DANBURY, CONN. — Guests will sample fine wines from around the world and enjoy a generous buffet of hors d’oeuvres as they celebrate one of the season’s most festive gatherings at Western Connecticut State University’s 13th Annual Holiday Wine Tasting on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011.

The wine tasting will be from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Westside Campus Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. The admission fee is $50, with proceeds from the benefit supporting the Caraluzzi Scholarship Endowment.

Over the past 12 years, the popular benefit has raised approximately $115,000 for the Caraluzzi Endowment, which annually awards scholarships to Western freshmen from the Danbury area and continuing students in the university’s Ancell School of Business. Proceeds from the annual event and generous donations from the family of Anthony and Roberta Caraluzzi have funded scholarship grants to approximately 75 students since 2001.

Some 20 tasting stations spread throughout the ballroom will feature a diverse and extensive selection of domestic and international wines. Guests also will be invited to indulge in a rich variety of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres provided by La Zingara Restaurant of Bethel. A silent auction will offer opportunities to bid on attractive items including original art works by Western students and faculty. Live jazz music will be performed by a trio of students from the WCSU School of Visual and Performing Arts.

Sponsors of the event include Caraluzzi’s Nutmeg Discount Liquors of Bethel and Caraluzzi’s Markets of Bethel, Georgetown and Newtown. Wines provided during the tasting will be presented by distributors of Nutmeg Liquors.

“We are looking forward once again to our annual Holiday Wine Tasting,” said Jennifer Caraluzzi Dimyan, chief financial officer of Caraluzzi’s Markets. “We thank all of our many friends and customers who continue to support our event year after year. We have created a wonderful tradition, and I am very proud to be a part of it.”

The scholarship endowment was established in honor of Anthony Caraluzzi, founder of Caraluzzi’s Markets, by his son, Anthony Caraluzzi Jr., as a means to give back to the area community and promote business education at WCSU. Scholarships are awarded annually to incoming WCSU freshmen who have graduated from Bethel High School or Immaculate High School in Danbury. The Caraluzzi Endowment also provides funding for scholarship awards to Western juniors and seniors enrolled in the Ancell School of Business.

Reservations for the event are limited. Advance reservations and payments may be made online at www.holidaywinetasting.eventbrite.com. Reservations also will be accepted by phone by calling the WCSU Office of Institutional Advancement at (203) 837-8279.

 

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York.
Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics
of New England’s best small private universities.