Live Lot #29 – Emerald City Adventure

Gather your friends for an arts, sports and culture outing to remember! Two couples will fly to Seattle from anywhere in the continental U.S. on Alaska Airlines for an unforgettable weekend. You are invited to the Chihuly Boathouse in Seattle to enjoy a private studio tour and glassblowing experience. Dale Chihuly is a Seattle icon. His work is included in more than 200 museum collections and is instantly recognizable around the globe. This is a unique opportunity to witness first-hand how Chihuly’s glass masterpieces are made.

Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Head Winemaker, Bob Bertheau and artist, Dale Chihuly, two Northwest icons, collaborated to commemorate the 20th vintage of Artist Series, a unique, collector’s wine representing the highest quality and pedigree from Chateau Ste. Michelle. In 1992 Chihuly was the artist featured on the first Artist Series vintage. Winemakers and artists have drawn inspiration from one another for centuries; the process of making wine is much like the process of making art. During blending, winemakers carefully select the varietals to shape their final wine, just as artists prepare their palettes with colors for a painting. Tonight you get a chance to take home a piece of this artistic collaboration.

Your group will also visit Chihuly Garden and Glass, one of the artist’s most ambitious projects. View an exhibition of Chihuly’s most iconic works, including the suspended Glasshouse Sculpture. Stroll through the Garden and view the installations juxtaposed with the natural environment. And savor scrumptious dishes in the Collections Café as you dine on fresh, local Northwest cuisine accompanied by head winemaker Bob Bertheau and outstanding wines from Chateau Ste. Michelle.

During your visit, you’ll stay at the four-star Sorrento Hotel. A charming Seattle icon, the Sorrento is the first and longest-operating boutique hotel in the historic First Hill neighborhood. It is also renowned in Seattle for being a creative hub, with ongoing music, literature and social events. Round out your trip with some fastpaced action and take in a Seattle Sounders soccer match at CenturyLink Field.

To commemorate this unique Seattle experience, tonight’s winner will also receive the Jasmine Basket Chihuly Workshop Studio Edition. The piece evokes the continued grace and timeless elegance of the artist’s Basket series. Handblown and signed by Chihuly himself, the piece measures approximately eight inches across. In addition, you will also receive two Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition catalogs signed by the artist as well as a special Double Magnum of the Chateau St. Michelle 2012 Artist Series wine featuring an image of Chihuly’s Cast Silver Venetian

All dates must be mutually agreed upon. Offer expires July 26, 2016. Not transferable or redeemable for cash.

OPENING BID
$10,000

INCLUDES
Round Trip Airfare for Four
Two-Night Stay for Four
Private Studio Tour for Four
One 3-Liter Bottle
Art Exhibition Tickets for Four
Two Exhibition Catalogs
Original Piece of Artwork
Dinner and Wine for Four
Soccer Tickets for Four

DONORS
Chateau Ste. Michelle

Chihuly Studios

 

Live Lot #28 – Oh, The Wonders of Oregon

Are you ready for an exquisite Oregon wine experience? Domaine Serene Winery, a little slice of paradise in the hills of the Willamette Valley, is offering up the ultimate oenological adventure. Experience the pastoral tranquility of Oregon’s wine country from the wonderful luxuries of Domaine Serene’s Winery Hill House retreat. This fabulously appointed “home away from home” is the perfect place to start your adventures and the ideal sanctuary at the end of a memorable day among the vines. High atop the Dundee Hills in Oregon’s famous wine growing region, you will immerse yourself in all that the vineyard has to offer and enjoy life … the Domaine Serene way.

On this trip, two couples will relax for a three-night stay in a private hideaway on the winery grounds. With picturesque views from every vantage and the heart of the valley at your fingertips, you will experience the unique and unspoiled region in grand style. To start things off, hop aboard a private helicopter for a jaw-dropping tour of the surrounding Dundee Hills to see where the magic happens from above.

And the thrills don’t end there. Next, you will be treated to a private tour of Domaine Serene’s landmark five-level gravity flow winery followed by a seated tasting of their single-vineyard offerings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the beautiful winery cave. Your evening concludes with a catered three-course dinner created by a private chef in the comforts of the guesthouse.

Also included are two bottles of Domaine Serene wine, classic breakfast items, cheese and charcuterie that will be stocked in the house for your enjoyment. And of course, a Domaine Serene concierge will be on hand to assist you during your visit to Oregon Wine Country. This will certainly be an experience to remember and a trip that you will never forget.

