Here’s Our New Approach to Celebrate the Holidays:

 

Is it too soon to talk about Christmas?  In this instance, absolutely not. . .

That’s because we want to let you know that, sadly, we are ending a cherished Carpe Vino tradition that began more than a dozen years ago.  Our annual Holiday Party–what started as a simple gathering of about 50 people at the Carpe Vino bar on the Sunday before Christmas–has ballooned into a massive event that is simply no longer sustainable.  The victim of its own success, we simply do not have the horsepower and resources to continue producing this monstrous event during our busiest time of the year.

That doesn’t mean we won’t celebrate the season.  This December, Carpe Vino will donate $5,000 in the name of our Wine Club to the Placer Community Foundation, with the funds earmarked for food-based initiatives and programs directed at the homeless.  The Placer Community Foundation is a broadly based philanthropic organization that does an amazing job of helping fund local charities and non-profits.  It has the expertise to disperse dollars efficiently and effectively in our community.

We’ve struggled with this decision for many months, but we believe it is the right choice for our business because it removes a huge burden that has become weightier with each passing year.  With an average of about 400 people joining us at the Blue Goose Events Center in Loomis in recent years, it has become impossible to handle the crowd without contracting with others.  And that’s something we are loathe to continue because this is a Carpe Vino event.

 

We didn’t know it at the time, but this is a scene from our last Holiday Party at the Blue Goose Events Center in Loomis where nearly 400 Wine Club members joined the celebration.

The result is we’ll be better able to serve the overwhelming demands of customers during December for fine dining in the restaurant and private parties in the Wine Mine.  We’ll be able to maintain peak form throughout the holidays and our staff won’t be burned to a crisp by January 1.

We understand some of our loyal members may be disappointed by this change, but we also have the confidence to know most will approve of and our decision and value the impact our holiday donation will have on our less fortunate neighbors.

What won’t change is we’ll continue to conduct our annual Holiday Tasting–this year on December 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.–and we’ll always strive to be the welcoming place you rely on for great wine, outstanding cuisine and excellent service. . . all year ’round.

Please accept our best wishes for a great holiday season.

gary, Drew & the Carpe Vino Crew