The Santa Fe Wine Classic, with this year’s theme “Studio54,” is scheduled for Friday, March 25, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to attend dressed in glamorous 1970s club scene-inspired attire. Housing this impressive event is Quinta Mazatlan, the City of McAllen’s quintessential adobe estate located at 600 Sunset Drive in McAllen. The Wine Classic will highlight over 200 wines including such top brands as Paul Hobbs, Amici Cellars, La Rioja Alta, Bevan Cellars, Cakebread Cellars, Château Latour, Vega Sicilia, Ca’Momi, Caymus, Stags’ Leap, and Moët & Chandon.
Restaurant chefs will craft the specialty dishes that make their restaurants the best in McAllen. Included this year will be Santa Fe Steakhouse, Republic of the Rio Grande, University Draft House, Kumori Sushi & Teppanyaki, and Mori Steakhouse.
Music by Grupo Aché will be featured again this year, as well as a silent auction, a champagne & mimosa lounge, and a dessert lounge featuring O’ Pastries and Nothing Bundt Cakes – which are always crowd-pleasers.
All this is done for one cause – the McAllen Chamber of Commerce Education Initiatives.
“With the help of the Santa Fe Wine Classic, over one million dollars have been donated to the Chamber’s Education Initiatives Program,” said Gerry Garcia, McAllen Chamber of Commerce Vice-President of Special Projects & Government Affairs. “We are so grateful to all our sponsors and especially to the Santa Fe Steakhouse for making this event a reality. It has become a prominent event for McAllen, and every year we sell out,” Garcia added. “Only a few tickets are still available so anyone wishing to attend must get their tickets now.”
“We invite guests to come out and enjoy this event again or come experience this event for the first time,” said Albert Rego, co-owner of the Santa Fe Steakhouse. “The event was started to help students as they begin their new adventure and to recognize their hard work throughout their school years, and now it has become a much sought-after event not only to help students, but to give McAllen, and the surrounding communities another fantastic event to enjoy.”
Photos of McAllen ISD graduates are displayed every year throughout the event to share their successes with event sponsors and attendees. The photos allow guests to get to know the former students and find out their post-graduation plans as products of McAllen ISD, showing attendees the direct benefits of their contributions to the McAllen Chamber of Commerce Education Initiatives.
A silent auction is another way to help raise funds. An array of items donated by Chamber members, including curated wine baskets and artisanal home décor pieces, will be offered to the highest bidders. With increased participation in the silent auction from attendees, additional funds are raised to contribute to their night’s overall goal of supporting students.
This tremendous event would not be possible without the generosity of its sponsors. Joining the Santa Fe Steakhouse & Cantina and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce are presenting sponsors Boggus Ford/Lincoln; Embassy Suites by Hilton, On the Border-McAllen; and L&F Distributors. Additionally, Classic Sponsors include IBC Bank; Atlas Electrical, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Plumbing Services; Socialife; Frost Bank; The University of Texas-RGV Foundation; and the Radisson Hotel.
Join us on Friday, March 25, at Quinta Mazatlan. To ensure attendance, buy your tickets at the Chamber, Santa Fe Steakhouse, or the Republic of the Rio Grande. Tickets for general admission are $200 per person, and tables for eight are sold at $1,500. For more information, visit www.santafewineclassic.org or contact Gerry Garcia at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce at 956-682-2871 or ggarcia@mcallenchamber.com.