MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center will feature the Shannon Ridge Family of Wines for Palette to Palate – an intimate pairing of art and wine – on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

MAC’s guests are Joy Merrilees, director of winemaking and production for Shannon Ridge, as well as Molly Wingo, associate winemaker for Shannon Ridge.

The featured exhibit is “Gimme Shelter.”

A $10 cover fee provides several wine tastings with additional glasses of wine available for $5 per glass. The program includes winemakers and artists discussion of their work and work process, stories, wonderful wines and light refreshments.

The Gimme Shelter exhibit addresses the many ideas of shelter; home, protection, security, nurturing, a sacred space, a lost place.

The Shannon Family also addresses shelter in their commitment to preserving their land, not only for the vineyards but also for the bear, elk, mountain lions, eagles and other creatures which live there.

Of their approximately 1,850 acres, only about 35 percent have been converted to vineyards which were carefully planned out, leaving corridors open to migrating animals and protecting sensitive nesting areas.

Our guest, Joy Merrilees, is a Lake County native and brings a wealth of experience to her position at Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery.

She has a Bachelor of Science degree in plant science and landscape design from Humboldt State University and continued her winemaking education at Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand, and the extension program at the University of California, Davis.

Her winemaking experience includes both domestic and international winemaking and production including Steele Wines, where she was assistant winemaker and J. Christopher Wines in Oregon.

Overseas, she has worked at Margaret River Vintners in Western Australia and Isabel Vineyard Wines, Valli Vineyards, VinPro Limited, and Morworth Estate Winery, all of which are in New Zealand. Joy is passionate about the wine industry in Lake County.

Molly Wingo is associate winemaker and comes from Sacramento, with a Bachelor of Science in viticulture and enology from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

She has traveled the world of wine, completing seven harvests back to back from Burgundy to Western Australia and New Zealand. Wingo has been with Shannon Ridge since 2014 and loves what she does.

Palette to Palate showcases two of Lake County’s assets: locally made wines and art.

The Middletown Art Center is an arts nonprofit dedicated to creating art opportunities, art education, cultural enrichment, and ecological awareness while contributing to the social and economic well-being of Lake County, California.

Consider becoming a MAC member to support local arts. Memberships and donations to the MAC are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.

MAC is located at 21456 State Hwy 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org to learn more about exhibitions, classes, events, volunteer opportunities and membership.