The 22nd annual “A Celebration of Wine Event” has gone Vegas.

The “Vino Las Vegas” fundraiser will be held from 1 to 4 pm Feb. 20 in the University of Florida’s Reitz Student Union Grand Ballroom. “A Celebration of Wine” is an annual wine tasting and auction for North Central Florida’s public radio station Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM.

Last year, almost 600 guests from across the Southeast traveled to Gainesville to experience the international flavor of the tasting, which features more than 300 wines from vineyards around the world, including those of the United States, France, Germany, Italy, South America and Australia.

Hosted by public radio station Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM, the event is a collaborative effort with local vendors to showcase wine and food, as well as silent and live auctions. The Wine & Cheese Gallery will feature culinary treats; desserts will be provided by Mildred’s Big City Food and Restaurant Ti Amo; and Classic Fare Catering will offer specialty coffee at the end of the afternoon.

The auctions will feature individual lots of special older vintages from participating wineries, wine enthusiasts, and The Wine & Cheese Gallery, as well as special bottles and wine-related art by local artists of national acclaim. Tampa charity auctioneer Michael Roberts will oversee the live auction beginning at 3:30 pm during the event.

Wines for the event are donated from participating distributors, importers and wineries. Wade Tyler from The Wine & Cheese Gallery is assisting with coordinating the wines to be served and auction donations. Keith Watson Productions is creating the décor for this one-of-a-kind event and Primary Color is donating its web and social media design services.

Financial sponsors include Pure Energy Solar, Gainesville Regional Airport and LogoKick.com and additional opportunities are still available.

All proceeds harvested from the tasting and auctions benefit Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM, which provide public and educational broadcasting for 19 counties in North Central and Mid-Florida. Over the years, the events have raised more than $300,000 to continue the stations’ programming and services.

Tickets are $55 in advance and $60 at the door and will be available at The Wine & Cheese Gallery, 113 N. Main St. in Gainesville; Alarion Bank branches in Gainesville and Ocala; Mildred’s Big City Food in Gainesville; Wildbirds Unlimited, 4215 NW 16th Blvd. and online at www.celebrationofwine.org

In addition to the wine tasting and auctions, patrons can enjoy the Winemakers’ Dinner at 6:30 pm Feb. 19 at Restaurant Ti Amo in Downtown Gainesville. The four-course gourmet meal paired with fine wines is $100 per person. Reservations are required and seating is limited.

For reservations or more information, call Sue Wagner at 352-392-5200, extension 1106, or Wade Tyler at 352-372-8446. Information is also available online at www.celebrationofwine.org.

Public radio station WUFT-FM 89.1(simulcast on WJUF-FM 90.1) broadcasts 24-hours- a-day to 19 counties in North Central and Mid-Florida. The station has two digital streams: HD1 features News/Talk programming from NPR and PRI as well as local programming and HD 2 features classical music.

The stations are a part of the Division of Multimedia Properties at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communication and serve as a training facility for students in the college.