Offer expires December 2016.

OPENING BID
$5,000

INCLUDES
Three-Night Stay for Four
Private Helicopter Tour for Four
Private Catered Dinner for Four
Private Tour and Tasting for Four
Two 750ml Bottles
Private Concierge Services

DONOR
Grace & Ken Evenstad, Domaine Serene Winery

Live Lot #27 – Magnificent Mexico

Surround yourself in beauty and luxury with an exclusive trip for two couples to Punta Sayulita, a private community in warm and tropical Mexico. Sayulita, an authentic village on the coast located only 40km from Puerto Vallarta, is one of the most chic pueblos in Mexico.

As the winner of this enticing lot, your base for four days and five nights of pure relaxation will be a newly-constructed home perched above the water on a breathtaking 33-acre oceanfront peninsula offering astounding views of the cove and only a five-minute walk to town. Enjoy Sayulita’s numerous shops, cobblestone streets and several restaurants serving authentic cuisine from the area.

Great food, luxurious surroundings, natural beauty and unforgettable good times all await your arrival. Not only can you relax and enjoy the nearby beach and ocean, but you can also enjoy the surrounding nature and vegetation. Hiking jungle trails, photography and bird-watching are among the more pleasurable activities to be experienced while visiting the area.

This environment is also ideal for waterskiing, surfing, kayaking, scuba diving, parasailing and wake boarding…all fun ways to experience the waves and depth of the beautiful blue ocean. Your group will have access to all of the private beach club amenities, which will include a day of guided fishing as well as a stand-up paddle or surfing lesson. And to keep your appetite at bay, start and end each day with delicious breakfast and dinner prepared by your own private, in-house chef. At Punta Sayulita, relax to the fullest in a surreal setting that is truly extraordinary.

Available Thursday through Sunday, November 1 through May 1 with holiday exceptions and mutually agreeable dates.

OPENING BID
$9,000

INCLUDES
Four-Night Stay for Four
Guided Fishing Excursion for Four
Breakfasts and Dinners for Four with Private Chef
One Day of SUP or Surf Lessons for Four
Private Beach Club Amenities

DONORS
Jim & Sandy Figge

David & Trish Wilson

 

Live Lot #26 – All In The Family

Canihan Family Winery produces estate-grown, award-winning wines from their dry-farmed and certified organic vineyards. Right out of the gate, their first vintage Syrah (2004) received the Sweepstakes Award “Best of Show Red Wine” (double gold) at the 2007 San Francisco International Wine Competition, while their 2004 Estate Pinot Noir received bronze. The awards don’t stop there, and the winery continues to win gold medals annually in the largest wine competitions in the country.

Old-world farming practices, originally taught to founder Bill Canihan by his Swiss grandfather, continue to influence the vineyard and the family’s wines. Canihan Family practices organic vineyard management, dry-farming, cane pruning and hand-harvesting. Bill oversees the vineyard as well as wine production, and the old-world philosophy yields deeply expressive, flavorful wines that reflect their terroir. Wines the family believes represent the best of the best are sold under the Exuberance label.

The lucky winner of this lot will enjoy a private vineyard tour, lunch and vertical tasting for six guests in the heart of the Sonoma Valley with Bill Canihan at Canihan Family Vineyards. If desired, you can schedule your visit during harvest so that you can experience the thrill of harvesting, sorting grapes, de-stemming and crush.

This unforgettable experience includes sampling the gold medal-winning 2010, 2011 and 2012 Estate Pinot Noirs along with the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Exuberance Syrah (rated 93 points or higher) as well as the inaugural 2013 Chardonnay. You can enjoy these fabulous wines and compare the vintages on the land where they were grown. Each guest will also receive a complimentary gift box containing their three favorite wines of the visit. We don’t blame you for getting excited!

Date to be mutually agreed upon in advance; lodging and transportation not included.

OPENING BID
$2,500

INCLUDES
Private Tour and Tasting for Six
Lunch for Six
Eighteen 750ml Bottles

DONOR
Bill Canihan, Canihan Family Vineyards

 

Live Lot #25 – Raise a Paddle

Art matters. Pure and simple. Art elevates the way we engage with the world and it changes the way we see things. And The Center is making sure that the children in our valley are given plenty of chances to discover a love for the arts at an early age. We invite you to be a part of this important work. We all know that the Sun Valley Wine Auction is a weekend filled with great food, fabulous entertainment and incredible wines. But tonight, let’s all remember that it’s also about art and why it matters—in our schools and for our community as a whole.

