Central Coast Wine Classic, Avila Beach, California

Culinary Evening With The California Winemasters, Burbank, California

Detroit International Wine Auction

L’Ete du Vin, Nashville, Tennessee

Vintage Affaire, Woodside, California

Auction Napa Valley

St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church Cellar Classic, Los Olivos, California

While most of the charity wine auctions have been struggling in this tough economic climate for the last couple of years, it seems that some have rebounded in 2010.  Here are five of our favorite auctions which began rallying last year.  The sixth auction listed here was in its successful first year.  The 2011 schedule for each of these auctions is also announced.

The 26^th Annual Central Coast Wine Classic
Raised Nearly $850,000

The 26^th Annual Central Coast Wine Classic has continued the direction of its successful 2009 event when it reversed the trend among the nation’s top charitable wine auctions of declining auction proceeds.  The 2010 proceeds of close to $850,000 is above the 2009 proceeds of $843,000 which was an increase of 6.5% over 2008.

In July, wine enthusiasts gathered at the Avila Beach Resort and other venues in and around the areas of Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo, Shell Beach, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles and San Simeon to enjoy the four-day extravaganza of gastronomic indulgences in the gorgeous setting of California’s Central Coast with its panoramic ocean views.  The Central Coast Wine Classic traditionally showcases special wine tastings, symposia, cooking demonstrations, winery dinners, auction events, and great camaraderie, all offering gracious hospitality and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

The Wine Classic has grown from an afternoon wine tasting to become a highly successful, very popular fundraiser, where education is key, attended by wine lovers, vintners, chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, honorees and press.  The Classic, founded by Archie McLaren, who remains the event’s Executive Director and driving force behind it, offers something of interest for everyone.  Like wine, the Central Coast Wine Classic has improved with age, thanks to the tireless efforts and creativity of Archie McLaren.  The Classic began with and continues to fulfill the multiple purposes of promotion of the Central Coast wine industry, education of event participants, encouragement of the symbiotic pairing of food and wine and the raising of money for the Wine Classic Foundation.  The Foundation, established in 2004, awards monies to fund project-specific grants to non-profits involving studio arts, performing arts, and healing arts in the counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.  Over the past six years the Foundation has conferred grants totaling $1,615, 943 to 76 such non-profits.

Events began on Thursday afternoon with a Barrel Tasting at The Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa in Shell Beach, offering guests the opportunity to taste a comprehensive array of unreleased wines from a variety of California wineries, from both Northern and Central California.   That evening, the gala dinner at Hearst Castle in San Simeon was a fabulous, six-course meal featuring the work of five culinary luminaries, Emeril Lagasse, Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace, Susan Spicer of Bayona, Michael Hutchings of Michael’s Catering in Santa Barbara and James Sly of Sly’s in Carpenteria, matching wines from Vintner Dignitaries.   The annual black-tie affair at Hearst Castle, dining under the stars, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Santa Lucia Mountains at San Simeon, is a magical event, always sold-out.  A special guided tour of the 165-room Castle with 127 acres of gardens, terraces and walkways and a sunset champagne reception around the Neptune Pool preceded the dinner.  Also that evening was the fourth annual Bring-Your-Own Bottle Paulée Dinner at The Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa presented by Executive Chef, Evan Treadwell.

Friday’s events at the Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, featured four symposia, California Pinot Noir Terroir, Central Coast Unique Blend, Riedel Stemware, hosted by Georg Riedel, and Champagne Deutz, hosted by Chairman of the Board, Fabrice Rosset.  Au Bon Climat’s Jim Clendenen hosted the California Pinot Noir Terroir Symposium, which included current Pinot Noirs from 12 wineries, presented by their respective vintners and winemakers (Richard Sanford’s Alma Rosa, Gary Conway’s Carmody McKnight, Fintan Du Fresne’s Chamisal Vineyards, Jim Clendenen’s  Family Vineyards, Anne-Moller-Racke’s Donum Estate, Eric Hickey’s Laetitia, Michael Michaud’s Michaud Vineyard, Gary Pisoni’s Pisoni Vineyards, Steve Rasmussen’s Sierra Madre Vineyard, Mike Sinor’s Sinor-La Vallee Winery, Dan Karlsen’s Talbott Vineyards and Sal Godinez’s Vine Hill Winery).

