[Columbia, SC] - For the third year, Riverbanks Botanical Garden will be opening its gates after hours, beckoning in over 700 wine enthusiasts, and uncorking more than 100 different wines courtesy of Morganelli's.

"This has quickly become one of my favorite events," said Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. "On a warm evening in May the Garden looks spectacular, live music sets just the right tone, and the wine flows like water. It just doesn't get much better than that."

Guests who purchase a ticket to the event receive a glass, souvenir plate and wine guide as they enter the Garden. A stroll across Riverbanks' treetops bridge opens up into the Old English Rose Garden and a terraced view leading up to the Botanical Garden's Visitor Center. Tucked among the roses and scattered on the various terraces, distributor tables are lit by twinkling white lights with plenty of professionals standing by, eager to share information about a particular wine's vintage and flavor.

Guests who fall in love with a particular label can take it home by the box full. Guests can place discounted orders with Morganelli's that evening that will be available for pick-up the following Wednesday at Morganelli's on Forest Drive.

Riverbanks is also continuing to develop South Carolina's sister-state relationship with Queensland, Australia by offering the "Susan Gilmore" label by Ballandean Estate, a new label that the Australians just began distributing to South Carolina in January and that is only available locally at Morganelli's. This is the first commercial agreement to result directly from the sister-state relationship. The distributor and Morganelli's will be donating 50 cents from the sale of each bottle back to Riverbanks Society. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden first partnered with Queensland in 2002 when the Australian government gave the Zoo its koalas.

The wine flows to the sounds of live jazz provided by musical entertainers Little Cat Z, a four-man band that's led by vocalist Don Russo.

The real prize comes at the end of the evening when one wine lover will walk away with a complete set of over 100 different bottles of wine - one representing each of the labels tasted at the event - auctioned off to benefit Riverbanks Society.

The Riverbanks Botanical Garden Wine Tasting is from 7:00-9:30pm on Saturday, May 20. Tickets to the event are $40 for Riverbanks Society members and $50 for the general public. They can be purchased in advance by calling 803.779.8717 or by visiting www.riverbanks.org.

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