Raise your paddle and invest in a better future for our local children. This is when it really matters—raising essential funds for The Center’s educational outreach and scholarship programs. The Center provides opportunities for everyone in our community to grow and explore, whether in a painting class or a writing workshop, or at a theatrical performance or an outdoor concert. Kids exposed to the arts are more likely to stay in school. Art engages students in learning, cultivates selfexpression and promotes critical thinking and problem-solving.

Through generous support from donors like you, The Center has helped put Sun Valley on the map for the arts and our community benefits in myriad ways. Your involvement makes the work that The Center is doing possible. Last year, funds raised at the Wine Auction provided 41,043 people (9,131 children) access to the arts and offered 337 programs, a whopping 68% of which are FREE. You can see the immediate results of your generosity in the eyes and smiles of our local children and know that you are helping to give them amazing cultural opportunities and learning experiences that will enrich their lives forever.

 

Live Lot #24 – Heavenly Hawaii and Pride Mountain Vineyards

Experience true Hawaiian spirit and the ultimate in relaxation with a week at a magnificent and secluded home on the Big Island of Hawaii for five couples. This luxury vacation estate is aptly named “Hale Pau Hana,” which roughly translates as “The House to Go to When Work Is Done.” And is it ever that. Nestled on slightly less than an acre of land at the famous Mauna Kea Resort, this perfect island retreat boasts spectacular ocean views from every room. You won’t ever want to leave.

First, let’s talk about the house. Three pavilions connected by open breezeways house five exquisite bedrooms. Lush Hawaiian gardens and water features surround the entire home, an architectural masterpiece. The living room, which is completely open to the warm, tropical Hawaiian air, is beautifully furnished and decorated with gorgeous artwork and Asian antiques. Enjoy your favorite tropical drinks at the poolside bar or lounge in the hot tub tucked just behind the waterfall at the far end of the pool. On the off chance you feel like leaving this palatial abode, you will find yourselves only minutes from the hotel and all of its amenities, including access to the famous white sand beach, massive pool, state-of-the-art health club and tennis courts galore. Additionally, you will enjoy discounted rates at the world-famous Robert Trent Jones golf course.

Next, get ready for a wine dinner extraordinaire with Pride Mountain Vineyards. Your group will be treated to a sumptuous meal, prepared by a renowned Hawaiian chef at “Hale Pau Hana,” where you are staying. Only the finest ingredients and freshest vegetables, which come from local farmers, will find their way into the kitchen and onto your plate for an unforgettable meal.

Stuart Bryan, vintner at Pride Mountain Vineyards, will join you for the evening, bringing his award-winning wines to pair with each course. Older and rare vintages will be showcased from this winery that has been called one of the world’s greatest wine estates by Robert Parker, Jr. and whose wines have been listed on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the World list multiple times. In addition, the wines from Pride Mountain Vineyards have been poured at the White House 32 times over
the last 23 years by four presidents.

Stuart will also autograph a three-liter bottle of 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon for the winning bidder and present a certificate for a private tour and tasting at Pride Mountain Vineyards to cap off the bidding excitement for this one-of-a-kind auction lot.

Now, just kick back, relax and raise your paddle so you can enjoy this slice of heaven on earth
along with some sensational wines. Not a bad way to spend a week in paradise, wouldn’t you say?

Trip to take place from October 26 to November 1, 2015. Dinner to take place October 29, 30 or 31, 2015.

OPENING BID
$10,000

INCLUDES
Seven-Night Stay for Ten
Private Catered Dinner and Wine for Ten
One 3-Liter Bottle
Tour and Tasting for Four

DONORS
David & Sarah Woodward

Pride Mountain Vineyards, Stuart Bryan & Suzanne Pride Bryan

 

Live Lot #23 – Escape to O’Shaughnessy Estate

High atop Howell Mountain in the beautiful Napa Valley exists an estate like no other—the O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery. With over 100 acres of rolling hills and gentle breezes, this is a peaceful and secluded retreat—the home of 42 acres of vines, a state-of-the-art winery and stunning wine cave and the beautiful Harvest House. Two couples are invited to escape to this side of paradise for a long, luxurious weekend.

