Oakland’s Mills College will become wine central July 18, when the inaugural Oakland Wine Festival kicks off. The event is the brainchild of Oakland food and wine writer — and Mills College alumna — Melody Fuller.

The daylong festival brings wineries from Napa, Sonoma, the East Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains together to educate and amuse wine lovers via a variety of tastings, seminars and dinners. The ambitious first-year roster includes an impressive array of wineries, including Opus One, Hestan Vineyards, Rock Wall Wine Company, Wente Vineyards and Testarossa Winery. We caught up with Fuller recently to get the back story.

Q What inspired you to create this festival?

A I wanted to have people experience wine the way I experience wine, and have the treatment I get when I go to Napa Valley, Sonoma, France, Italy, all over. If I can bring that experience to Oakland, that would be wonderful.

Close your eyes and imagine you are on Highway 29. Close your eyes and imagine you are heading through Healdsburg. And then close your eyes and imagine you’re in France or Italy. Our Oakland Wine Festival is going to take you to all those places while you are seated at the table.

Q How did you get into wine?

A My mom and dad had high-end women’s boutiques in Oakland. Whenever my mom opened a boutique, she would pop Champagne for the whole day. She was part of the Bon Marche and Lady of Paris boutiques. So as children, we were able to enjoy real Champagne.

Q What was your wine “aha” moment?

A When I was at Mills College, we were drinking boxed wines. But then I went on a date, and the gentleman ordered a bottle of Sonoma-Cutrer chardonnay. And that was it — that was it on the boxes. I was never going back. Back then, buying a Sonoma-Cutrer was like buying Opus One today.

I was like, OK, what’s next? I started traveling, and my goal was to enjoy good food, good wine and to meet at least one winemaker and one chef. When you set that goal, you meet 10 times the people. So over the past 30 years, I made friends and connections. I say, we build relationships one sip at a time.

Q We understand there’s a philanthropic side to the festival. Tell us about the charities that will benefit from festival proceeds.

A One charity is Saint Mary’s College High School, where our son went. Sadly, our son died suddenly on January 15, 2012. So we provide scholarships for enrichment at Saint Mary’s in his name, so kids can go all over the world. That’s his spirit. Other charities include Children’s Hospital Oakland and Alternative Family Services in Oakland.

Q What are your hopes for the first Oakland Wine Festival?

A I’m an Oakland native. This is what Oakland people do: Bring people together. We’ve always done it. So if I can do that too, OK.

Reach Mary Orlin at morlin@bayareanewsgroup.com.