What’s better than having the opportunity to sample a variety of wines and hors d’oeuvres, socialize and enjoy a night on the town?

Having two chances to do it!

Two Cary-based organizations are among those hosting fundraisers in November, offering wine tastings that provide ample opportunity to try new drinks while supporting local causes.

Viva Las Vegas

Children’s Flight of Hope, a volunteer organization that flies children who need medical care to their appointments via private plane, will be hosting its eighth annual “A Vintage Affair” wine tasting fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 4, from 6–11 p.m. at the General Aviation Terminal of Raleigh-Durham International Airport. 

The Mint and other Triangle restaurants will provide food, and Great Grapes will donate a variety of wine pairings.

A live auction will include diamond earrings, an exclusive “Playing Like a Hurricane” street hockey experience, once-in-a-lifetime wines, a trip to Las Vegas, and more.

The public is invited to join Children’s Flight of Hope supporters, contributors and friends for a great evening of Vegas-themed entertainers, featuring spectacular live and silent auctions. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased online at www.childrensflightofhope.org.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau

At midnight on the third Thursday of November each year, Beaujolais vineyards in France release Beaujolais Nouveau, a young red wine aged for only a few weeks. The event is met with great fanfare and the resounding declaration, “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!”

The Sister Cities Association of Cary, in partnership with the Wake Tech Culinary Arts Department and Total Wine, is celebrating with Cary’s fifth annual Beaujolais Wine Tasting on Friday, Nov. 18, from 6:30–9:30 p.m. at the elegant Matthews House in downtown Cary.

Proceeds from this year’s Beaujolais celebration will support the Sister Cities Association’s youth exchange program with Cary’s Sister City of Le Touquet, France, and the Wake Tech Culinary Arts program’s annual culinary exchange with Le Touquet. 

The youth exchange program allows Le Touquet teens to spend two weeks in Cary with host families and learn about the culture and history of Cary and the surrounding area. The culinary exchange program allows students in the Wake Tech Culinary Arts program to spend time in France and study at the Le Touquet Culinary School.

Total Wine of Cary will provide a Beaujolais Nouveau wine, two Beaujolais cru wines and a white wine. The Wake Tech Culinary Arts Department, under the direction of Jeff Hadley, will pair the wine with an exquisite selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres with a French flavor.

Tickets include a souvenir wine glass, tasting of the three Beaujolais wines, two glasses of wine and a continuous supply of hors d’oeuvres. 

Tickets are $40 each, $50 at the door. Purchase tickets online at www.sistercitiesofcary.org.