LAKE COUNTY — The eighth annual Lake County Wine Alliance auction Saturday earned funds for charity organizations in the county. About 400 people filled the big white tent at Buckingham Golf and Country Club, including the wine and food purveyors who donated their time, cuisine, and wine. Tickets were sold at $100 apiece to 360 guests, many of whom arrived in formal attire, chauffeured in limousines. Men wearing bow ties and women in shimmering gowns dined at long tables and perused the selection of foods and wines from 21 wineries and 22 restaurants before the live auction began at 7 p.m.
A silent auction took place simultaneously in the back of the room. The u-shaped tables displayed dozens of wines, food, gift baskets, jewelry and art. In the center of the display, a large ice sculpture of a giant vase with a flower arrangement drew many admirers. It was whisked away when it started to melt after about two hours, despite the cool air in the tent.
Once the auction began, people gathered to hear auctioneer Archie McLaren coax paddle holders to make bids. McLaren is a wine expert and chairman of the Central Coast Wine Classic, a prestigious food and wine event in its 23rd year in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. He was accompanied on the stage by master of ceremonies Narsai David, the food and wine editor for KCBS Radio in San Francisco.
In the first seven years of the charity event, $530,000 was raised. $125,000 was expected to be raised Saturday. But with ticket sales at about $36,000, sponsors donating $60,000, and costs to put on the event tallying about $60,000, the “rough estimate” on returns from the live and silent auction combined is between $85,000 and $90,000, according to board member Wilda Shock.
“Roughly, the amount going to the organizations is equivalent to that amount from the two auctions. The ticket revenues and sponsor donations cover all the expenses, which grow every year,” she said.
Some of the auction lots were doubled impromptu by the auctioneer, garnering more money than expected. “They get into the spirit of it. It”s happened in the past. The dinner at Saw Shop was doubled, and the tasting at Ceago was doubled, so it ended up being sold to two separate parties at $3,600 each instead of just one,” Shock said.
The most popular were travel lots, including trips to Mexico, Tahoe, San Francisco, Montana and a cruise, among others. Shock said many bidders got some very good deals on the travel packages. “Puerto Vallarta went for $3,600, the Mexican Riveria cruise for $2,200?these were very good bargains. One of the biggest bargains was the really wonderful Central Coast Wine Classic with dinner at Hearst Castle, that went for $2,600,” Shock said.
The highest bid of the night went for eight friends to attend dinner at Congressman Mike Thompson”s house with special guest chef Charlie Palmer. The package sold for $5,200. A feature of the night each year is an original silk painting by area artist John R. Clarke. Titled, “Wine Colored Days” the piece sold for $2,400.
The beneficiaries this year are five non-profit organizations, five high schools and five senior centers. Among these are Sponsoring Survivorship, the Adult Day Care/Respite Day Care Centers, Habitat for Humanity of Lake County, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lake County, Lake County Community Radio/KPFZ, the fine arts programs at the five Lake County high schools and the Meals on Wheels programs at five senior centers.
Auction chair Marie Beery said she thought this year was “a very beautiful event,” with an overall feeling of excitement due to the celebrity presence of David and McLaren. “By involving both Archie McLaren and Narsai David, the Wine Alliance has taken it to the next level. They are celebrities (in the wine industry), people are very aware of their biographies,” said Beery.
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