Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

Rona Barrett Foundation Annual Fundraiser Featured Best in Italian Style at The Sunstone Villa

Love, Italian Style: A Celebration of Italian Film, Food & Fashion, a themed event on October 9 benefited low-income seniors through the work of The Rona Barrett Foundation was an event to remember at the beautiful Sunstone Villa, where sips of fine wine were plentiful.

The Rona Barrett Foundation’s annual benefit event featured this stunning new location after a three-year hiatus. Guests were invited to celebrate in style while supporting vulnerable seniors, at Love, Italian Style, hosted at the Sunstone Winery Villa in Santa Ynez from 4 p.m. to 7:30 pm on Sunday, October 9.

“We’re discovering our community is more eager than ever to join together around the important things in life, and ready to get out from behind our screens to do so in style,” said Tony Morris, Executive Director. “We’re grateful to our sponsors, volunteers and auction donors for setting the stage for Love Italian Style to be a great success.”

Tony Morris, Executive Director & Rona Barrett, The Rona Barrett Foundation welcoming guests at La Dolce Vita Dinner & Auction

Proceeds from the event supported the ongoing work of the nonprofit Rona Barrett Foundation to provide affordable housing and wellness services for low-income seniors residing at The Golden Inn & Village located in Santa Ynez, as well as assist with the development of Phase Two of the Golden Inn campus, “Harry’s House,” an affordable senior housing complex with age-in-place care services.

“We have so much to celebrate this year, toward our mission to lift up an often-forgotten population, most of whom have worked a lifetime to make our country and community a wonderful place to live,” “With your help, we can continue to make sure seniors can live their golden years without a struggle for safe housing, meals and wellness.” said Rona Barrett, Founder and President.

This year the Foundation achieved two major milestones: the fifth anniversary of its award-winning Golden Inn & Village, and the February groundbreaking for Harry’s House, in partnership with the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara.

Love, Italian Style Gala sponsors included: Sunstone Winery, The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation (La Dolce Vita Sponsor); Ducati of Santa Barbara, Sunseri Construction (House of Gucci Sponsor); Pacific Western Bank, Union Bank, (Under the Tuscan Sun Sponsors); Bacheller Charitable Trust (Ferrari Sponsor).

Rona Barrett and Tony Morris representing The Rona Barrett Foundation at Montecito Bank 20th Presentations Luncheon in November 2022

The Rona Barrett Foundation
The Rona Barrett Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing affordable housing and supportive services for seniors-in-need. We do this by developing, expanding, and continuing operation of care homes such as the Golden Inn & Village in Santa Ynez, California. Residents benefit from a wide range of essential care services. With dignity, respect and love, the Rona Barrett Foundation presents residents with a broad variety of programs that meets their needs and enhances their lives. To learn more, please visit www.ronabarrettfoundation.org.

LearnAboutWine.com presents The Champagne Challenge with HOWLIN’ RAY’S Multiple Dates in January A Blind Bubble Tasting with Spicy Fried Chicken!

LearnAboutWine has returned to in-person events with full force in 2023. Their popular “The Champagne Challenge” features up to 21 Champagnes poured 3 at a time and all tasted blind and typically sells out quickly. The series now features a VIP upgrade with a spicy twist! This competitive afternoon of wine tasting will include an optional fried chicken sandwich from the iconic Howlin’ Ray’s! What could be better than tasting 21+ Champagnes paired with a sandwich that people wait hours in line to taste! Celebrate the new year, like we do, ALL MONTH LONG with stellar Champagnes selected by the LearnAboutWine team. Each guest will drink the equivalent of an entire bottle of Champagne! Purchase tickets here - Advance early bird pricing is currently available! Upcoming Dates Sunday, January 8th @ 3:30PM Located at COMUNITYmade in the Arts District of Downtown LA Get tickets here! AND/ OR Saturday, January 28th @ 3:30PM Located at COMUNITYmade in the Arts District of Downtown LA Get tickets here! Example Wine List (From our last event) Café de Paris, Blanc de Blancs Brut, France, NV Field Recordings "Salad Days" Pet Nat, Paso Robles, California, NV Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Champagne, France, NV Bérêche & Fils, Brut Reserve Champagne, France, NV Champagne Henriot, Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, NV Costco Brut, Champagne, France, NV Charles Heidsieck, Brut Reserve, Champagne, France, NV Dehours, Grande Réserve Brut, Champagne, France, NV Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Mesnil-sur-Oger-Champagne, France, NV Delamotte, Brut, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France, NV Diebolt-Vallois, “Tradition” Brut, Champagne, France, NV Gaston Chiquet, Blancs de Blancs, d’Aÿ, Grand Cru, Champagne, France, NV J. Lasalle, Cachet d'Or, 1er Cru Brut, Champagne, France, NV (Highly Recommended) Marc Hébrart, Mes Favorites 1er Cru Brut, Vieilles Vignes, Champagne, France, NV Pol Roger, Brut Reserve, Champagne, France, NV Taittinger, Brut Réserve La Française, Champagne, France Veuve Fourny & Fils, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Nature Premier Cru, Champagne, France, NV Vilmart et Cie, Grand Cellier, Brut, Champagne, France, NV Rosé Flight Billecart-Salmon, Brut Rosé, Champagne, France, NV Paul Bara, Rosé Brut Grand Cru, Champagne, France, NV Thiénot, Brut Rosé, Champagne, France, NV Tete de Cuvée Laurent-Perrier, Grande Siècle, Champagne, France, NV Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, France, 2011 Piper-Heidsieck "Rare" Brut Millésime, Champagne, France, 2008

ABOUT IAN TODD BLACKBURN Wine Educator, Professional Sommelier / Host and Master of Wine Student - Ian discovered the wine industry at the ripe age of 21 while working for famous chefs such as Thomas Keller and Joachim Splichal in the top dining rooms of Los Angeles. The discovery of wine and his endless need for knowledge quickly engulfed Ian’s life. His passion would eventually redirect his career from restaurants and hotels to vineyards and education. In 1995 LearnAboutWine.com was born, becoming the first website dedicated to wine education. With over 25-years of experience traveling the wine world, Ian is a published author (Wiley Publications, 2002), has 10 vintages of top level winemaking on his resume at Beekeeper Cellars, and is considered one of the region's best wine educators. Ian’s push to evolve and his ability to pivot has produced a strata of new concepts such as, ZoomIntoWine.com (virtual education), MerchantofWine.com (the family’s online wine store), and now the return of in-person gatherings with LearnAboutWine.com. Ian maintains high levels of entertainment and enthusiasm at his events by using all the great gathering spots in LA as potential venues. All while making a name for himself in the wine industry, Ian has never forgotten to give back to the community. Over the last few years he has raised over $650,000 for the T.J. Martell Foundation, which donates to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to help fund research to cure cancer in children. The combined charity efforts of LearnAboutWine have raised over a million dollars for various charities.