Wine lovers drink to good causes

The city's wine connoisseurs were out in force last week, tasting and trading their favorite vintages to bolster favorite causes.

About 200 supporters of the Indianapolis Zoo paid $150 to $300 each to get dressed up and attend the zoo's 11th annual international wine auction, Elegant Vintages.

The lavish affair raises about $120,000 annually for the zoo.

The event took place Saturday at the Conrad Indianapolis, with a silent auction and a live auction by popular California auctioneer David Reynolds. Dinner included a starter of lobster ceviche in a sherry glass, salad topped with seared Maple Leaf Farms duck breast, an entree of mint pesto-encrusted New Zealand rack of lamb, miniature desserts and plenty of wine.

Indianapolis' Fran Jacoby (whose business, The Jacoby Agency -- Insurance and Financial Services, presented the event) posed for pictures in a copper-topped vintage gown she said she pulled from her closet for the evening.

Patrons also were asked to bring "one impressive bottle" each for Lot 19 in the evening's live auction. The lot went for $5,200 to Dr. Janet Turkle and husband Mike Coppinger, zoo officials said.

Co-chairmen of the event were Holiday W. Banta and her husband, T.J. Cole, who showed up in a black watch plaid tuxedo jacket.

The Eiteljorg's Wines of the West
Earlier in the week, a more laid-back wine-oriented affair took place at the Eiteljorg Museum, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

For $35 each, people who attended the second annual Wines of the West could taste and buy nearly 200 wines, which ranged from $7 to $220 a bottle.

The event, which included hors d'oeuvres from Kahn's Catering, likely raised about $3,000 for the museum's educational programs, said Frank Mulhern, vice president for development at the Eiteljorg. About 200 attended, he said.

Indianapolis wine collector Bob Whitt is executive director of White River State Park.

"This is the best tasting in the city," said Whitt, who has been collecting since 1985.