The landscape design at the picturesque winery blurs the line between the untouched and planned.
Olives, rosemary and lavender frame the astounding views with accents of color throughout the verandas. And be sure to explore the wine cave during your visit. The 11,000-square-foot cave was drilled into the hillside behind the winery and the semicircular construction with soaring 26-foot ceilings gives the impression that the cave continues forever. In keeping with the theme of aesthetic simplicity, the cave remains uncluttered. O’Shaughnessy’s red wines rest in this beautiful environment for almost two years prior to bottling.

As part of your stay, you will be treated to an exclusive private dinner at the winery with proprietors Betty O’Shaughnessy Woolls and Paul Woolls, and Luke Russ, the winery’s commercial director. The O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery chef, John Gerber, will create a fabulous five-course menu just for you. Sean Capiaux, O’Shaughnessy’s winemaker since its inception in 2000, will also be joining you for the evening. Sean consistently creates world-class mountain Cabernets. His techniques allow the varietal character and terroir of the O’Shaughnessy Estate vineyards to be the stars of the show. Sean will work with the chef to create a spectacular meal that will be served with a series of O’Shaughnessy Estate library wines and perhaps, if you’re lucky, a few others from Betty and Paul’s private cellar.

The winning bidder will receive signed bottles of O’Shaughnessy’s 2003 through 2012 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignons—a ten-year vertical collection. These are limited-production, highly collectible wines that garner great praise from the media and are often sold out shortly after release. Kinda makes your jaw drop just a little, doesn’t it?

OPENING BID
$8,000

INCLUDES
Three-Night Stay for Four
Private Wine Dinner for Four
Ten 750ml Bottles

DONOR
Betty O’Shaughnessy Woolls & Paul Woolls, O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery

 

Live Lot #22 – Private Mountain Retreat

Have you ever fantasized about having a whole ski resort to yourself on a bluebird powder day? Well, then this may be your dream come true. You and a friend will jet off to the luxurious “wilds” of the private Yellowstone Club near Big Sky, Montana, for three days and nights of outdoor fun, far away from the typical ski vacation crowds.

Explore the spectacular beauty of the only private ski resort in the world for three nights in a deluxe, midmountain, ski-accessible cabin at the Club, where you will have three days to ski your hearts out and pilfer the resort’s “Private Powder” stash. You can also try out the network of Nordic skiing and snowshoeing trails while you are exploring. And, you will have the chance to hang out with legendary ski film icon, Warren Miller.

Or, should you choose to visit the Yellowstone Club during its non-snowy months, you can get your game on with two glorious days of golfing on the 18-hole Tom Weiskopf-designed course. The private championship-caliber course lures players in with its unflinching beauty and challenging holes. And if hiking or biking is more up your alley, that’s all part of the package, too. Complimentary breakfast will get you started each morning for the day’s adventures.

Not a bad way to spend a few days, right? But wait, there’s more! As the crowning touch, the two of you will be treated to a gourmet dinner at the resort’s gorgeous and newly renovated Rainbow Lodge, perched high above the valley with astounding views. The lodge’s elegant mountain atmosphere is the perfect setting to enjoy a meal and pairing from a truly world-class wine offering. The talented chefs blend authentic Montana cuisine, including delectable wild game dishes, with menus that include comfort foods and classic club fare. Now THAT is living.

Blackout dates apply over major holidays.

OPENING BID
$6,000

INCLUDES
Three-Night Stay for Two with Breakfast
Two Days of Skiing or Two Days of Golf for Two
Private Ski Guide for One Day for Two
Nordic Skiing/Snowshoeing or Hiking/Biking for Two
Dinner for Two

DONOR
Yellowstone Club Community Foundation

 

Live Lot #21 – Wine Country Weekend

Now, this is an experience NOT to be missed. Here is a chance to “create your own adventure” in California’s fabled wine country. To start, your group (two couples) will be whisked off in a private jet from Sun Valley to Napa on Friday morning, landing just in time for a private tasting of Gemstone Vineyard’s hard-tofind cellar gems and a luncheon catered by Meadowood. Evening fun includes dinner at Redd in Yountville and a relaxing overnight back at Gemstone. Take heed, all of this might make your knees weak.

