A Wine Tasting Fundraiser
The Crush for the Capuchins
100 wines from around the world. One unforgettable night. One mission: keeping the doors of the Capuchin Retreat Center open to all who need rest, regardless of what they can afford.
A quiet crisis, and a place still built for stillness
Set on 95 wooded acres in Washington Township, Michigan, the Capuchin Retreat Center is a Catholic Franciscan spirituality center offering weekend retreats, days of reflection, Mass, and spiritual direction to anyone carrying a burden they cannot name to someone else — grief, addiction, broken relationships, spiritual exhaustion.
The Center offers its programs at a loss, on purpose, and no one is ever turned away for inability to pay. That promise only works because of donors. Every ticket, sponsorship, and gift to The Crush for the Capuchins goes toward keeping that door open.
See How to Help“People today are exhausted and searching for stillness. We never turn anyone away for lack of money, and that promise is only possible because of the generosity of this community.”— Br. Igor De Bliquy, Director, Capuchin Retreat Center
Silence has become the rarest gift we can give someone
U.S. workplace stress reached a multi-year high in 2025 — and what the Capuchins have known for 800 years, modern research now confirms: quiet heals.
An evening built around great wine, great food, and a great cause
100 Wines, Curated
Jim Lutfy of The Fine Wine Source has assembled a collection of 100 wines from around the world, organized by region, for an evening of unlimited pours. Celani Family Winery joins as our honorary winery of the evening.
Chef-Crafted Fare
Chef Bobby Nahra leads the culinary program with a strolling, station-style menu spanning the globe served alongside the wine.
Live & Silent Auction
Bid on a once-in-a-lifetime Napa Valley wine excursion, a private wine dinner, fine jewelry, and more — plus a wine-basket raffle at every table. Every guest also takes home a keepsake.
An evening at ENCORE Catering & Banquet Center
Chef Bobby Nahra is opening ENCORE's doors as our host venue for the evening — a modern banquet space in Metro Detroit, set up for exactly this kind of night.
Presented alongside our founding partners
Chef Bobby Nahra
ENCORE Catering & Banquet Center
Chef Bobby Nahra chairs The Crush for the Capuchins and is opening ENCORE's doors as our host venue for the evening.
encorebanquets.com →Jim Lutfy
The Fine Wine Source
Jim Lutfy is curating and donating all 100 wines poured throughout the evening and has personally donated the Napa Valley excursion headlining our live auction.
fwsdetroit.com →- Chef Bobby Nahra
- Jim Lutfy
- Tony Raffin
- Steve Gadzinski
- Br. Igor De Bliquy
Tickets & Ways to Give
General Admission
An evening on your feet, mingling through the crowd — tastings from 100 wines, a walking dinner of heavy hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, and a keepsake to take home.
- Wine tasting — 100 wines
- Walking, standing-table dinner of heavy hors d’oeuvres
- Live entertainment
- Keepsake
Reserved Table
Prefer to sit? Reserve a branded table of 8 for your company, family, or friends, in premier placement for the evening.
- Reserved, branded table for 8 — premier placement
- Wine tasting — 100 wines
- Seated dinner of heavy hors d’oeuvres
- Live entertainment
- Keepsake for each guest
Can't Attend?
Gifts of any size are gratefully accepted and go directly toward keeping the Retreat Center's doors open.
Make a Gift“This is more than a great night of wine and food. Every glass raised helps make sure that anyone who needs a place of peace can find one, no matter what they can afford. That's a cause worth crushing it for.”— Chef Bobby Nahra, Event Chair
Every dollar raised stays close to home
Proceeds fund the Retreat Center's daily operations and provide a scholarship for those who wouldn't be able to afford to come on retreat.
Tickets, Sponsorships & Media Inquiries
For sponsorships, reserved tables, auction donations, or press inquiries, contact us below.
Chef Bobby Nahra, Event Chair
On behalf of the Capuchin Retreat Center
robertnahra@icloud.com