[KHTS] – Circle of Hope and supporters are gearing up for the annual Vine 2 Wine Classic on Aug. 16 at CalArts, with the brand new addition of a “Barley to Beer” experience, officials said Friday.

“We are looking forward to a fabulous event, bigger and better than last year,” said Ray Tippet, executive director for the Circle of Hope, which supports Santa Clarita Valley residents and their family members in the fight against breast cancer.

“The Vine 2 Wine Classic is excited to introduce a new addition to the event this year called the Barley to Beer experience,” he said, adding Circle of Hope is counting on another sell-out crowd this year, thanks to support from title sponsor Logix Federal Credit Union.

“It is a privilege to continue our support of Circle of Hope and its annual Vine 2 Wine,” said James Davis, vice president of sales for Logix. “We are honored to have a partnership that provides people who live and or work in Santa Clarita the help they deserve.”

This year, the event will offer “the best of both worlds,” Tippet said, thanks to Newhall Refinery and Egg Plantation owners Simon and Sharon Mee.

The couple are lending their expertise, and impressive amount of hops, to create the Barley to Beer portion of the event, Tippet said.

This is both Logix and the Mees second year of involvement.

“We’re just excited to be a part of it,” Simon Mee said. “I think this year we’re really going to bring it on.”

There will be plenty of selection, regardless of what kind of brew you prefer, he said.

“We’re bringing what we feel have been the most successful, best-selling flavor profiles and theres going to be a good array,” Mee said, explaining his choices for the event, “from your light blond to some of your heavier IPAs and all the rest of it.”

There will be 30 different beers from 12 different brewers, including local favorite Wolf Creek, Mee said, adding there’d also be Alaskan, Anderson Valley, Angel City, Deschutes, Figueroa Mountain, Firestone Walker, Golden Road and Kinetic on tap.

There will also be pairing guides suggesting what beers go best with which foods, as there also will be dozens of vendors with delicious food offerings, Tippet said.

Of course the Vine 2 Wine also plans to stay true to it roots, or vines, as it were.

The event will feature unlimited tastings of several hundred upscale wines poured by dozens of outstanding wineries and by donors of fabulous and rare, older, “library wines” from their personal cellars.

This year, in addition to the live music of Jimmy Carnelli, there will be a raffle of expensive, rare and desirable wines, a silent auction of current and older vintages wines, and many, more items for bidding.

“We anticipate a sellout crowd of 750 people, so, we urge everyone who loves wine, beer, delicious food, live music and a great excuse to get out of the house on a Saturday night,” Tippet said.

“Come for the music, come for the wine, come for the craft beer, come for the food, come and support a local charity,” he said. “Just come and experience the Granddaddy wine and beer event of Santa Clarita.”

The 13th annual Vine 2 Wine will take place Saturday, August 16, 2014, from 6-10:30 p.m. at CalArts, located at 24700 McBean Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 91355.

About Circle of Hope

Circle of Hope, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit breast cancer organization located in Santa Clarita Valley, California.  We are dedicated to making a difference today, for a brighter future tomorrow. Circle of Hope is the only breast cancer organization in the Santa Clarita Valley that provides financial, emotional, and educational support services for uninsured and underinsured individuals with breast cancer, their families, and the local community. We have helped over 130 clients to date, issuing more than $100,000 in financial support.