Pacific Coast Wine Festival - Wine Festival Auction and Dinner Success

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	Wine Festival Auction and Dinner Success
	Gaining a reputation as a serious contender among wine festivals across the country and beyond, Pacific Coast Wine Festival managed to outdo itself once again—attracting larger crowds and raising more money than ever in support of Pacific Symphony. Highlighted by an exclusive wine auction and sumptuous dinner on Saturday, March 6, at the glitzy Island Hotel in Newport Beach, 280 attendees arrived in cocktail attire to begin their evening by sampling from an impressive and intriguing array of fine wines, while bidding on silent auction items. Co-chaired for the third time by Symphony board members Mike Kerr and Valerie Van de Zilver, the evening culminated with an exuberant live auction that brought the night’s total to approximately $130,000 (net). For more information about the annual event, contact Ricki Shab at (714) 876-2364, rshab@pacificsymphony.org; or visit: www.pacificcoastwinefestival.org. “We are delighted by the success of our festival,” says co-chair Kerr. “We sold-out with a big waiting list; we had better wines than ever for tasting, and an amazing collection of silent and live auction items. We set new records for attendance, revenues and financial support of the symphony.” Considered perfect not only for wine enthusiasts and collectors, but also for anyone who simply wishes to support the Symphony, the event has become an important fundraiser for the Symphony’s many artistic and education programs. Despite occurring during an economically difficult period, the festival has managed to break its own record each year. With limited capacity, this year’s event proved particularly popular, selling out in advance and leaving some disappointed—as they had to be turned away at the door. The elegant evening began at 5 p.m. with tempting appetizers to complement the grand wine-tasting experience, as guests roamed the vast array of wines and silent auction items that stretched throughout two rooms. Both bountiful and coveted—the wines came from not only California, but as far away as France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand and Australia—in great vintages ranging from 1966-2000—and also included rare vintage port. “For me, the highlight of the evening was being able to taste some remarkable new wines,” Kerr says, echoing the sentiment of many. “Aaron Pott’s wine from Napa was a revelation; rich, pure, delicious. Stonyridge from New Zealand was equally remarkable. La Jota, under new ownership, is back to producing great wine. Darioush and B Cellars are fabulous. And Blankiet—what a great wine! And of course, the wines that I have tasted previously, but had a chance to taste again, were wonderful, as always. We tasted wines from 27 wineries, and quality was absolutely fantastic—perhaps the best collection of tasting wines I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy.” Other vintners included Antinori, Beaulieu Vineyards, Domaine Lucien Barrot et Fils, Fess Parker Winery, Flora Springs Winery and Vineyards, Foley Family Wines, Fortress Vineyards, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Jordan Vineyard and Winery, and Winery, Lewelling Vineyards, Loring Wine Company, Parallel Wines, Stodaro Estate Winery, Vega Sicillia and Zotovich Estate. Silent auction items ranged from collections of Grand Cru and 1970 Haut Brions, a two-hour private tour of the Jet Propulsion Lab, a cooking class with Chef Lulu in the kitchen of Pinot Provence, to overnight stays at the Tobin James Cellars Guest House and the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. Together the 142 silent auction items brought in a $36,615. The lavish dinner began at 7:15 p.m., with guests feasting on filet of beef, with black truffle cabernet and roasted shallot risotto, topped off by chocolate raspberry tart with fresh berries and chocolate whipped cream, in a ballroom transformed by wine-inspired décor. Entertainment included a video on the Symphony’s education programs and a performance by a gifted 17-year-old clarinetist named Eugene Lee. The evening peaked with the rousing live auction—led by auctioneers Amanda Keston and Mario Sculatti—who offered up for bid an enticing assortment of some of the finest wines and auction lots in the United States, exceptional dining opportunities, luxury gifts and travel packages. Among the 15 prized items was “California Cult Cabernets,” a collection of first-class bottles of cabernet purchased by Cindy and Steve Fry for $3,600; “Hawaii First Class”—a week’s stay in Maui—went to Sally Anderson and Tom Rogers for $6,000; a collection of Large Formats (15 different magnums) went to Julia Stewart and Tim Ortman for $4,500; Fred and Wendy Salter had the winning bid for four tickets for “USC vs. Notre Dame,” with seats on the 50-yard line, plus a selection of fine red wines, for $2,400; the collection “The 80’s Bordeaux” was purchased by Anoosheh and Alan Oskouian for $2,500; Joyce and Spencer Covert took home “Cheers to Angels vs. Yankees”—an Angels Suite (for 11 people) that included dinner for 10 plus Foley and Levendi Sweet Water Ranch Cabernet Sauvignons; and dinner for 10 in the chef’s private dining room at Mastro’s Steakhouse sold twice—to Monette and Steve Zotovich and Christina Lesch—for $3,200 each. The auction raised a total of $65,750. The evening came to a sweet conclusion with chocolate and port, followed by goodie bags. “I have a passion for music and a passion for wine. With a chance to combine them, how could I not be involved?” Kerr asks. “Through my involvement with the Pacific Coast Wine Festival, I have made some great friends in the wine industry and learned a lot about what it takes to produce great wine. I love the commitment and passion of winemakers. Their hard work and artistry show through, and we are the grateful beneficiaries.” Wine Festival sponsors included Black, Starr & Frost, Pacific Coast Wine Festival’s official wine auction house, Spectrum Wine Auctions, the official airline of Pacific Symphony, American Airlines, and the Official wine storage partner of Pacific Symphony, Wine Cellar Club. “Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”— Ernest Hemingway in “Death in the Afternoon.”

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