The 15th annual Ice Miller’s Indy Wine Fest on Feb. 28 broke all attendance records. According to Lori Plummer, Director of Media Relations, attendance exceeded 1,500 people – the largest crowd ever.
Conducted at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Indianapolis hotel at Union Station, both the main tasting floor and connoisseur level tickets sold out well before the event opened its doors.
Approximately $50,000 raised from the event was donated by Ice Miller to WFYI Public Media. Proceeds will benefit WFYI ‘s media programs and lifelong learning services.
WFYI executives Lori Plummer, Rena Barrowclough, vice president of communications, and Jeanelle Adamak, executive vice president, greeted us at the main level and helped guide us to various highlights showcased within the two block venue.
After sampling pasta, chocolates and other goodies we proceeded to the wine wheel where WFYI employee Tricia Schug and WFYI Executive Producer Shannon Cagle instructed attendees in the rules of the game. With this game, you couldn’t lose — you received a bottle of wine with your $10 fee. The goal was to land on a color that awarded a connoisseur level wine. Still, a game of chance and that enticed many players.
As we wandered the large venue, NPR radio personalities Matthew Socey (“Blues House Party” and “Film Soceyology”), Sharon Gamble and Travis DiNicola (co-hosts of “The Art of the Matter”) entertained as the evening’s masters of ceremonies.
At the connoisseur level, we met Richard Miles, vice president of content strategy with Elaine Powell of Carmel. We also met WFYI President and CEO Lloyd Wright and wife Maureen Wright. As president and CEO of WFYI in Indianapolis, Lloyd Wright oversees Indiana’s flagship PBS and NPR member stations.
PBS Channel 20 is known for the phenomenal hit “Downton Abbey”, as well as many other relevant and critically acclaimed shows. NPR radio 90.1 FM boasts informative local and national programs. WFYI Productions also offers a full media facility, which includes WFYI Learning Services; Indiana Reading and Information Services — a free service for Indiana’s reading impaired, as well as the WFYI Foundation.
For more information regarding WFYI, go to: www.wfyi.org or email Lori Plummer at lplummer@wfyi.org.
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Tonya Burton is the Current’s social scene columnist. You may contact her at tonya@youarecurrent.com.