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Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, EnRoute and Dolce present the ultimate collection of wines from the family and partners that launched Far Niente in 1979. Ready to go to dinner tonight, this beautiful wine gift box represents “The Estate Collection,” a full portfolio packaged in a custom, specialty wooden box branded with the Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, EnRoute and Dolce logos.
Tonight’s winning bid will bring home these four top-shelf bottles to add to the cellar: a 2012 Far Niente Estate Bottled Chardonnay, “bright upon entry with a silky texture,” a 2011 Nickel & Nickel Sullenger Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville with complex aromas and a lengthy finish, an elegant and intense 2012 EnRoute Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Les Pommiers and a 2007 Dolce, Napa Valley, “one of the top ten dessert wines in the world,” according to Wine Enthusiast.
And when you and friends next find yourself in Napa Valley, enjoy a tour and tasting for four at both the Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel wineries. Tours at Far Niente begin with a walk through the historic, tri-level winery, which is built into the surrounding hillside. You will then get a peek at the 40,000-square-foot wine aging caves and finish up with a visit to the Carriage House, home to a fascinating collection of classic automobiles. Tastings will follow each tour and feature the current releases of estate wines.
After sampling some of Napa’s finest, head back to San Francisco to take in some culture with the much anticipated installation by China’s outspoken and prolific contemporary artist Ai Weiwei: titled @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz, opening in September. Ai Weiwei’s new show of sculpture, sound and mixed-media works is a joint project of the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the San Francisco- based For-Site Foundation, a nonprofit that commissions artwork in public places. The show’s themes deal with incarceration, freedom of expression and activism, and tickets will be hard to come by. For three nights in the city, you will stay at a stunning private residence in downtown San Francisco. This is an art experience of a lifetime with great wine, too.
This will certainly be a visit to remember!
OPENING BID
$3,000
INCLUDES
Two Tours and Tastings for Four
Two Tickets to Art Installation and Tour
Three-Night Stay for Two
Three 750ml Bottles
One 375ml Bottle
DONOR
Sarah & David Woodward
Far Niente Winery
Oakville, California
Dolce Wine
Oakville, California
Nickel & Nickel Vineyards
Oakville, California
EnRoute Winery
Sebastopol, California
This year, Hedges Family Estate and Ambassador Winery have teamed up again in a dynamic partnership to put together a knockout auction lot. Come to Washington’s Red Mountain wine country and see what all the buzz is about. You will experience the unique beauty of the area at the estate of Tom and Anne-Marie Hedges. Your group of four will be their guests on a tour of the biodynamic vineyard and organic gardens with winemaker Sarah Goedhart, a young rising star in Washington’s wine industry.
Next, relax with a glass of delightful Rosé near the fountain while a delicious gourmet lunch is prepared for you in the French country kitchen. You will dine in true style with Tom and Anne-Marie as well as Michael and Pamela Towers, another powerhouse couple of the Red Mountain AVA.
And tonight, the winning bidder takes home two five-liter Jeroboams from each winery, one of the 2011 Hedges Red Mountain Bordeaux Blend and one of the 2011 Ambassador Syrah. We all know these large-format bottles are great for a party but what if you can’t finish it? After a day or so you’d have to pour it down the drain. No way. But finally, there is a system that really works―the Nitro Tap System. With the Nitro Tap, you can both dispense and preserve from large-format bottles of wine with ease. It transforms a large bottle into a keg system, making it much easier to pour and allowing any leftover wine to stay fresh for future drinking. So, just in case you want to save some of this fantastic wine for later, a Nitro Tap System is also included. Plus, Hedges and Ambassador are both contributing an additional six bottles of each vintage so you can refill the large bottles and keep using the Nitro Tap to enjoy their wines.
Date to be mutually agreeable. Expires 10/1/15. Bearer entitled to 10% off estate purchases.
OPENING BID
$2,000
INCLUDES
Tour and Tasting for Four
Lunch for Four
Two 5-Liter Bottles
Twelve 750ml Bottles
DONOR
Hedges Family Estate
Benton City, Washington
Ambassador Wines of Washington
Benton City, Washington
Winesong is a premier charity auction and wine tasting weekend benefiting the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. The event takes place along the beautiful Mendocino Coast in Anderson Valley. Nestled in the western edge of the county, the area is “green, serene, un-snobby territory,” adjacent to redwood forests and the Pacific Ocean. Now in its 30th year, Winesong features Anderson Valley’s top wineries and is the perfect venue to get to know this hidden jewel and its bounty.
