Wine and fast horses featured at Pony Express shindig

Good wine, fine art and fast horses are an unusual way to enhance reading opportunities, but the Friends of the Library in Silver Springs are counting on those tastes to raise funds for the Silver Stage Library.

The Pony Express Wine and Art Shindig will feature a historic re-enactment of the historic mail carrier service, a wine tasting with locally produced wine and an art show featuring Silver Springs artists. The event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the historic Buckland Station on U.S. Highway 95A in Silver Springs.

Jacquelyn Jones, president of the Friends of the Library, who is organizing the event, said wine will be donated from Nevada's newest winery, Churchill Vineyards in Fallon.

"We'll actually have their first bottling for the new winery," she said.

The Churchill Vineyards will offer chardonnay, semillion, gewurztramer and a white Riesling, according to winemaking consultant Dick Tijsseling.

"The unique part of Churchill Vineyards is they grow all their own grapes," he said.

Tijsseling said that in addition to the white wines from Churchill Vineyards, he will be bringing three reds from his label, Tijsseling Vineyards; a 2000 cabernet sauvignon, a 2001 merlot and a 2002 petit sirah.

Local artists, including painter Darlene Novy-Zulke, jewelry maker Tommy Crockett, nature photographer Sheila Ehst and sculptor Ben Clinefelter will display their work, Jones said.

"We want everyone around to know the art we have in town," she said. "We have so many artists it's scary."

For history buffs, Larry McPherson, president of the Nevada Pony Express Association, plans to tell the story of the Pony Express.

"I'll have my horse, Sundown, there," he said. "Also, David Kittle will be there with his wife, Melody, who is the great-great-granddaughter of Alexander Majors, one of the founders of the Pony Express."

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.

If you go

WHAT: Pony Express Wine and Art Shindig

WHEN: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Buckland Station, Silver Springs

COST: $15 per person; $20 per couple.

CALL: (775) 577-2522