Wine and Wisdom at Sugar Pine!

August 3, 2014 by trudilee

By Tim Hauserman

Author Frances Dikelspiel’s great, great grandfather Isias Hellman in 1903 constructed the building that was to become the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, the centerpiece of Sugar Pine Point State Park. She has written a book, “Towers of Gold,” about the fascinating life of Hellman, and his impact on the growing economy of California. Dikelspiel will be the featured speaker on the front porch of the Ehrman Mansion at a Sierra State Parks Foundation Wine and Wisdom event this Thursday, August 7th at 5 pm.

What could be finer then drinking a bit of wine and snacking on some delicious food while pondering the beauty of the lake in front of you? Well, you could add in some interesting conversation, a tour of the building, and the opportunity to learn the interesting details of this Tahoe landmark, and what the folks who were creating such places were doing with themselves at the beginning of the 20th Century.

The group of guests, which is limited to 40 people, will enjoy a behind the scenes tour of the building, then be treated to wine from the Tahoe Ridge Winery and an array of appetizers overlooking the lake. As the sun sets, Dinkelspiel will tell the story of the amazing life that Hellman led.

Tickets are $50 which includes the park entrance fee and a tour booklet. Reservations are highly recommended. The program begins at 5pm at the Visitor Center on the Day Use side of the park. For more information call: 530-583-9911.

By the way, if you are not familiar with the Sierra State Parks Foundation, it’s a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial and professional support to the region’s state parks. They work with the State of California to provide assistance for the programs that are desperately needed, but the state doesn’t have the money to fund. Sierra State Parks is a critical part of what keeps our local state parks awesome places to visit. For information go to sierrastateparks.org