The Central Coast Unique Blend Symposium, hosted by Jason Haas, General Manager of Tablas Creek Vineyard, showcased some very interesting blends of both white and red wines from 10 wineries: Arada, Au Bon Climat, Castoro Cellars, Demetria Estate, Jada Vineyard, L’Aventure Winery, Lone Madrone Winery, Qupe Wine Cellars, Tablas Creek, and Tangent Winery.

The Riedel Stemware Symposium featured special vintners on the panel whose wines were presented by Georg Riedel in the Riedel “Vitis” Series of Stemware.  Tasted in the glasses specifically designed for the respective grape were Claiborne & Churchill’s Central Coast Dry Riesling, Brewer-Clifton’s Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay, the Carneros Pinot Noir from Donum Estate and Chappellet’s Napa Valley Signature Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Champagne Deutz Symposium, hosted by Fabrice Rosset, who presented five fabulous Champagnes, NV Brut Classic, Brut 2004, Blanc de Blancs 2004,  Brut Rose 2004, and Cuvee William Deutz 1998.

Emeril Lagasse and San Francisco radio personality Narsai David put on a standing-room only cooking demonstration and completely sold-out luncheon.   Emeril’s delectable cuisine was beautifully paired with the wines of Au Bon Climat.  It is these exceptionally well-planned and executed educational events that differentiate the Central Coast Wine Classic from the other charity wine auction events.

That evening, winemaker-hosted dinners were held at restaurants and wineries throughout San Luis Obispo County.  Also that evening, there was a special One Hundred-Point Wine Dinner at a private home.

The always exciting headline event, the Rare & Fine Wine & Lifestyle Auction and related activities took place on Saturday under the great tent, at the Official Host Auction Venue, the Avila Beach Golf Resort in Avila Beach.  Auction activities included the Early Bird Silent Auction, Live Auction Preview, Auction Luncheon prepared and presented by Chef Ian McPhee of McPhee’s Grill, and the contiguous, more comprehensive Super Silent Auction of wine, art and lifestyle offerings.

Sunday morning started with a symposium, Italian Wine, Passion on the Vine, hosted by Italian Wine expert, Christy Canterbury of Manhattan’s Italian Wine Merchants.  Canterbury delivered an exploration of Italy and its vintners, offering tastings of six distinctive wines from Sicily, Friuli, Tuscany and Veneto.  The finale of the festivities was the Reserve Wine Tasting at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa in the afternoon, offering wines from 75 wineries, food from the Dolphin’s restaurant, and music embodying the spirit of the 2010 Wine Classic.

The 2010 Central Coast Wine Classic Live Auction gaveled $763,000 in winning bids for 85 lots, and the overall totals, including Silent Auction and Fund-a-Need proceeds raised over $847,000.  The Annual Fund-a-Need lot raised $56.350 for the Senior Nutrition Program of San Luis Obispo County.

Number one bidders were Cole and Jeannie Davis from Tucson, Arizona, paying out $70,000 for three lots, which included dinner with Fabrice Rosset in Champagne and the autographed, 15-cookbook oeuvre of Emeril Lagasse.  The top bid was $45,000 for a 2010 Lexus 450h Hybrid SUV, won by Tom and Jennifer Edwards of Louisiana.  The next highest bid was for a Relais & Chateaux Wine & Culinary Excursion in French Wine Country and Paris for four people that sold for $40,000.  The top winery lot was for a party of 12 from Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat and Clendenen Family Vineyards was a Custom Barrel of Pinot Noir and a two-nights’ stay at Rancho La Cuna, Jim’s home in Los Alamos, California, that brought a winning bid of $34,000.

