The fourth annual A Toast to Music food and wine benefit helped raise money for the Camellia Symphony Orchestra at the Old Sugar Mill Saturday night. The event was sponsored by Carvalho Family Winery.

Image by: Chris Brune Camellia Symphony Orchestra executive director Roberta McClellan said the money raised at the event will help fund the orchestra’s 2011-2012 season, although they won’t know the total amount raised at the event until Thursday or Friday.

“(It will help pay for) brochures, production, purchasing music, rental space and concerts over the summer,” McClellan said.

The orchestra provides free family concerts over the summer, and McClellan said the money will also help pay for all of the expenses.

The Camellia Symphony Orchestra musicians also performed at the benefit, with different musical interludes.

Image by: Chris Brune The wineries that participated in the taste testing included Carvalho Family Winery, The Solomon Wine Company, Scribner Bend Vineyards, Heringer Estates, m2 wines, Bogle Vineyards and Three Wine Company.

Brew it Up! Brewery and Grill also provided a selection of beers.

Several local restaurants and caterers provided a variety of hors d’oeuvres and desserts, including Hawks Restaurant, Enotria Restaurant and Wine Bar, Michelangelo’s, Mi Pueblo Ajijic Mexican Grill, Ravenous, Tulí Bistro, Capital Confections, Capital City Event Management and Sweet Cake Box.

Image by: Chris Brune

Retiree Robin Kane said she heard about the event from her neighbor and that she has attended one of the orchestra’s symphony events before.

“It’s very nice,” Kane said. “I like this as a venue. It’s terrific. The music is very nice. It’s refreshing.”

Parent James Pigford was at the benefit to support his daughter, who plays in the symphony.

“Any fundraiser that supports the arts in Sacramento is a good thing,” Pigford said.

There was also a large silent auction.

Carvalho Family Winery donated a barrel of custom blended red wine with a value of $5,500, amounting to 22 cases of wine. The winner will help bottle the wine this July at a special bottling party at the Carvalho Family winery.

Other hot auction items included a gift certificate for an iPhone, an Amazon Kindle and a World Mark vacation.

There were several raffle vacation prizes, including a gift certificate for the Mendocino Music Festival, a North Lake Tahoe getaway and a Bodega Bay escape.