how to get a sponsor for a 50 person tasting?

[John F. Newman]

I am part of a local arts council, and we are in the process of booking a fado singer at our local 49 seat theater... it will be a very intimate night of fado.

As a non-profit organization running an event at the site of another non-profit, every penny counts. I thought having a tasting event either Portuguese wine or port. A simple tasting, nothing elaborate or too costly, but something value-added to the event that would be fun and interesting. Plus a think a glass of port or wine adds to the event.

We would probably have a limit of 2 glasses. The theater does not have a liquor license and we can't charge for the drinks.

Anyway, one suggestion from a site participant was to seek out my local liquor store for an assist. However, I am not a "regular" anywhere. The place I would approach is a local supermarket chain, a bit up-scale, so they may be interested now that I think of it...

Does anyone have other suggestions? Know of any producers or US distributors that would be interested in such an event?

Another question: 50 people at 2 glasses each = how many bottles???

That FTLOP site participant (mentioned above) also reached out to a small port producer that assisted him with an event, but never received a response when he wrote about me.

Also, if you had to choose for Fado, what is the selection: wine or port? or something else? any specific suggestions. I don't know if there is a fado-specific drink. is there?

[Moses Botbol]

There are a few Portuguese wine distributors based out of NJ. Someone is going to pay for the wine somehow. Maybe a little handshake with cash will get beyond the wine part? Honestly, I would do three glasses; white, red, and port. It's going to be a short evening if just two glasses.