This year, Winesong is offering a VIP package for two, which will include lodging for two nights on the stunning Mendocino Coast. The opening act of the weekend is the Pinot Noir Celebration on Friday, which features more than 20 wineries from Anderson Valley. On Friday evening, you are invited to the exclusive, invitation-only VIP reception known as the Auction Preview Party. This is a private, catered event and welcome reception.
Saturday afternoon highlights the main experience of the Winesong Weekend, a two-in-one event that showcases wines from Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties, along with other high-end wine regions nationally and globally. The first part of the afternoon commences in the breathtaking Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens with 100 premier wineries and 50 culinary artisans sharing samples of their creations, orchestrating a delightful pairing of food and wine in a stunning setting. Next is the Live Auction, the centerpiece of Winesong, where you will have preferred, reserved seating; a catered, gourmet lunch; and the opportunity to bid on silent and live lots of rare wine, one-of-a-kind artworks and exciting travel experiences.
At the conclusion of Saturday’s daytime activities, you and your companion will continue the celebration into the evening at yet another exclusive VIP event―the Beach Party. Unofficially, this is the farewell for VIPs and, again, by invitation only. The Beach Party is a catered event, complete with bonfires and the sharing of fine wines and delicious food. A whirlwind weekend of wonderful wine for a worthy cause…let’s start the bidding!
Event takes place Friday, September 5th – Saturday, September 6th, 2014.
OPENING BID
$2,500
INCLUDES
Two-Night Stay for Two
Two Tickets to Pinot Noir Celebration
Two Tickets to VIP Preview Party
Two Tickets to Auction and Wine/Food Tasting
Reserved Seating for Two at Auction
Two Tickets to VIP Beach Party
DONOR
Winesong Hospital Foundation
Get ready for some intensive reconnaissance in northern California’s wine country.
First Darioush Winery will welcome you to an afternoon befitting the culture curious, a relaxed and intimate “Culture of Wine” lunch and tasting experience for six people set under the pistachio trees at the winery’s grounds in Napa. The resident wine historian and host, Nina Wemyss, will take you on a fascinating oenological journey through wine’s 7,000-year history while you enjoy a midday meal in the garden. The ever-evolving and mouth-watering lunch menu will showcase the seasonal bounty of the Napa Valley and you will savor limited-release and winery-exclusive Darioush wines, perfectly matched with each delectable course. Tonight, to start things off, take home a five-year vertical collection of Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon from 2007-2011.
Next, Copain Wines invites you to join them at their winery in beautiful Healdsburg, at the center of Sonoma’s wine country, for the opportunity to enjoy an evening of outstanding wine and food. The team at Copain will welcome your group of six for an inside tour of the winery and a taste of upcoming releases from the barrels with the skilled winemaking team.
After relaxing on the picturesque hillside and taking in the staggering views, you will move on to a carefully curated wine country dinner paired with a selection of Copain’s library wines. And as a parting gift for the winning bidder this evening, Copain has included two Magnums of their flagship Pinot Noir, “En Haut,” and Kiser, “En Bas,” selected and signed by winemaker Wells Guthrie.
OPENING BID
$2,000
INCLUDES
Lunch for Six
Two Tours and Tastings for Six
Wine Dinner for Six
Three 1.5-Liter Bottles
Five 750ml Bottles
DONOR
Darioush Winery
Napa, California
Copain Wines
Healdsburg, California
This JUST IN… JUSTIN Vineyards and its sister winery, Landmark, are ready to roll out the red carpet for you on an unforgettable trip through California’s wine country. You will come back sated, relaxed and bursting with new knowledge about wine.
First, alight at the JUST Inn B&B in Paso Robles for a two-night stay in heavenly splendor. JUST Inn combines the luxury and comfort of a five-star hotel with the opportunity to experience life on a working vineyard and winery. When you’re ready, the pros at JUSTIN will share tips and tastes with you during a private seasonal wine seminar and pairing session. And as a perfect ending to a perfect day, enjoy dinner at The Restaurant at JUSTIN―the ultimate food and wine experience with world-class service. Sit back and relax as Executive Chef Will Torres artfully transforms local ingredients into unparalleled cuisine that is well worth the journey.
During the second part of your journey, continue up the coast, where you will find Landmark Vineyards in the heart of Sonoma Valley wine country. Spend two blissful nights at Landmark’s beautifully appointed guest cottage and suite overlooking the vineyard with unparalleled views of Sugarloaf Ridge and Hood Mountain. Learn more tricks of the trade and taste some of Landmark’s best selections during a private vineyard tour, wine seminar and catered lunch.
And, as the winning bidder tonight, you will also take home your very own Double Magnum of JUSTIN’s Isosceles Bordeaux Blend.
