December 19, 2014 6:52 pm



It was an evening dinner amid rolling vineyards, but unlike most vineyard dinners, Friday night’s event was about Santa and cupcakes rather than wine and candlelight.

Greka sponsored the dinner at the Ca’Del Grevino vineyard estates for the children of the Boys & Girls Club and organized a special visit from a Santa Claus. About 40 Boys & Girls Club students received jackets from Santa. Staff from Greka helped with the event, while the chef from the Ca’Del Grevino café prepared the dinner.

Esmeralda Cuellar, 10, wore a silvery jacket vest that she had received. She said her jacket is pretty, but as she dug into a cupcake she said the food was her favorite part of the evening.

“This was a surprise. It was exciting,” she said.

Brisa Torres, 10, said she enjoyed the face painting.

“I’m really happy,” she said with a grin.

Children ate, played, got their faces painted and visited with Santa, many of the younger ones tugging at his hem and asking him questions.

“I think it’s been fun,” said Ramon Perez, 9, while Jasmine Maldonado, 14, said she liked her jacket. “They are really nice, really comfortable,” she said.

Randeep Grewal, chairman of Greka and Ca’Del Grevino, said that his family likes to give back to the community by benefiting children, adding they’ve worked with the Boys & Girls Club in Santa Maria for the better part of 15 years.

“This is about giving little kids our own way of Christmas. They come here with their friends, they got to see Santa. What else can one ask for? It’s lovely,” Grewal said.

Eddie Galarza, unit director for the Boys & Girls Club, said the kids were excited about the chance to see Santa Claus and have a “field trip” to the estate for dinner and presents.

“You know, some kids are grateful, some kids are not. These kids are grateful. They are really grateful,” he said.

Grewal said that the evening was also about celebrating that moment in time that a child believes in the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus.

“We forget these wonderful years with these children. I absolutely assure you every one of these 40 some children are going to tell you, ‘Santa flew in especially for me, brought me this great jacket I’m wearing’ and is enjoying a lovely meal with him. I guarantee it. It’s very rewarding to see that amount of happiness with these little children.”

For more information on Santa Claus visits vineyard estate, please visit the below link at http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/santa-claus-visits-vineyard-estate/article_2780885e-70a4-555a-85c1-4c705c7c46b6.html

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