Preparations are well under way for gallery 2’s 22nd annual Wine Tasting event. The gala event takes place Nov. 23 at the gallery and goes from 8 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. and will again feature a wide range of selections from wineries throughout B.C. “It’s a fundraiser for us that we’ve been doing for 22 years,” said Dawsha Hunt, visitor centre manager and event coordinator. “We actually veered off from strictly wine tasting and in the past years we’ve brought on a few craft breweries. In the past we’ve had spirits but we’re not doing it this year. We’ve also got local food producers like Jerseyland Organics and Max the Cupcake Kid.”Hunt says the event already has five food producers, two breweries and nine wineries so far. “We’ve got some newbies coming and soon oldies,” she said. “Gehringer Brothers has been with us every year of the 22 years. Among the returning beverage sellers are House of Rose; Nelson Brewing Company; and Tinwhistle Brewery out of Penticton.“One of the new ones coming are Bailey Grohman Winery from Creston, and Odego of 45th Estate Winery from Osoyoos,” said Hunt. “We stick to B.C. products. That’s our focus. We’ve got a couple from the Kootenays and the rest from the Okanagan.”Tickets are on sale now at gallery 2 on 524 Central Avenue in Grand Forks. The event also features a safe ride home program available through the Grand Forks Secondary grad class. The theme for this year’s wine tasting event is ‘A Vintage Christmas.’ Hunt says the annual event essentially signifies the start of the Christmas season and gives Grand Forkers a chance to dress to the nines and enjoy a big city experience without leaving town.“This beautiful old heritage building, we decorate it all up,” she said. “We put up a big 15’ tree. It’s the day we turn on the lights. You can come casually, but a lot of people take it as an opportunity to put on your fancy cocktail dress or long dress. We’ve had men come in tuxedos all swanked out. It’s kind of a Christmas party where you wander from table to table and taste the wares. It’s a nice evening event.”