Make plans to spend your afternoon on Feb. 26 or Feb. 27 at the Desert Botanical Garden, mingling, sampling wines and food pairings, and enjoying live music.

From 1 to 6 p.m., in the Boppart Courtyard and Dorrance Hall, guests will have the opportunity to try more than 40 wines each day of the event — remain in the sampling area to mingle with friends, or take your wine with you as you meander the garden’s trails in exploration. And, if there’s a certain wine you come to love, you can zip by the retail area (located adjacent to the stage in the courtyard), where the DBG will have all 80 wines available for purchase.

And we just know you’re going to find something you want to take home. Why? Not only is there no limit on the amount of wine that can be purchased at the event, but guests will also receive a 10 percent discount on the total purchase price when they select 12 or more bottles (they don’t even have to be the same — go ahead, mix and match!). Plus, all the wine purchases made that weekend will benefit the DBG’s education, research, exhibition and conservation programs. Think of it as … “Buy a bottle, save a cactus,” maybe?

Additional garden activities that weekend will include glass blowing demonstrations in the Binns Wildflower Pavilion and live bands playing lively rhythms and tunes. John Schaefer’s photography exhibit “A Desert Illuminated” featuring 30 images of cactus flowers of the Sonoran Desert debuts on Feb. 25 and will be on display through May 27 in the Ottosen Gallery in Dorrance Hall. (If you find an image you want to keep, you can purchase Schaefer’s book, cards or prints in the Garden shop or even online.

View the “Corks and Cactus” wine selections here for Saturday, and here for Sunday.

You must be 21 or older to attend this event and attire is business casual. Ticket prices range from $20-$55. Visit the Desert Botanical Garden online for further details.

The Desert Botanical Garden is located at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix 480.941.1225

Like Haute Living Phoenix? Join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @HauteLivingAZ. Want Haute Living Phoenix delivered to your inbox once a week? Sign up for our newsletter.