“AND THEY’RE OFF...”

Rotary Club of Paso Roble Sunrise Will Hold its Second Annual Derby Day Wine Fest at Windfall Farms

By Camille DeVaul

Returning for its second year, the Rotary Club of Paso Robles Sunrise’s annual Derby Day Wine Fest at Windfall Farms’ wine tasting event will be held on Saturday, May 6, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Windfall Farms Mare and Foaling Barn, located at 4710 Flying Paster Lane, Paso Robles.

“Last year was a lot of fun,” said Rotary Club of Paso Robles Sunrise Treasurer Jocelyn Baer.

This event will feature Central Coast wineries, breweries, and distillers, offering each the opportunity to showcase their most favorite libations. In addition, each is encouraged to decorate their own paddock in a “Derby theme” to compete for “Best Paddock,” as voted by the attendees.

The Rotary Club of Paso Robles Sunrise is a 501(c)3 organization with proceeds from this event going to support local community projects and other charitable organizations as well as vocational and educational scholarships. Organizations helped in the past include ECHO, Loaves and Fishes, RISE, Skills USA, Paso Robles Youth Arts Center, MUST Charities, SLO Foodbank, Paso Robles City Library, the Children’s Museum at the Paso Robles Volunteer Firehouse and many more.

Last year’s event raised about $20,000. Derby Day Wine Fest was thought up to replace the club’s annual crab feed event that ran for 20 years. Following the pandemic and rising costs for crab, it was time for something new.

“[We are] hoping to do better this year — it is an incredible venue,” added Jocelyn.

Club volunteer work projects have included the installation of smoke detectors for senior citizens, refurbishing the Historic Rios-Caledonia Adobe, trash pickup on local streets, cooking at the annual Senior Center BBQ, and coat collection drives just to name a few.

At 3:45 p.m., the 147th Kentucky Derby horse race will be shown on the big screen. Standing as one of America’s oldest sporting events, it is also known as the most exciting two minutes in sports. The race is known for the spectators drinking mint juleps and dressing in elaborate outfits with even more elaborate hats. Following the race, the wine fest will hold its contest for best hat, best tie, and best-dressed couple.

“We are a small and mighty club ... putting on an event like this is challenging, but we are definitely an all-in club and its going to be a beautiful event,” said Jocelyn, who added they are expecting another year of beautiful weather.

The Sunrise Rotary’s Derby Day Wine Fest at Windfall Farms is already becoming an anticipated event that fuses people’s love for wine and equines. The event will be limited to 300 attendees. Find ticket information and more here derbydaywinefest.com.