Mini-Review

The Napa Vintner's Association benefit for Any Baby Can

On Thursday, May 9, the Napa Vintner's Association will show off their best wines to benefit Austin's Any Baby Can. Sixty-five of Napa's best producers will be here. Amongst the big guns in attendance will be Beaulieu, Chteau Montelena, Diamond Creek, Duckhorn, Heitz, Mondavi, and Silverado. If none of those names ring a bell, suffice it to say they produce some of the most sought-after and expensive wines from the United States. Wine fanatics will find a plethora of fascinating smaller wineries and have the opportunity to talk to the owners and winemakers from most of the wineries represented. The Vintner's Association picked Austin for its wine savvy and per-capita consumption. It was also a lucky break for a deserving Austin non-profit.

Any Baby Can (www.abcaus.org) has been serving Austin's children and their parents for eight years. They focus on programs for families of children with special health care needs and developmental problems. In addition, ABC also helps pregnant teens and high-risk first-time parents toward having healthy babies. ABC provides services for more than 3,000 children per year. The Vintner's Association will be donating the ticket proceeds to ABC. A few tickets will be available at the door, but if the Napa tasting is anything like last year's Zinfandel Advocates and Producers tasting, you'd be well advised to buy your tickets now. Tickets are $75 each from ABC at 454-3743. They'll take your credit card info and put your name on the entrance list. Your money will buy a lot of wine, some nice munchies provided by the Driskill Hotel, and will support a good local charity.