My inbox is often flooded with press releases and information about wine and events. Some of them pique my curiosity and some not. And then some like the one I’m reprinting below are worthy causes that deserve all the attention they can get. So please do check out the information and maybe you’ll find something you’d like to bid on:
For immediate release
Contact:
Media: Julie Ann Kodmur, 707/963-9632, corking@julieannkodmur.com
Bidder questions: Dianne Maher, 707/484-4231, dianne@maherwine.com
Lots online here.
FROM DINNER AT THE DUMP TO A COLLECTION OF HARLAN
Only in Napa offerings at combined public school auction in St. Helena
St. Helena, California, September 2010----- Tickets are sold out to The St. Helena Unified School District’s annual fundraiser, Just Imagine/Backstage Pass, taking place on September 25 at Hourglass Blueline Estate in the Napa Valley. More than 400 attendees will enjoy an evening of food catered by Dean & DeLuca and a dance after-party with music by Wristrocket.
“Our proceeds will raise much-needed funds to provide enriching experiences for all the children in the St. Helena School District,” explains Chair Dianne Maher. “One of our goals was to improve the ‘fun factor’ of the benefit,” she adds.
An unusual aspect of the event this year is that---if you live in the Napa Valley and you were one of the top 20 bidders---Dean & DeLuca will deliver your lot/s to you on Sunday, September 26, along with a box lunch.
Not going? Don’t worry! Anyone, anywhere can bid on the amazing array of lots. Anyone not at the event can register as a proxy bidder by going here to buy any of the live lots. Proxy bids must be submitted by Thursday, September 23.
The buy-a-spot lots are available for purchase only online, not as a proxy bid.
The buy-a-spot lots are here. and include a Ping-Pong Party, an Academy Awards Party at The Cameo Theatre, A Mother-Daughter Holiday Tea, a “Boogie Wonderland” ‘70s party, an “Iron Chef Saint Helena” competition, An 'Eat, Pray, Love' Experience including a feast with foods from Italy, Indonesia and India, a yoga meditation and a fortune-telling session, The Ultimate Pajama Party, where the group will take over The Wine Country Inn for a night and enjoy dinner and music from Wristrocket. Please note: these can be purchased online, through the website (but not be bid on with a proxy bid).
The live lots are here and include:
LIVE LOT #1, 20 bottles of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
LIVE LOT #2, dinner at Press for 8 and a collection of wines
LIVE LOT #3, a trip to a resort in Utah with meals and guided fly-fishing
LIVE LOT #4, collection of magnums from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 vintages
LIVE LOT #5, a day-long family adventure bridging farming, gardening and cooking for young children at Connolly Ranch under the guidance of Michael Chiarello
LIVE LOT #6, Vineyard manager David Abreu and son Rico will deliver a pig they raised to be prepared at a BBQ for 30 at Mustard’s Grill
LIVE LOT #7, tickets for 4 to the Kentucky Derby, Mint Julep Ball, Kentucky Oaks and tours of Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby Museum and a thoroughbred farm
LIVE LOT #8, making your own Cabernet Sauvignon (20 cases) with Winemaker Philippe Melka
LIVE LOT #9, a BBQ at Chappellet Vineyard for 30
LIVE LOT #10, airfare and lodging for 4 at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort in Kauai, Hawaii
LIVE LOT #11, 40 magnums from the 2006 vintage assembled by David Abreu
LIVE LOT #12, lodging and tours for 6 in St. Emilion (Bordeaux)
LIVE LOT #13, 2003-2005 verticals from Bond, Colgin, Shafer, Sloan, Spottswoode, Lail, Bryant Family Vineyard, Pride Mountain Vineyards
LIVE LOT #14, Argentinean-themed dinner for 24 at Behrens Family Winery
LIVE LOT #15, Dinner at the Dump for 20, hosted by Christy Abreu and the Pestoni Family with dinner from Knickerbockers’ Catering
LIVE LOT #16, 18 primarily-magnums from the Spring Mountain District appellation
LIVE LOT #17, 2,010 daffodils planted by Kevin Twohey from Whiting’s Nursery along with the St. Helena Waves Swim Team which he coaches
LIVE LOT #18, Private dinner for 30 at Cook Restaurant St. Helena with wines from Orin Swift
LIVE LOT #19, a party for 100 and the movie of your choice at The Cameo Theatre
LIVE LOT #20, 4 3Ls made by David Abreu and only ever available at Just Imagine
LIVE LOT #21, Fund-A-Need to support technology and new media
LIVE LOT #22, 3 magnums from the first three vintages made by students in the St. Helena High School Viticulture program
LIVE LOT #23, a Mexican fiesta and tequila tasting for 40
LIVE LOT #24, Harlan Estate vertical 1997-2006 (750 mls)
LIVE LOT #25, a private screening of Francis Ford Coppola’s movie The Outsiders for 16 people at the Coppolas’ new theater on their estate in Rutherford with dinner from Gott’s Roadside and an overnight stay for the group at The Cow Barn on the Coppola estate.
LIVE LOT #26, a private jam session with the band Wristrocket (vintners by day, musicians by night) and dinner, for 20
LIVE LOT #27, for 16, a day with Chef Thomas Keller, visiting the garden at The French Laundry and concluding with dinner at The Napa Valley Reserve, along with Chef Keller, Laura Cunningham and Philip and Carol Norfleet.
LIVE LOT #28, two nights at Poetry Inn and tours at Staglin Family Vineyard, Herb Lamb Estate, Dominus Estate
LIVE LOT #29, a Napa Valley outdoor adventure including a guided mountain bike ride, lunch at Silverado Brewing Co., a yoga class, lunch at Solage and dinner for 8, organized by Dunn Vineyards, Clif Family Winery & Farm and Grassi Wine Company
LIVE LOT #30, large format bottles of Merryvale, Trinchero, Buehler, Cakebread, Caymus, Duckhorn, Dunn, Forman, Joseph Phelps, Robert Mondavi, Silver Oak.
The St. Helena Unified School District’s four schools are:
St. Helena High School (grades 9-12), with 510 students.
Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School (6-8), with 315 students.
St. Helena Elementary School (3-5), with 260 students.
St. Helena Primary School (K-2), with 260 students.