Plans Are Announced For 2011’s 27^th Annual
Central Coast Wine Classic

The 2011 Central Coast Wine Classic will take place from Thursday, July 7 through Sunday, July 10.  The theme will be the Rejuvenation of Avila Beach, with the majority of the activities, including symposia on Chardonnay, Malbec, and Fine Cheese, and a comprehensive Maisons, Marques & Domaines fine wine symposium, as well as the annual Cooking Demonstration/Luncheon hosted by San Francisco Bay Area culinary icon, Narsai David, taking place at the Avila Lighthouse Suites and the Avila Beach Golf Resort.  The Rare & Fine Wine & Lifestyle Auction is confirmed for Saturday under the tents at the Avila Beach Resort.  The Thursday Black-Tie Dinner at Hearst Castle will feature Hawaiian chefs Roy Yamaguchi, Alan Wong and DK Kodama.   Given what Archie McLaren already has scheduled for next year, there is no doubt the Central Coast Wine Classic will continue to live up to its reputation as the most diverse charitable wine and food event in America.

Please contact Archie McLaren for further information and registration:  email: archie@slonet.org; Telephone: (805) 544-1285; fax (805) 595-2742; Wine Classic website:  www.centralcoastwineclassic.org.

The 21^st Annual Culinary Evening With The California Winemasters Generated
Close To $1.6 Million For The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The “Midwest Street” backlot at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank set the stage for A Culinary Evening With The California Winemasters in May, which raised nearly $1.6 Million for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, besting 2009’s total, showing no recession in caring for this charity auction in 2010.  Wining and dining under the stars in the setting of a quintessential Any Town USA, the sold-out extravaganza was attended by 1,400 wine and food lovers.  Throughout the exciting,  magical evening, gourmet cuisine from over 45 celebrity chefs from around the world, and wines from 71 of California’s most talented winemakers, were enjoyed by guests while participating in silent and live auctions, bidding on extraordinary items.

Auction organizer and Director of Special Giving, Barbara Balik attributed the great success of last year’s auction to the quality lots, many of which were unsolicited donations.  A Culinary Evening With the California Winemasters, according to the event’s founding sponsor and Co-Chairman, Allen Balik, is a unique gourmet experience, offering something for everyone, and it is a particularly worthwhile charity event in that 91 cents of every dollar raised goes directly into Cystic Fibrosis research and cure programs, making this the highest percentage of any non-profit organization in the country.  Honorary Chairmen for last year’s event were Pam Starr of Crocker & Starr Wines and Josiah Citrin of Melisse Restaurant in Santa Monica.

The 2010 event was one of the most extravagant auctions in history with over 900 live and silent auction items from fantasy trips to exclusive collector wines.  The live auction, which generated over $777,000, included a nine-day holiday in Argentina that sold for $22,000; a dinner for 10 with Lisa and Dustin Hoffman at Melisse Restaurant, with wines from Crocker & Starr that sold for $28,000; a sculpture and drawing from artist Dale Chihuly that sold for $35,000, and a trip for two couples to San Luis Obispo that included 108 bottles of area wines that sold for $18,000.  Live auction lots featured an Imperial of 2005 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion that went for $22,000, a 115-bottle collection from the Mount Veeder Appellation that sold for $11,000 and a 6-litre bottle of 1996 Domaine de La Romanee-Conti Romanee-St-Vivant that was auctioned off for $10,000.

Silent auction lots included five 5-night stays at the buyer’s choice of any of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World that sold for over $4,000 each and a 4-day trip to Tuscany with a stay at Il Boro as guests of the Ferragamo family that sold for $4,800.  A rare 5-magnum collection from BOND including a private visit to the winery for six sold for 3,400 and a 3-litre bottle of 1995 Peter Michael Les Pavots sold for $2,400.

According to Barbara Balik, thanks to new treatments, people with cystic fibrosis are now living one year longer for every year of research.  Sponsors, vintners, chefs and guests understand their support is the reason for this lifesaving reprieve.

The 22^nd Annual Culinary Evening With The California Winemasters Is Set For
Saturday, May 14, 2011, At Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank

Please contact Barbara Balik for further information and registration:  email: bbalik@cff.org; Telephone: (707) 258-1661; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website:  www.californiawinemasters.org.

