If that may be the case, consider it a local charitable contribution. Ken Wright Cellars hosts "Uncorked: The Oregon Wine & Art Auction" on July 12 from 5 - 9:30 p.m., featuring a four course meal paired with local wine.

Proceeds will benefit three local charities: Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Clinics, Willamette Valley Cancer Foundation & the McMinnville Rotary Foundation Charities. So that warm and fuzzy feeling may not just be the tasted wine selections.

Two silent auctions will close early in the evening at 6:30 and 6:45 respectively. Dinner begins at 7 p.m., with a live auction to commence at 8 p.m. closing the festivities.

Along with wine, food, and art the Noah Peterson Jazz Trio will perform throughout the evening.
The 16th annual auction, at deadline, had sold 350 tickets, about 70 percent of the event.

Tickets cost $100 per person which includes a reserved table, dinner, and wine sampling. For more information:call (503) 883-0323, or visit www.theoregonwineandartauction.org

Like a Parisian afternoon

Savor a Saturday at Historic Deepwood estate when it offers its Jazzy Food and Wine Festival on July 12. Settled among the estate's gardens and trails, the afternoon event boasts wine tasting, live music, and a selection of food from 3 - 8 p.m.               
Listen to the swinging jazz music of Matt Schiff Trio and the Blue Gardenia Quartet and sample ten wines for the admission price of $20. The wine and food choices are matched to complement the texture and flavor of one another. Each small plate of food will be available for purchase at $5 or less.
Food options are offered by an array of local companies, which include the Silver Grille and Silver Falls Creamery, both of Silverton, Bistro at Wellspring in Woodburn, and the Queen of Tarts Bakery and Cafe, Extreme Chocolates, Bentley's Grill, Jack Rabbit Cafe and Occasions Catering, all in Salem.

Menu choices will include polenta with a vegetable ragu, grilled portobello mushroom burgers and an antipasto platter and possibly a gispatcho with herbed bread, according to Lois Cole, Executive Director of the Historic Deepwood Estate.
Wine tasting will include selections from Amity Vineyards, Ankeny Vineyards,Chateau Benoit, Cubanisimo Vineyards, Dobbs Family Estate, Emerson Vineyards, Left Coast Cellar, Oregon Wine Club, Piluso Wines, Seufert Winery, Willamette Valley Vineyards and more.
 
Wine is available for purchase by the glass and bottle. Cases are offered at special pricing for the event.     

Tickets can be purchased online or at any Roth's location. For more information call (503) 363-1825 or visit www.historicdeepwoodestate.org

Revamping Marco Polo
At its current location downtown at 210 Liberty Street, Marco Polo Global Restaurant offers three menus that feature a variety of vegetarian dishes from European and Asian cuisines. Soon, it will transform into Marco Polo Tea Time as the restaurant opens its new, larger facility.

During the end of July, the restaurant will move down one block to 300 Liberty St. SE, which used to be occupied by Coco's Bar and Grill. With approximately quadruple the space, the restaurant will be able to offer staffed or non-staffed banquets and catering.

The buffet at the restaurant will be discontinued. Under the same owners, Jackey and Cathay Cheung, Tea Time will offer a variety of teas and their traditional organic vegetable and gluten-free fare.

Marco Polo Global Restaurant will be open every day for lunch and dinner and Monday through Friday for breakfast.