Baton Rouge Uncorked lifts its glass to Strong Kids

One of the city’s largest networking events, has summoned more than $40,000 in its four previous versions to local charities — and this time the YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign will get the benefits of this blind wine tasting. Baton Rouge Uncorked’s spring tasting is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. March 19 at the Sheraton Atrium downtown, and now is a good time to register.

Pete Bush with Horizon Wealth Management borrowed the idea when he returned from Louisville a couple years ago after reading a city magazine about the Kentucky city’s version of Uncorked, started by a group of bachelors looking to network. He shared the idea with his close circle of friends in Baton Rouge, and the event meant for young professional ages 21 to 45 has grown in popularity with Cuspers and beyond.

“This is not a wine snob, learn-about-wine kind of atmopshere,” says Ed Giering of BRAF, Bush friend and one of seven founders of BR Uncorked. “It’s more exposure to wine for younger non-wine drinkers, though the seven of us have various ranges of experience and pallettes.”

Here’s the Uncorked low-down: Bring two or three friends to form a team, each person donates at least 20 bucks. Each team gets three matching bottles of cabernet sauvignon and you judge each on a scorecard. “We very quickly make talleys at the end of the night, and surprisingly, the winning wine is usually a recognized brand, so people’s pallettes are similar,” Giering says.

The spring tasting is in the largest venue yet, so there are plenty of spots available. Light hors d’oeuvres provided by executive chef Scott Varnedo. Organizers are hoping to tap into the YMCA membership and donor base for a wider range of attendees. If you sign up online and bring your registration confirmation receipt to Marcello’s Wine Warehouse on Perkins Road, you’ll get a 10% discount on wine. More information available at batonrougeuncorked.com.