The 31st Annual L’Ete du Vin Of Nashville Raised
Nearly $270,000 To Fight Against Cancer

Last year was a real challenge for L’Ete du Vin (A Summer of Wine) because of a May flood in Nashville which heavily damaged the event venue, the Opryland Hotel, forcing its closure until the Fall in order to make extensive repairs. L’Ete du Vin’s signature event, the Grand Auction and its centerpiece, the Vintner’s Tasting, were slated to be held on June 19 at Opryland USA, Nashville’s famous entertainment resort complex which includes the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center, Opryland Theme Park, the Grand Ole Opry and the General Jackson showboat.  The Vintner’s Tasting, was relocated to Hillwood Country Club in June. But the Grand Auction could not be rescheduled until August 28 at the Hutton Hotel.

The Patron’s Private Collection Dinner and Tasting was held at the Hermitage Hotel.  The auction theme “Old World Legends and New World Pioneers” featured the event’s five guests of honor, Casa Lapostolle of Chile, L’Aventure Winery of Paso Robles, Moet et Chandon, Morlet Family Vineyards of St. Helena and Torbreck Vintners of Australia.  Five dinners for the guests of honor were held at five local restaurants, including 360 Bistro, F. Scott’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar, Red Pony, Sunset Grill and Watermark.

Nashville’s premiere wine event and America’s oldest charity wine auction in support of the fight against cancer in the country, despite adversity from the weather, generated almost $270,000 in its 31^st year. The live auction was attended by 350 people with 100 auction lots.  The silent auction had 118 lots.  Total live auction bids raised $228,600 with silent auction bids accounting for $26,675.  Paddle raise/fund a cause bids totaled $13,300.

Tom Milam, Nashville wine enthusiast, founded L’Ete du Vin in 1980, which began as in informal backyard gathering of Nashville wine lovers to share a meal, enjoy great vintages and raise funds for cancer research.  Just over $3,000 were raised the first year but the friends enjoyed the evening so much, they decided to do it every year.  Subsequently, it has grown to become one of the most successful, exciting and enjoyable charity wine events in the country, raising over $16 Million in support of organizations whose purpose is directly related to the treatment, patient care and eradication of cancer.

Last year’s beneficiaries included Hope Lodge, Gilda’s Club, Dan Rudy Cancer Center, Vanderbilt Cancer Center, and Make-a-Wish.

L’Ete du Vin organizers think there is no better way to support the fight against cancer than with a glass of wine in one hand, and a bidding paddle in the other.

The 32^nd Annual L’Ete du Vin Is Scheduled For
Saturday, July 16, 2011 in Nashville

Please contact L’Ete du Vin for further information and registration:  email: info@nashvillewineauction.com; Telephone: (615) 329-1760; Fax: (615) 329-1704; L’Ete du Vin website:  www.nashvillewineauction.com.

The 29^th Annual Detroit International Wine Auction Raised $1.1 Million
To Support The College for Creative Studies

The Art Of Wine, the 29^th annual Detroit International Wine Auction held in October at the city’s Renaissance Center, generated $1.1 Million to benefit the College for Creative Studies (CCS).  Funds raised will further the creative educations of talented and deserving students by supporting CCS scholarships and community outreach programs.  The funds will allow the College to nurture and enrich the talents of promising artists from metro Detroit and around the world.

For over 100 years, The College for Creative Studies has excelled as a leader in art and design education and has earned national and international recognition for the caliber of its students, faculty, programs and alumni.  CCS’s expansion, with the opening of the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education, and the Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies,  has demonstrated wide-ranging community benefits through economic development, neighborhood revitalization, public education improvement and free art programs for at-risk youth in Detroit.

Auction Chairs last year were Matt Cullen of Rock Enterprises and Karen Cullen of Illitch Holdings.  The Featured Vintner was Alex Ryan, President of Duckhorn Wine Company.  Fritz Hatton, one of the nation’s most experienced wine auctioneers, was the auctioneer.

In addition to the many collectible wines offered, the live and silent auctions featured unique lifestyle lots, including trips to London, Paris and Italy, as well as a fantastic VIP trip to the Duckhorn Wine Company properties in Napa Valley.  Other exciting lots included a Kentucky Derby experience, a once-in-a-lifetime racing experience and trip to the Indy 500, and tickets to an American Idol Top 12 Finalist show in Hollywood, California.

The 30^th Annual Detroit International Wine Auction
Is Scheduled For Saturday, October 22, 2011

Auction Chairs will be James M. Mary Beth Nicholson and the event will feature the wines of Tom and Vicki Celani and Celani Family Vineyards.