OPENING BID
$3,000
INCLUDES
Two Two-Night Stays for Four
Dinner for Four
Private Wine Seminar and Tasting for Four
Private Tour and Wine Seminar for Four
Lunch for Four
One 3-Liter Bottle
DONORS
Landmark Vineyards
Kenwood, California
JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery Paso Robles, California
Here it is…the very best of the West. Sweeping plains and staggering mountain ranges. Genuine history and honest cowboy grit. Nature and wildlife so natural and so close your pulse will race. Now imagine combining the very best of a hunting lodge, a dude ranch, a fly fishing retreat and a ski resort―all in one place. A multitude of thrilling outdoor activities await you at the Montana Sporting Club. Answer the call of the wild from this private wilderness outpost―an exclusive base camp tucked in the center of the 1.8 million-acre Lewis and Clark National Forest. This is the perfect place to indulge all of your outdoor fantasies about the West―horseback riding, snowmobiling, ATV riding, fishing, cattle drives, rodeos, hunting and just plain relaxing.
Montana Sporting Club is your ticket to a place where the soul has room to expand. Be awed by a landscape carved by ancient rivers and crowned by majestic mountains, many so remote they haven’t been named. Five-star services and rustic simplicity is the signature style of MSC. You are guaranteed memories that will stay with you for life―regardless your age. And once you’ve caught the Western buzz, you’ll think of excuses why you should linger longer.
Your group of eight is invited to take advantage of this magical spot. Spend four nights in log cabins discovering the club’s very special blend of rustic luxury. The cabins are private retreats that are beautifully appointed and designed in classic Western style with vaulted ceilings, roaring fireplaces, decadent baths and porches with stunning views. Your stay also provides exclusive members-only access to some of the club’s activities and amenities. Get your cowboy fix with a two-hour trail ride on horseback, practice your accuracy with a clay shooting session or choose from a myriad of other options with the help of the club’s personalized concierge service. During your visit, the chef at Montana Sporting Club will also design and prepare an extraordinary private clubhouse dinner for your group.
Valid November 2014 to November 2015. Winter options also available.
OPENING BID
$3,000
INCLUDES
Four-Night Stay for Eight
Dinner for Eight Two-Hour Trail Ride for Eight
Clay Shooting Session for Eight
Personal Concierge Service
DONOR
Montana Sporting Club
Belt, Montana
How about spending a long weekend in the Emerald City? Autumn is one of the best times to visit Seattle, a gorgeous city surrounded by water and mountains on all sides. And if you find yourself there in the fall, you can’t pass up the chance to see the most recent Super Bowl champions perform live in all their glory. We’ve got just the thing…four VIP tickets to a Seattle Seahawks home game…WITH field access. Watch the game up close, meet some players, have them sign a few footballs to take home as souvenirs and marvel at the views of CenturyLink Field from down on the turf. Not bad at all.
And, with three nights at one of Kimpton’s four-star boutique hotels, you will be right in the thick of things―the perfect location for exploring all the rest that Seattle has to offer. Choose between the Alexis Hotel, just steps away from Pike Place Market and the Water- front with original artwork in every room, Hotel Monaco, with its hip style and award-winning restaurant Sazerac, or Hotel Vintage, with newly renovated, elegant rooms dedicated to Washington wines, nestled right in the heart of the city.
Of course, a trip to Seattle would not be complete without some activity involving a seaplane and a boat, right? Buzz over some of the city’s best scenery on a thrilling seaplane ride and then hop aboard a private 46ˊ Grand Banks for a gorgeous cruise around the nearby San Juan Islands. You might even spot a few Orca whales. Spend the night on board under the stars as the waters of Puget Sound rock you gently to sleep. Ah…Seattle
All auction items can be used separately. Restrictions apply. Boat is available October 19-November, 23, 2014. Available dates for Seahawks tickets to be released in August, 2014.
OPENING BID
$3,000
INCLUDES
Four VIP Tickets to NFL Game
Three-Night Stay for Four
Seaplane Tour for Four
Boat Cruise and Overnight for Four
DONOR
Kimpton Hotels and Resorts
NW Explorations
Bellingham, Washington
Nike, Inc.
Beaverton, OR
Tranquility awaits you at the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. As tonight’s winning bidder, you can relax and recharge in splendor during a three-night stay in a gorgeous, fully-appointed three-bedroom home on the property.
Adding to the experience are Sanctuary’s world-class spa services and classes in a state-of-the-art fitness center and movement studio including Pilates, meditation, yoga, fitness and nutrition consultations, and more. The resort also features five championship tennis courts where you can practice your drop shots under the brilliant blue sky.
