By Liz Weeker

Town Crier Editorial Intern

In a little more than a week, the American Red Cross will kick off its well-anticipated wine festival with the help of MacArthur Park restaurant and sponsor winecountry.com.

The 21st annual festival is scheduled for Aug. 17 at MacArthur Park restaurant in Palo Alto.

Guests will sample a growing variety of wines as well as desserts, cheeses, fresh fruit and even MacArthur Park’s famous barbecue baby back ribs.

A gourmet wine maker’s dinner will precede the festivities on 7 p.m., Aug. 9.

The meal will feature wines by Bernardus Winery from the Carmel Valley.

With menu items such as chilled cucumber cups with dungeness crab, sour dough crostini with smoked chicken mousse, and herb grilled Filet Mignon with bleu cheese butter and chive mashed potatoes, guests should expect to have their taste buds pampered while promoting a good cause.

Organizers are pleased that the Napa-based website, winecountry.com, that sponsored the festival last year, will be returning for a second time. With more than 70 premier winies particitpating, the festival will be a major wine tasting event .

Each year the event put on by the Red Cross appears to grow in its reputation as well as its variety of wines.

Proceeds will support the American Red Cross’s program Partners in Preparedness, created to improve disaster education. “It is our vision to have over the next three years one member of every household ready to respond to disaster,” said Trish Bubenik, executive director of Red Cross.

The organization plans to use the money raised from the MacArthur Park event to make classes available in churches, schools, fire departments, as well as its own chapter house. Adults and children will be taught how to respond by calling 911, administer first aid and CPR, and how to stay calm in an emergency. The comprehensive program is in a way, a reaction to the events of Sept. 11.

Bubenik worries that the event has brought about a new era of uncertainty and would like to see more people skilled in dealing with the unexpected. The success of the festival promises make this possible.

With the materials that will be made available to the Red Cross after the fundraiser, Bubenik is confident in its disaster education program. “We have very enthusiastic volunteers.”

The wine festival is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at MacArthur Park, 27 University Ave. Tickets are $55 in advance, $65 at the gate. For tickets, call 688-0438.