Wine and champagne flow for a good cause

Karen Ann Quinlan Center to benefit from festival FREDON — Nearly 400 people descended upon the Klemm Water Wheel Farm in Fredon on Sunday to enjoy the scenery, sunny weather and of course, the wines, cheeses, chocolates and other decadent surprises available for sampling. The sounds of the band The Wigglestix carried on the gentle breeze while people danced, strolled the grounds, admired the classic cars on display, enjoyed tours of the farmhouse and participated in a silent and live auction. Participants were able to sample 144 wines from around the globe. Randy Burke of Burke’s Wines and Liquors said, “Wine is like art, and up to one’s individual tastes. The most important thing is to find a wine you like.” Barbara Longue, a wine expert for 25 years, was on hand as well to answer questions about choosing a wine. “Wine is food. If you like spicy food, you’ll want a spicy wine or mild food, a mild wine. Keep trying different wines to find ones you like. And a wine you like at one point you may not like in the future because tastes change.” “This is a wonderful day for everyone to get together and some of the same people come every year, and we’ve built friendships,” said Julia Quinlan, President and cofounder of the hospice. Quinlan started the hospice with late husband Joseph to honor the memory of their daughter, Karen Ann. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Wine & Cheese Festival. Quinlan acknowledged Jeannette and Willard Klemm, who have hosted the event at their farm each year, Randy Burke of Burke’s Wine and Liquors in Sparta, who donates the wine, the women and Friends of Hospice who provided the desserts, and the countless volunteers who give their time that day to benefit the hospice. Hospice Volunteers help the patients and families facing terminal illnesses. “It’s a most rewarding cause,” said Quinlan. “People say how wonderfully we’ve cared for their loved ones through the hospice. That’s what it’s all about.” The non-profit group will be celebrating its 30th anniversary on April 15, 2010. “I can’t believe how much it has grown in 30 years and I’m so blessed to see how it has grown,” said Quinlan. For more information about the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation, see their website: http://www.karenannquinlanhospice.org.