The next day will start off with several customized boutique winery visits and tastings arranged by the team at Gemstone, and then it’s on to Sonoma, where you will stay at a gorgeous contemporary home designed by Richard Gluckman, well-known architect of many art museums, galleries and art collectors’ homes. This mountainside escape sits on 14 acres in the hills above the town of Sonoma with views of the valley, the Bay and the San Francisco skyline and features deluxe furnishings and artwork throughout. The stunning property includes two guesthouses, vineyard, meadow, kitchen garden, two terraces and a pool—perfect for a luxurious weekend of relaxation.

On Saturday, you are invited to join Tim Mott at Blue Farm Wines for an exclusive tour and tasting followed by the perfect wine country lunch. Savor an exceptional menu and the ultimate tasting experience. Blue Farm is a rarely available, single-vineyard, boutique Sonoma Pinot Noir created by Pinot rock stars Anne Moller-Racke and Kenneth Juhasz of The Donum Estate fame that has been garnering high scores and glowing reviews left and right.

Spend the afternoon lounging by the pool until the light starts to wane and your appetite returns. Dinner will take place at one of Sonoma’s best restaurants, Café La Haye, rated 27 out of 30 by Zagat, with “ … exceptional Cal-American fare … an absolutely terrific gem on the Sonoma square.” Cap off this amazing day with a nightcap back at the house.

When you awake, enjoy Sunday breakfast on the terrace before heading out on a hike in the nearby hills to get ready for another spectacular lunch and tasting at The Donum Estate. You will head home that afternoon filled with great memories of your whirlwind weekend of wine as well as a Magnum for each couple from both Gemstone and Blue Farm to add to your cellars!

Offer available September-November and May-July.

OPENING BID
$15,000

INCLUDES
Two-Night Stay for Four
Private Tours and Tastings for Four
Private Air Travel for Four
Two Dinners for Four
Three Lunches for Four
Four 1.5-Liter Bottles

DONORS

Tim Mott, Blue Farm Wines

Amy Marks, Gemstone Vineyard

Anne Moller-Racke, The Donum Estate

 

Live Lot #20 – Live Like A King

King Estate Winery is ready to roll out the red carpet for you. This is a world-class package for an unforgettable trip to an exceptional winery. Two couples will embark on an exploration of Oregon’s organic viticulture, receiving VIP treatment at every stop along the way. At the King Estate Winery located near Eugene, Oregon, you will feel instantly transported…the majestic winery reflects the architectural tradition of a French chateau.

Your group will travel in style immediately after you arrive at the Eugene airport. A private shuttle will scoop you up and bring you to your home base for three nights―a luxurious King Estate guesthouse―where you can relax and unwind while you look forward to your next activities. Get settled in for a one-of-a-kind dinner party prepared by Executive Chef Sean Winder while a wine educator walks you through the wine pairings. You will go to sleep dreaming about the fine wines and delectable flavors of the evening.

Your first full day includes a sumptuous lunch in our pear orchard before a VIP tour and barrel tasting with King Estate’s friendly and knowledgeable winemaker. Afterwards, put what you’ve learned to the test with a blending seminar in our lab and with the assistance of our winemaking team, take home a bottle of your very own blend. Later, you will make your way to our renowned restaurant in the evening for a leisurely à la carte meal. You will taste the true bounty of the season in both the food and wine.

Be sure to save some energy for the next day, when you will be escorted on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the expansive estate and its organic garden and charcuterie kitchen. Surely this will give you an appetite, which you can satisfy with a gourmet Summit-on-the-Hill brunch. For your last afternoon, you will be treated to a luxurious, in-home spa experience. While one couple enjoys their massages, the other will enjoy delectable bites and wine cocktails.

And tonight, the lucky winners take home two cases of specially selected library wines from King Estate as well as two limited-edition large-format bottles. This is no small prize…King Estate wines consistently score in the 90-point range. You can consider this a score for your own cellar.

OPENING BID
$6,000

INCLUDES
Three-Night Stay for Four
Private VIP Tour and Tasting for Four
Private Ground Transportation for Four
Four One-Hour Massages
Dinner and Wine for Four
Wine Seminar for Four
Brunch for Four
Two Cases of 750ml Bottles
Two 1.5-Liter Bottles

DONOR
King Estate Winery, Eugene, Oregon