And you will certainly need to check out Sanctuary’s luxury spa and its tempting menu of Asian-inspired services that are available in 12 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms. Enhanced by distinctive architecture and a breathtaking setting, the relaxing Zen meditation garden, tranquil reflecting pond and Watsu pool provide the ultimate Arizona spa vacation.
But a visit to a spa resort does not mean you have to starve yourself. Beau MacMillan, a veteran of many a Vintner Dinner and the maestro in the kitchen at Sanctuary’s elements restaurant, will prepare a sumptuous feast for your group to enjoy at the restaurant, where you can witness the wizardry in the kitchen first-hand while you savor mouthwatering cuisine and spectacular wines. You will return home feeling completely refreshed and rejuvenated after this amazing journey to the desert.
OPENING BID
$4,000
INCLUDES
Three-Night Stay for Six
Private Dinner for Six
DONOR
Sanctuary on Camelback
Mountain Resort & Spa
Scottsdale, Arizona
Beau MacMillan elements restaurant
Capture the romance of travel and escape to the extraordinary. Bordeaux is arguably the greatest wine region in the world. In addition to the amazing wines there is a rich culture and delectable cuisine to discover. Spend a week on this Grand Cru Wine Adventure with Claude Guigon, formerly of Sun Valley Resort fame and now owner of Barrique 33 Wine Tours, who will accompany you on multiple private VIP tours and tastings at prestigious châteaus and vineyards in Graves, Saint Emilion, Sauternes, Medoc and Pomerol. You will be escorted to all of these gorgeous places by your own private driver and interpreter.
Your lodging for this four-person French wine adventure will be at a luxurious private estate near Saint Emilion. This lush 40-acre property overlooks the Dordogne Valley and the Bordeaux vineyards as far as the eye can see. Each day will be different— with visits to wine estates such as Château Carbonnieux, La Mission Haut Brion and Château Figeac, exploring local historic châteaus, shops and galleries, and leisurely rosé lunches each afternoon. Choose one of the days to enjoy a catered farmer’s market lunch at your estate with lounging by the pool and walks in the gardens. Each guest will be treated to a one-hour massage, followed by a magnificent meal prepared by your own private chef.
Other highlights of the trip include a private two-hour class given by a certified expert at L’Ecole du Vin of Saint Emilion, and dinner at a nearby two-star Michelin restaurant, where you will enjoy some of the best food the region has to offer paired with beautiful wines. All of this promises to make it a vacation to remember!
OPENING BID
$16,000
INCLUDES
Six-Night Stay for Four (Two couples)
Private Tours and Tastings for Four
Private Transportation for Four
Four One-Hour Massages
Two-Hour Class for Four
Meals and Wine for Four
DONOR
Claude & Ghislaine Guigon
Barrique 33 Wine Tours
Since their inaugural vintage in 1994, Northstar Winery has focused on crafting world-class Merlots from Washington’s very best vineyard sites. Twenty years later, Northstar is widely recognized among the leading Merlot producers of the world, and has been proclaimed the “number one source for good American Merlot” by The New York Times. The team at Northstar wants you to share the joy of their momentous anniversary and has donated this trip to Walla Walla for two couples. This is your chance to join in the celebration!
Begin your Washington wine country experience with a flight to Walla Walla, then check in to the luxurious Marcus Whitman Hotel and relax with a stroll through the historic downtown. The following day you will be whisked over to Northstar to participate in a private Northstar Blending Experience with esteemed winemaker
David “Merf ” Merfeld. The Blending Experience is a unique, hands-on opportunity to immerse yourselves in the art and craft of blending Northstar wines. You will each compose your own one-of-kind bottle of Northstar, complete with a custom label, from the same blending components that Merf uses to craft Northstar’s acclaimed Merlot-based blends. Weather permitting, you will also enjoy a private vineyard tour.
That evening, Merf and his wife will join your party for dinner at the Chef ’s Table back at the hotel with a menu prepared specifically for your group and paired with outstanding wine selections from Northstar. And last but not at all least, tonight you will take home tonight an incredible selection of the winery’s best offerings for your own personal enjoyment—a three-year vertical of Northstar Premier in Magnum format (2009, 2010, 2011), an etched Double Magnum of Northstar 2007 Walla Walla Valley Merlot and an etched 5-liter bottle of Northstar 2004 Columbia Valley Merlot.
Subject to mutually agreeable date. Expires July 2015.
OPENING BID
$4,000
INCLUDES
Airfare for Four (from Seattle/Portland /SF)
Two-Night Stay for Four
Private Blending Seminar and Tour for Four
Private Hotel-to-Vineyard Shuttle for Four
Dinner for Four
Three 1.5-Liter Bottles
One 3-Liter Bottle One 5-Liter Bottle
DONOR
Northstar Winery
Walla Walla, Washington