BUCKINGHAM — The Lake County Wine Alliance is projecting that proceeds from its seventh annual Wine Auction Saturday night at Buckingham Golf & Country Club will eclipse six figures for a third consecutive year.
The auction, running from 5 to 11 p.m., set records for each of the last two years with $104,000 and $125,000, respectively, raised for local causes. With this expected to be another $100,000 year, accumulative proceeds over its seven-year run would exceed a half-million dollars.
To date, it has raised funds totaling $414,000, before expenses.
A black-tie affair, the auction showcases wines produced from grapes grown in Lake County vineyards and its more than 20 winemakers and growers. Assorted delicacies donated by several local restaurants and music are also intrinsic in the gala-like happening.
Funds are derived from live and silent auctions, as well as ticket sales. Tickets are scaled at $100 each and, even at that price, the event has been sold out in recent years, including this one.
Proceeds over the years have been divided among a wide range of nonprofits and charities.
Wine media personality and lifestyle consultant Anthony Dias Blue is this year”s master of ceremonies for the auction. Blue is the executive director of the San Francisco International Wine Competition, reportedly the nation”s most prestigious wine-judging event. Over a number of years, he has been associated with “Bon Appetit,” a leading food publication, and has been a contributing editor and writer for lifestyle and travel publications. His resume includes radio and television credits as well.
Congressman Mike Thompson will be a special guest of the event.
Howard Chase and Jed Steele will once again conduct the live auction in which wine lots, food, travel, and special event packages and art will go up for bid. The event”s silent auction will include more than 50 events.
A citizen”s committee chaired by Judy Luchsinger and working in conjunction with the Wine Alliance has selected six nonprofit organizations, the fine arts programs of all five of the county”s high schools and five senior centers as beneficiaries of this year”s funds.
The nonprofits include Church Women United, Hospice Services of Lake County, the Community Care HIV/AIDS Project, Soper-Reese Community Theatre, the Free Kitchen Project and Catholic Charities Food Pantry. The Buckingham Junior Golf program also will share in the proceeds.
Other special features on Saturday night will be music for dancing provided by the Jim Williams and Friends band and John Clarke”s donated watercolor-on-silk-painting impressions of Lake County.
Major wine auction sponsors are PG&E, Kelseyville Lumber, Sears, Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino, Conser Land Surveying, Murphy Homes and Round Mountain Vineyards.
Participating wineries are: Big Valley Wines, Brassfield Estate Winery, Ceago Vinegarden, Cougar”s Leap Winery, Dusinberre Cellars, Gregory Graham, High Valley Vineyards, Kendall-Jackson Estates, Langtry Estate & Vineyards, Noggle Vineyards, Ployez Winery, Rosa d”Oro Vineyards, Roumiguiere Vineyards, Shannon Ridge Winery, Six Sigma Winery, Steele Wines, Sunce Winery, Terrill Cellars, Tulip Hill Winery and Wildhurst Vineyards.
Local food purveyors are: Anthony”s with a Tasteful Affair, the Blue Wing Saloon & Caf?, Carlos & Vinny”s, Konocti Vista Casino Resort & Marina”s Ku-hu-gui Caf?, Lakeside Inn, Lindy”s Quality Catering, the Riviera Hills Restaurant & Lounge, the Robinson-Rancheria Grille, Rob Roy Golf Club, the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, Sicily”s Italian Restaurant, Studebaker”s Coffee House, The Tee Room at Buckingham Golf & Country Club, the Yuba College culinary program and Watercolors.
Contact John Lindblom at jlwordsmith@mchsi.com.