Please contact the College for Creative Studies for further information and registration:  email: diwa@collegeforcreativestudies.edu; Telephone: (313) 664-7464; CCS website:  www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/events/diwa.

Auction Napa Valley Raised $8.5 Million
For Its’ 30^th Year in 2010

The 4-day event, which took place in June last year raised $8.5 million for local charities.  The highlight of the event was the live auction at Meadowood Resort in St. Helena.  The day began with a walk-around luncheon prepared by 16 chefs from around the country, including Thomas Keller of the French Laundry, Richard Reddington of Redd, Michael Tusk of Quince, Michael Mina and Frank Stitt of Highlands Bar and Grill in Birmingham, Alabama.  Then 900 guests gathered under the tent on the lawn where bidding on 41 lavish lots brought in $7.09 million. Beth Novak Milliken and Mary Novak of Spottswoode Estate Winery served as auction chairs.

The top bid was made by Mary Miner, owner of Oakville Ranch Vineyards, who purchased a lot of 10 magnums of Harlan and dinner for eight for $350,000.  A lot from Colgin Cellars, an 8-magnum vertical of the Cariad bottling and dinner for six raised $250,000.  Then Ann Colgin offered the same lot so that four separate bidders each paid $250,000.

Local children gathered on the stage to promote the Fund-a-Need lot bringing over $1 million for children’s health and wellness programs, donating in increments from $10,000 to $100,000.

After the auction, guests were served a family-style dinner outside the tent.  Dinner was prepared by six female chefs from around the country, including Suzanne Tracht from Jar in Los Angeles and Gina DePalma from Babbo in New York.  Guests danced to music provided by the all-girl band, The Bangles.

In addition to the live auction, there was a month-long, internet-only auction offering 151 lots that sold for $277,000.  Also vintners hosted various events throughout Napa.  Taste Napa Valley and Barrel auction, which attracted 2,000 people to Rubicon Estate in Rutherford, raised over $1 million.  Over 100 wineries and 60 restaurants and artisanal food producers were featured while three vintner rock bands performed.  Attendees could taste wines from barrel and then place bids for 10-case lots of those wines.  The top-selling barrel lot was for the Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 2008, which went for $59,000.

Another top live auction lot, going for $250,000, included 74 bottles of Arietta and Hudson Vineyards wines, an overnight camp out for six in airstream trailers at the HudsonRanch, dinner for 12 and breakfast for six.  The winning bid was $50,000, paid by five separate bidders.  Beringer Vineyards lot, selling for $240,000, included tickets and a trip to Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival for two, along with three nights of lodging, golf for two, and a five bottle 6-liter collection of Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve.  A lot from Shafer Vineyards, which went for $240,000, included an 18-magnum vertical of Hillside Select and one-time-only bottling of the 25^th Anniversary Sunspot Cabernet Sauvignon, 3-night lodging for six, with two dinners, lunch and wine tasting at Shafer.

Auction Napa Valley, thus far, has raised $97 million for non-profits, including Community Health Clinic Ole, Boys & Girls Clubs and Napa Valley Community Housing.

The 31^st Annual Auction Napa Valley
is Scheduled for June 2-5, 2011

Auction Napa Valley – The American Wine Classic, will take place at Meadowood Resort from June 2-5.

For more information call 707-963-3388; email reception2@napavintners.com or visit www.napavintners.com/anv/anv_1_overview.aspx.

The 28^th Annual Vintage Affaire Raised Money for Palo Alto’s
Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Vintage Affaire 2010, which took place on Saturday, June 26 on the grounds of a beautiful  private estate in Woodside, California, was an elegant party, offering great wine and food, an auction with one-of-a-kind lots and live music.  Always a wonderful affair to remember, it is one of the largest wine and destination auctions in California.  Over the past 27 years, Vintage Affaire has raised nearly $6 million for Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Palo Alto.  These funds enable Vista Center clients to achieve their highest potential through programs that promote independence and improve the quality of life, including the low vision clinic and rehabilitation services such as counseling, orientation and mobility training, living skills instruction and more.

