Wally’s Wine and Spirits will host Wally’s 7th Annual Central Coast Wine and Food Celebration (WCCWFC), benefiting the Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Fund at UC Davis’ Department of Viticulture and Enology on Sunday, August 1, 2010, from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. under the “Big Top” adjacent to the store.

Wally’s popular summer afternoon tasting will include over 60 Central Coast wineries: Saxum, Linne Calodo, Fiddlehead, Melville, Brewer-Clifton, Au Bon Climat, Qupe, Hitching Post, Tantara, Ojai Vineyard, Whitcraft, Jaffurs, Ambullneo, Dragonette, Beckmen, Brander, Presidio, Costa de Oro, Talbott, Row Eleven, Falcone, Arcadian, Rusack, Palmina, Foley, Paige 23, Justin, Clos Mimi, Talley, Ampelos, Claiborne and Churchill, Alma Rosa, Ken Brown, Core, Cobblestone, Malibu Vineyards, Native 9, Silver, Alta Maria, Plata, Margerum, La Fenetre, Kenneth Volk, Summerland and Demetria among many others.

With some of the best chefs and restaurants represented, including Frank Ostini showcasing the art of grilling on his traveling Santa Maria Barbecue pit from The Hitching Post, returning guests from Los Angeles are Osteria and Pizzeria Mozza by Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali, La Brea Bakery, Spago Beverly Hills, Jar, Gelato Bar, CUT, Lucques/A.O.C. /Tavern, Comme Ça, and the Hungry Cat. Featured from the best of the Central Coast are: Bouchon/Seagrass, Artisan, Pasolivo, Olio e Limone, The Ballard Inn Restaurant in Ballard, Brothers’ Restaurant at Mattei’s Tavern and Full of Life Flatbread from Los Alamos. Joining the event for the first time is Josiah Citrin’s celebrated Caché Restaurant and Lounge, in Santa Monica.

In addition to the wine and food tasting, guests are invited to participate in a silent auction of rare wine offerings and premier gift packages. This year’s live auction items will include travel packages to the Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley, Hadsten House in Solvang, and a week-long vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard. Also featured this year is a special appearance and signing by photographer Mark Robert Halper, who will donate 50% of the book sales of his latest collection, Sunlight and Water: Celebrating the Winemakers of Santa Barbara County, to the scholarship fund. For the seventh year, to entertain the crowd is Gary Burk’s lively group, the Inexpensive Winos. A majority of the funds received directly benefit the Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Fund at the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology.

Tickets for the event are $95 per person in advance and $125 at the door plus applicable taxes. They can be purchased through Wally’s by phone at 310.475.0606 or via the internet at www.wallywine.com and click to their special events page. For further information about the Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Fund, visit www.bonaccorsifoundation.org. For information on UC Davis’ Department of Viticulture and Enology, please visit wineserver.ucdavis.edu.

Wally’s Central Coast Wine and Food CelebrationSunday, August 1, 2010, 12 noon – 4:00 p.m. Wally’s Wine and Spirits 2107 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025 310.475.0606