Help the Needy, one of Teller’s well-regarded nonprofits, received a $6,500 check last week, courtesy of the fifth annual Vino & Notes jazz, food and wine festival.
The Aug. 4 event, spearheaded by Ben and Jamie Caperton, owners of The Cellar Door, has now become one of the top ten wine tasting galas in Colorado. And according to Ben Caperton, the festival has emerged as a path leader in wine events that benefit a local charity. “We wanted to help out a local charity this year,” said Ben Caperton, who along with Jamie formerly ran Charitable Treasures. “We feel it was important that the dollars we raised from this event stayed in the community.”
Ben Caperton said the festival was a major success, attracting many people outside the region, who expressed an interest in spending much time in the area. In fact, an event survey indicated that a good percentage of Vino & Notes festival-goers had plans for spending at least six days in the local area. Approximately 20 Colorado wineries participated, along with several key musical bands.
Colorado vino has been gaining growing popularity in the area. Woodland Park now boasts nearly 10 retail shops that showcase wine-tasting areas for Colorado wineries. “We get true wine enthusiasts at this event,” conceded Ben Caperton, who admits that interest in Colorado wineries has definitely grown dramatically in the last five years. Accepting the check for Help the Needy was executive director Vince Scarlata.