The event is organized by the nonprofit Vista Center Foundation Board of Directors and is staffed entirely by community volunteers.  The auction typically includes wine lots from hard-to-find California vintages, first-growth French Bordeaux, and emerging vineyards from “Down Under.” In addition, there are tours and tasting events at Napa and Sonoma vineyards, and wine country dinners in Napa and on the Peninsula.

Last year for the first time, Vintage Affaire offered two tiers of tickets, both of which support Vista Center. All of the festivities took place on the grounds of an elegant estate in Woodside.

Tier One: The afternoon began at 2:30 under the big tent with a silent auction offering 99 lots amidst elegant wine tasting featuring approximately 30 of California’s top vintners and hors d’oeuvre pairings prepared and served by noted local chefs from Quattro at the Four Seasons, Silicon Valley; The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay; Madera at Rosewood, Palo Alto; Donato Enoteca, Redwood City; Woodside Pub; and Cetrella in Half Moon Bay.

Tier Two: At 5:00 the seated Live Auction of 61 lots began, offering special wines and hors d’oeuvres while bidding on fine and rare wines and unique auction items. Lifestyle lots included a helicopter flight over San Francisco Bay, an 11-day stay on Crystal Cruises Mediterranean Treasures Cruise, special lodging at Exclusive Resorts Luxury Destinations Club and other stays in Hawaii and Lake Tahoe.  When the auction finished, a sit down dinner was served in an elegant garden. A live band completed the evening providing music for dancing the night away.  (Tier Two included all activities in Tier One as well.)

The 29^th Annual Vintage Affaire Is Scheduled for
Saturday, June 25, 2011

Pop the Cork! Vintage Affaire will once again take place in the gardens of a stunning private estate in the area of Woodside, California.

Please contact Vista Center at 650-858-0202 for additional information, website:  www.vintageaffaire.org.

St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church Raised $103,020
At Its First Cellar Classic

St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley, California, made history by raising $103,020 at its first Cellar Classic held last August 1^st to support the Church’s community programs.  The auction of 30 lots of rare and fine wines and unique lifestyle events was co-chaired by Brooks Firestone, owner of Curtis Winery; Richard Harris, of Calzada Ridge, and Steve Pepe of Clos Pepe.

Prior to the live auction, 120 guests enjoyed gourmet hors d’oeuvres and cheeses, wines donated from 13 area vintners, musical selections from “She’s My Bank” and the St. Mark’s choir.  All food and wine served during the event as well as the rare wines, live and silent auction items were donated by St. Mark’s members and friends.

Cellar Classic highlights included a silent auction as well as a live auction gaveled by professional auctioneer, John Glines.  High bids included two bottles of 100-point-rated 1947 Chateau Cheval Blanc that sold for $7,000 each.  A legendary magnum of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild sold for $6,500.  The cult classic 1993 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon sold for $2,750.  Other rare, collectible wines included a 1947 Leroy Musigny, a 1985 Richebourg from Henri Jayer, Chateau Petrus from 1947 and 1983, a rare vertical of Quilceda Creek’s Washington Cabernet Sauvignon, and another 100-point wine, the 1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild.  Bidding became so intense for a weekend stay at Clos Pepe Vineyards that a total of three packages were sold for $1,500 each.

The Reverend Randall C. K. Day, Rector of St. Mark’s, said that the Cellar Classic was successful in many ways, in addition to the financial result that will allow the Church to continue to serve not only their Episcopal congregation but also to function as a meeting place for the area’s Jewish congregation, Food Bank, Valley Community Theatre and recovery groups, as well as to provide art, music and educational programs.  The money raised was a result of many people giving an incredible amount of creativity, time, labor, financial and material resources.

Event co-chair, Steve Pepe added that they succeeded far beyond their goals and are looking at making the Cellar Classics an annual event.

The 2^nd Annual St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Cellar Classic
Is Planned for Saturday, July 30, 2011

The 2^nd Annual Cellar Classic will take place in Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley from 4 – 7 pm on Saturday, July 30^th.  Wine donations will close July 8^th.  The catalog will be emailed to registrants July 15^th.

For more information, call St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church at 805-688-4454 or visit www.SMITV.org.