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Date: 4/20/2023
SPRINGFIELD — The Longmeadow chapter of UNICO, an Italian American service organization, will host its 21st Wine, Beer and Food Tasting on Saturday, April 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. As always, the event, which brings eateries, distilleries and wineries together, will be at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 Hall of Fame Ave., Springfield.
Longmeadow UNICO Vice President Heather Marchetta said the Wine, Beer and Food Tasting is UNICO Longmeadow’s largest fundraiser of the year. On average, between 350 and 500 people attend each year.
Last year was the first time the event had been hosted since the coronavirus pandemic forced people to avoid gatherings in 2020. Marchetta said a sizeable crowd turned out to the 2022 tasting, “considering people were still a little hesitant about getting together in large groups.”
Longmeadow UNICO President Dennis Scibelli said in a press release, “Our wine tasting’s return last year after a two-year absence because of the pandemic was a rousing success. We moved the event from the fall to the spring, which people really seemed to like, and this year’s event again will showcase the terrific variety of restaurants in our area, top-notch wines from our longtime donor, M.S. Walker Distributors, and beer and spirits from popular local brewers, including another longtime provider, Berkshire Brewing Company.”
The tasting will take place at center court at the Hall of Fame and will include restaurants from the Greater Springfield area and distillers from across New England.
Some of the restaurants with a presence at the event include Max’s Tavern, Plan b Springfield, The Place 2 Be, AC’s Main Street Market, Armata’s Market and Catering, Chicopee Provision, Christopher’s Tavern, Corsello Butcheria, Delaney’s Market, La Cucina di Hampden House, La Fiorentina, Mama Mia’s Pizzeria, Milano Importing, Storrowton Tavern, Twin Hills Country Club and Wood-n-Tap West Springfield.
Breweries, distilleries and wineries scheduled to be at the event include Iron Duke Brewing, Mayflower Brewing Company, Scantic River Brewery, Berkshire Brewing Company, Downeast Cider and Litchfield Distillery. Marchetta said that this year, there will be a chocolate and wine pairing station from East Longmeadow-based Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe and MS Walker, a wine and spirits distillery and importer.
Entertainment will be provided by classic rock trio, The 1220 Band. There will be a photo wall with an opportunity to take pictures with other guests, a silent auction and raffle and attendees will also have access to the exhibits at the Hall of Fame. The $40 ticket price also includes free parking. Tickets are available through eventbrite.com or at the door.
The Longmeadow High School Key Club will be helping with set up, food service and clean-up for the tasting.
UNICO is the Italian word for unique or one-of-a-kind, and the backronym Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity and Opportunity has also been adopted to represent the organization. It is an Italian American community service club that was established in Connecticut in 1922. Today, the national organization promotes itself as the “largest Italian American service organization in the USA.” The Longmeadow chapter of UNICO was chartered in 2000.
“We do a lot of [charity work] within the community,” Marchetta said. The organization’s local chapter has worked with the National Alliance for Mental Illness, helped Springfield-based Open Pantry Community Services, aided in disaster relief efforts, hosted a blanket drive for veterans and provided multiple scholarships to graduating high school seniors. “When we raise money, it comes back to the community,” she said. This reflects the organization’s motto “Service Above Self.”
There are about 35 members of the Longmeadow chapter of UNICO, but Marchetta said the chapter is actively seeking new members. Anyone with Italian heritage is eligible or who is married to someone with heritage is eligible to join.
For more information on Longmeadow UNICO, visit longmeadowunico.org or facebook.com/LongmeadowUNICO413.