Auction raises $702,000
|
DARRYL PONICSAN OF SONOMA, finds himself surrounded by the Ladies of Magnum Force after buying the Shag-A-Delic '60s Magnum Force lot for $18,000. |
The Wine Country Weekend, hosted by the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance, kicked off Friday with winemakers dinners, tastings and activities. The weekend events brought in $1,575,000, with $702,000 raised during the Harvest Wine Auction for 13 Valley charities. "Despite the economy, our goal was $1.5 million," said Grant Raeside, president of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance. "This is just incredible for us."
The 1960s seemed alive and well as more than 500 guests came out to the auction dressed in an array of '60s garb, from bell-bottoms to hippie dresses. Guests sipped champagne while reclining in beanbag chairs in the Lava Lamp Lounge. Go-go girls in hot pink mini dresses and white patent-leather boots did the twist on stage. The Unauthorized Rolling Stones kept the mood far out with retro tunes like "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." Decked out in an afro wig, auctioneer extraordinaire Frtiz Hatton took the crowd back in time and got everyone pumped up to bid. The auction lots included exotic trips to penthouse suites in the Caribbean and Florence or mountain lodges in Montana and Oregon. Unique excursions included the chance to be a ball dude during a San Francisco Giants game or the opportunity to learn grape growing and winemaking from the experts at Robledo Family Winery. And then there was the wine - hundreds of bottles in every varietal were auctioned off, including a limited edition hand-etched bottled commemorating the film "Ratatouille" signed by Pixar wizard and Valley resident John Lasseter.
"We really focused on bringing in great wine this year," said Raeside.
As always, skits were used to keep the crowd entertained between lots. This year's skits brought plenty of retro songs, dances and lots of impersonators, from Sonny and Cher to Austin Powers and Wayne Newton. The kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley pulled at the audiences' heartstrings with their rendition of "What a Wonderful World." The wine flowed freely as guests feasted on course after course of extravagant food. As the culinary director for the event, Carlo Cavallo, executive chef at Sonoma-Meritage Martini Oyster Bar and Grille, oversaw eight Valley chefs, each of whom made one course for the day's culinary extravaganza. From slow roasted tomato tarts and duck confit ravioli to marinated lamb chops with mint sauce and herb encrusted jumbo prawns, food was definitely a focal point of the day.
"This is absolutely exquisite," said attendee Jade McKenzie as she piled on a second helping of sea scallops with tropical salsa.
While the afternoon provided a heaping dose of fun, the event serves a very real purpose of keeping some of the Valley's most deserving charities afloat.
"The (auction) money is incredibly important to us," said Kathy Swett, executive director of the Sonoma Community Center, who said last year's donation went to fund "Inside the Springs," a photography project by Wing Young Huie aimed at capturing life in Boyes Hot Springs. The exhibit will go on display along Highway 12 this week.
"These monies become part of our operating budget, allowing us to keep the doors open to our eight Mentor Centers, as well as keeping those centers stocked with art supplies, computers and software, sports equipment, games, books, academic learning tools and anything else we can think of that helps mentors build a good relationship with the child they are matched with," said Kathy Witkowicki, executive director of the Stand By Me Mentoring Alliance, which pairs more than 400 Valley students in need with a compassionate adult mentor. Witkowicki said last year the Mentoring Alliance received $99,000 from the auction. "We have been fortunate to receive big bucks from the Harvest Wine Auction over the past several years ..."
Katie Holden, spokeswoman for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, said her organization has grown to depend on funds from the auction to keep open the four clubhouses that serve 375 children every day.
"BGCSV provides the critical means for parents who live and work in and around Sonoma Valley to ensure their children engage in fun, safe and constructive afterschool activities," Holden said, adding that this year's funds would be used to make some improvements at the Springs Village Clubhouse.
Including this year, the Wine Country Weekend has raised almost $7 million for nonprofits in the Valley. This year's recipients included Friends In Sonoma Helping (FISH), Hanna Boys Center, Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, Sonoma Valley Stand By Me Mentoring Alliance, WillMar Center for Bereaved Children, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, Operation Youth, Sonoma Jazz Plus and Vineyard Worker Services.