Seventeen Northwest wineries will offer tastings at this year's Poverty Bay Wine Festival.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 11, from noon to 6 p.m., at the Des Moines Beach Park auditorium.

Guests will have the opportunity to try several wines from each winery and sample gourmet foods from local restaurants.

Each guest will receive a souvenir wine glass.

Live jazz will be sponsored by 98.9 Smooth Jazz KWJZ.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

The festival kicks off on Friday, March 9, with a Mardi Gras-theme gala at 7:30 p.m.

This "black-tie optional" event will be held at the historic Landmark on the Sound, 23660 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines, a grand 1926 structure formerly know as the Masonic Home that overlooks Puget Sound.

Anthony's Homeport will cater a buffet-style dinner, featuring Louisiana-style seafood and desserts, including oysters on the half shell, gumbo and barbequed garlic prawns, with bread pudding, pecan tarts and pralines for dessert.

The evening will feature a special champagne toast and wine tastings from some of the Northwest's premier wineries.

Following dinner, there will be a live auction of fine wines and art, including the collectible original art commissioned for the 2006 and 2007 Poverty Bay Wine Festivals by artists Anita Corby and Jan Erion.

Live music will be performed by the New Orleans Quintet, the house jazz band at the New Orleans Caf/ in Pioneer Square, and Rouge, known for their French street-music style.

Advance gala tickets are $75, and $90 at the door. The ticket price includes valet parking and a one-day admission to the Poverty Bay Wine Festival.

Tickets are available at Corky Cellars, 206-824-9462, Des Moines Drug, or at www.desmoinesrotary.org.

The Des Moines Rotary Club organizes the Poverty Bay Wine Festival.

The Poverty Bay Wine Festival is presented by the Rotary Club of Des Moines with major sponsorship support from 98.9 Smooth Jazz KWJZ, Anthony's Homeport and Powell Brothers.

All proceeds benefit the Rotary Club's community service projects

Last year's wine festival gala was a sell-out.

For more information, visit www.desmoinesrotary.org.