ROYAL CITY - The excitement is building. The third annual Sip of the Slope is quickly approaching, and SHOC (Strengthening the Heart of the Community) and friends are ready.

Sip of the Slope is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Royal City Community Center, which is located at 13702 Dodson Road South. It will begin at 4 p.m., and the wineries leave at 7 p.m.

Admission will be $30 per person. That ticket will cover eight tastes, a souvenir glass and hors d' oeuvres. Tickets are available at Royal Harvest Foods and can be purchased the day of the event at the community center.

"We've looked forward to this since last year," commented Michael and Geri Schrom of Othello.

"Good wine, beautiful setting, wonderful conversations, Angela Morrison of the San Juan Islands said.

And the wine tasting festival has grown since last report. Pete Beaumont and Beaumont Cellars of Quincy is joining the fun. Danielle Smith of The Garden Grill and Bakery will bring additional hors de' oeuvres to the edibles selection.

"We are always excited to have an additional winery," Sip chair Linda Murphy said. "So, too, the addition of another eatery."

The contribution from St. Brigid's Brewery of Moses Lake, new this year, is a selection of their beers that are not bottled so guests may enjoy a unique tasting experience.

"It's fun and classy without wearing the fancy little black dress or tie," co-chair Georgene Ricker said. "You will see your neighbors out for the evening. The wine pourers are usually the winery owners' who are your neighbors too. You don't need to be a wine connoisseur. After all, wine pairs with the great things in life - food, friends, music, and companionships.

Slag Callahan and Gavin Rose will return to entertain visitors with their wonderful dual guitar music selections. Tom Hinde, publisher of the Royal Register will conduct a raffle that offers a variety of prizes.

The returning wineries are: Neppel Cellars, Camas Cove Cellars, Ginkgo Forest Winery, Foxy Roxy Winery, Gård Vintners and Frenchman Hills Winery.

Those providing a wide variety of hors d' oeuvres are: baked potatoes by Blue Sky, domestic and imported cheese from Cheese Louise in Richland, chocolates by Karen Lasen, appetizers from Deli-sh, fresh tacos from Hugo Ledezma, appetizers from La Cabaña, Pie Samples from Ronna's Pies and appetizers from Royal City Harvest Foods Deli.

"This event brings together a very diverse group of venders, which only exemplifies the diversity of the commerce that takes place in South Grant County and surrounding areas," Murphy said.

SHOC is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to foster recognition for and advancement of the diversity inherent in the area surrounding the Royal Slope and south Grant County.