Three of the winners of the raffle at Rouge et Blanc last year were (from left) Pam Breaux, who went home with a bottle of every white wine in the tasting; Ben Marriner, who won a five-day trip for two to Napa Valley, and May Gray, who won a bottle of every champagne and every dessert wine at the event.

Tickets to Rouge et Blanc, the area's largest wine and food tasting, will go on sale Monday, July 28. Tickets, which are $60 a person, can be purchased by calling (337) 475-5123.

The event will take place from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, on the grounds of the 1911 Cultural Center and the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse. Ryan Street will be blocked off between the two buildings. More information is available at the Web site, www.rougeetblanc.us.

Rouge et Blanc is presented by the McNeese State University Foundation and the Downtown Development Authority. All profits support the McNeese Banners Series.

More than 100 fine wines will be available for tasting, which will be paired with a wide variety of food.

Signature dishes are being prepared by the Blue Duck Café, the Brick House, Chinese King, Community Coffee, Cookey's Caterers, Louis DeAngelo's, Derrick and Paul, Gray Plantation, Harbor Lights Seafood Restaurant, The Harlequin, Kinloch Plantation Products, La Truffe Sauvage, Lake Charles Country Club, Outback Steakhouse, Pujo Street Café, Reeves Uptown Catering, Snake River Grill at L'Auberge, Sweets & Treats, Trail Blazin' BBQ & Grill, Vista Grill at Delta Downs, and more.

Mike and Natalie Hayes' winning raffle ticket from last year's Rouge et Blanc sent them home with more than three cases of red wines ­ one of every bottle featured at the tasting. The wines were donated by Republic National Distributing Company.

Last year's popular raffle will be repeated this year. Prizes for the $50 ticket are an all inclusive five-day trip for two to Napa Valley, all the red wines served at the event, all the white wines at the event and all the dessert/champagne wines at the event. Details are available on the Web site and participants do not have to be present to win. "You can buy raffle tickets even if you can't attend the event," said Carrie Kudla, one of the event¹s organizers. "It's the best deal in town. We gave away cases and cases of wine last year."

Three wine classes with special, themed wine tastings will be held the morning of Oct. 18 in the 1911 Cultural Center and will cost $10 each. Information will be available at a later date on the Web site.

New this year is a whole week of wine dinners at various restaurants leading up to Rouge et Blanc. Area restaurants have prepared special menus and wine pairings have been made for each dinner by Jared M. Cooke, CSW and Fine Wine Specialist for Republic National Distributing Company.

The six wine dinners will take place at La Truffe Sauvage on Saturday, Oct. 11, Pujo Street Café on Monday, Oct. 13, Blue Duck Café on Tuesday Oct. 14, Snake River Grill at L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort on Wednesday, Oct. 15, The Harlequin on Thursday, Oct. 16, and The Outlook at Delta Downs on Friday, Oct. 17. Reservations will be made through each restaurant and prices will vary.

Corporate sponsors are Republic National Distributing Company, the American Press Foundation, CleanFuelUSA/Empire of the Seed, Entergy, Randy J. Fuerst, L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort, SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau and Whitney National Bank. Special help is being provided by Coca Cola, Greg David's Frameworks, Hokus Pokus Liquor Store, Knight Media, Inc., Lake Charles Pre-Sort, Paradise Florist, Southern Sound Systems and Structure (x).

Committee members organizing the event are Alina Boti, Austin Arabie, Bill Mungai, Blake Soto, Carol Cox, Carol St. Dizier, Carrie Kudla, Cindy Murphy, Deb King, Denise Fasske, Derrick Guidry, Fred Kaufman, Jackie Walsh, Jeanne Sievert, Jessica Williamson, Kim Donalson, Lori Marinovich, Mike and Natalie Hayes, Randy Fuerst, Stacy Shearman and Victoria Bradford.