Saturday, Feb. 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Helena choral group Musikanten Montana will host a Valentine’s season wine-tasting and silent auction fundraiser.

Tickets are $25 per person; proceeds will benefit the Montana Early Music Festival.

Sommelier Toby De Wolfe will highlight wines from Washington-state vineyards, with accompanying appetizers. A basket of Washington wines will be raffled off; tickets for the raffle are $5 each, or three for $10 (you don’t have to be present to win).

Items in the silent auction include a print by photographer Paul Pacini, Grandstreet and Helena Symphony tickets, a blessed putter, a subscription to all five Montana Early Music Festival concerts, restaurant and movie gift certificates, dinners, voice lessons, a pair of tickets to a five-course dinner at Sommeliers on Feb. 21, and a place on Musikanten’s next international concert tour in May 2009.

Now in its sixth year, Musikanten Montana’s Early Music Festival will feature five performances in Helena and Missoula March 6-10. The highlight of this year’s festival will be J.S. Bach’s dramatic “Passion According to St. John,” to be presented at St. Mary’s in Helena, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 8.

Tickets for the wine-tasting evening must be purchased in advance and are available at Bert & Ernie’s, Birds & Beasleys and Prickly Pear Antiques or from Musikanten Montana members. To reserve a ticket, call Darien at 431-7464.