The Alberton Library tried something a little different as a fundraiser this year. It was called “Armchair Traveler Passport” and offered participants the opportunity to raise a glass of wine with their neighbors and friends. On Sat. Jan. 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. over 50 people crowded into the Alberton Community Center and tasted wine paired with different nuts, cheese and various other hors d’oeuvres.

Librarian, Connie Acker said putting the event together was a lot of fun and they received great support from local wineries, Hidden Legend in Victor; Montana Winery and 10 Spoon in Missoula. They donated, or gave steep discounts, to the wine served that evening. They also donated items for a silent auction held in the library which is located in the Community Center building.

“This one pairs well with the pecan,” explained server Sandye Adams who was a volunteer for the evening, as she held up a bottle of Route 406 Red from 10 Spoon.

There was a table of reds and a table of white wines being served for the tasting. Including Hidden Legend’s Skalkaho’s Red and White wines. Both made with grapes grown in the Skalkaho area located down the Bitterroot south of Mineral County.

The red was described as having “rich cherry and berry flavors with a hint of pepper and spice mellowed by oak” and paired well with aged cheddar or Gouda cheese, Italian or Mexican food or grilled Montana beef.”

As participants checked off wines they sampled from their “passport”, the strolled through tables of auction items like gift certificates to 10 Spoon Winery; photographs from local photographers Brooke Barnett and Jen Fredette; coasters; gift baskets and more.

“Everyone seems to be having good time,” said Acker as people gathered around a table filled with crackers, salami, olives, nuts and cheese. She was also sporting a t-shirt with a book and a bottle of wine that said, “well red”. The shirt is what inspired the event, a combination of two of her favorite things, reading and drinking a glass of wine, “the two just seem to go together,” she said.

Another part of the evening was a “wine pull” where people could pay $10 and grab a bag which contained a mystery bottle of wine. Florence Evans, who is a librarian for the Mineral County Library in Superior and her husband, Brent, each did the “pull”. Florence got a bottle of red and Brent, a bottle of white, “he’s a red wine drinker, well actually more of a beer drinker,” she laughed.

Overall the event made $1,900 according to Acker with $785 from the silent auction, ticket sales and miscellaneous donations.