N※N

Wine, Food & Casino Games: Orland Women's Network Hosts Inaugural 'Viva la Vino'

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/08 .. omen-s-network-hosts-inaugural-viva-la-vino.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, September 8th 2025 at 17:58 GMT by Patch
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Wine, Food, Casino Games and a Touch of Glamour: The Orland Women’s Network Unveils Its Inaugural “Viva La Vino” Event

On a crisp Saturday evening in early spring, the heart of Orland Park, Illinois pulsed with the kind of excitement that only a well‑planned fundraiser can bring. The Orland Women’s Network (OWN), a local nonprofit that has been quietly championing women’s leadership and community engagement for the past decade, announced the launch of its brand‑new signature event: Viva La Vino. The first edition of this “wine‑and‑dine” gala was slated to raise money for the organization’s upcoming “Women in Tech” scholarship program, while also celebrating the city’s vibrant wine culture and providing a night of playful entertainment with casino‑style games.

What is Viva La Vino?

At its core, Viva La Vino is a charity gala that blends the sensory pleasures of wine tasting with the thrill of casino games and the warmth of community gathering. According to the article’s lead author—who spent a day behind the scenes preparing the venue—the event will take place at the Orland Park Community Center on April 15th, 2025. The evening is slated to run from 6:00 pm to midnight, with a cocktail hour, a sit‑down dinner, and a “Casino Night” that will feature a selection of tables (roulette, blackjack, poker, and a custom “OWN Spin” wheel) where guests can test their luck for a chance to win one of the event’s many prizes.

The wine component is the star of the show. OWN has partnered with a consortium of local vineyards—most notably the celebrated Silver Lake Vineyards and Cedar Hills Winery—to curate a tasting flight that showcases three distinct varietals: a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, a velvety Pinot Noir, and a robust Zinfandel. Each bottle comes with an informative label printed with facts about the winery, the grape’s journey, and a little “Did you know?” trivia that will entertain guests while they sip.

A Night of Food, Fun, and Fellowship

The menu, as described in the article’s link to the Orland Park Food Collective, focuses on small‑plate “tapas‑style” dishes that pair seamlessly with the wines. The chef‑de‑party, Chef Maria Lenz, says the dishes were chosen to complement the flavors of each varietal: a lemon‑herb shrimp skewer for the Sauvignon Blanc, a mushroom risotto for the Pinot Noir, and a smoky chipotle steak for the Zinfandel. In addition, a vegan cheese board and gluten‑free options were added to accommodate all guests.

The “Casino Night” element brings a sense of playful camaraderie. The event’s own “OWN Gamemaster,” Julie Kim, who also co‑authored the event’s FAQ page, explained that the casino tables are “interactive, low‑stakes, and designed to be fun for everyone—even those who’ve never set foot in a casino.” The evening will culminate in a live auction where guests can bid on an assortment of items—from a private vineyard tour to a “Day in the Life” experience with a local tech entrepreneur. All proceeds will funnel directly into the Women in Tech scholarship fund, which will award three students with full tuition for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The Power of Community Partnerships

A recurring theme throughout the article is the network of community partners that made Viva La Vino possible. Aside from the wineries and the food collective, OWN secured sponsorships from the Orland Park Chamber of Commerce, Ridgeview Pharmacy, and The Greenway Co‑operative. Each sponsor received a “thank you” plaque and was invited to a special backstage reception where they could mingle with guests and view the event’s production schedule.

The article’s “About Us” page for the Orland Women’s Network offers insight into why this fundraiser matters. Founded in 2012, OWN’s mission is “to empower women in Orland Park and the surrounding counties by providing educational resources, mentorship, and community support.” Over the years, the organization has run mentoring programs for high‑school girls, leadership workshops, and a mentorship pairing service for working professionals. The Viva La Vino event is intended to expand the organization’s reach by creating a new revenue stream that will support future initiatives—especially the Women in Tech scholarships that the article highlights as a priority.

A Glimpse Behind the Scenes

The article goes beyond the logistics and offers a glimpse into the people behind the event. One of the organizers, Patricia “Pat” Morales, shared that she spent three months crafting the perfect blend of wine and fun. She explained how she spent nights tasting wines, negotiating with winemakers, and testing different game formats until the team settled on a format that felt “accessible yet sophisticated.” Another key player, David Lee, the event’s “Logistics Lead,” gave readers a rundown of the technical details: “We’re using a professional lighting crew, a top‑tier sound system, and a state‑of‑the‑art ticketing platform so that our guests can buy tickets online, check in quickly, and receive a digital raffle ticket.”

How to Attend

For those who want to join the festivities, the article provides clear instructions. Tickets can be purchased online through the Orland Women’s Network’s official event page. The event offers three tiers:

1. VIP – $250 per person. Includes a complimentary wine tasting flight, priority seating at the dinner table, and a free raffle ticket.
2. Standard – $150 per person. Includes a standard wine pairing, a seat at the casino tables, and a raffle ticket.
3. Community – $75 per person. Includes a ticket to the cocktail hour and an entry to the auction.

All ticket packages come with a donation receipt for tax purposes. The article links to the “Ticket Purchase” button and offers a discount code for early birds: EARLYBIRD25.

Looking Ahead

While the inaugural Viva La Vino will test the waters for the Orland Women’s Network’s fundraising model, the article hints at future iterations. If the first event succeeds—expected to raise over $50,000—the organization plans to hold Viva La Vino every other fall, possibly expanding to a city‑wide tasting tour or a pop‑up version in other suburbs.

Ultimately, the article paints Viva La Vino not just as a fundraiser but as a celebration of local culture, of women’s leadership, and of community collaboration. The Orland Women’s Network has turned an ordinary Saturday evening into an unforgettable night of wine, food, and friendly competition—proving that when a community comes together around a shared passion, the results can be as rich and rewarding as a glass of well‑crafted Zinfandel.

For more information, the article includes several embedded links:

• Orland Women’s Network official site – to read more about the organization’s mission and past events.
• Silver Lake Vineyards and Cedar Hills Winery pages – to explore their wine collections and the story behind each bottle.
• Orland Park Food Collective – to view the menu details and chef Maria Lenz’s culinary background.
• Event Ticketing Page – where tickets can be purchased and FAQs answered.

By weaving together these threads, the Patch piece offers a comprehensive preview of Viva La Vino and underscores the vital role that community‑driven events play in sustaining local nonprofits, supporting education, and celebrating the rich tapestry of Orland Park’s cultural life.