
• Engineering Challenge projects for Nicolas Valley Elementary
• Math manipulatives for French Valley and Barnett Elementary Schools
• Distance learning lessons on arachnids for Temecula Luiseno Elementary

“We believe the concept of a community taste – an event that brings the best restaurants, wineries, and microbreweries from Temecula Wine Country and Southern California together in one location – is a worthwhile endeavor. Patrons pay an admission fee, then small tasting fee to sample food and drink they might otherwise never try. It is great exposure for our vendors, and it’s an easy, fun way to raise much-needed funding for classrooms. There is virtually no overhead, as we are an all-volunteer based organization,” Katan noted.

The TVFEE and TOTV Committee are reaching out to area restaurants, wineries, and microbreweries to seek their participation, and the foundation is looking for corporate sponsors who want to lend their financial support .  Vendors interested in being involved in this year’s event can contact Katan at markk8ten@aol.com or call (951) 283-5305.

The public is invited to volunteer at the TOTV.  All volunteers must attend mandatory training sessions (either Wednesday, April 16, at 6 PM or Saturday, April 19, at 10 AM). Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) training is required for those 21+ who are volunteering in beverage booths. ABC training will be held Tuesday, April 22, at 6 PM.  The April 16 and April 22 sessions will be held at theTVUSD Conference Center, 31350 Rancho Vista Road, Temecula.  Saturday’s training location will be announced.  Email  totv.volunteers@gmail.com for more info; register to volunteer atwww.tvfee.Ivolunteer.com.

For more information on the Temecula Valley Foundation for Excellence in Education, see its website at www.tvfee.org.