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Setting aside concerns about fuel costs, a jittery economy, and a deadlocked presidential battle, over 1,000 wine lovers from two dozen or more states made their way to the remote Mendocino Coast of Northern California to celebrate the 24th annual Winesong!. A charity benefiting the Mendocino Coast District Hospital, Winesong was held over the weekend of September 5-6th.. Though temperatures were sizzling in Napa and Sonoma, the cool Mendocino Coast offered generous sunshine and temperatures in the low 70s.
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| The bidding started off somewhat tepid until Bill and Sharon Shubin of Boca Raton stirred up the crowd as they fought for Lot #33, the Hartwell Vineyard collection. Three lots later the Grace Family Cabernet Sauvignon package sold for $14,000, and from then on the audience and the bidders remained enthusiastic. When the final lot was sold, the Auctions had generated over $555,000. |
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| Though the auction total was down 12% from the record-setting auction total of 2007, this year’s Winesong! experienced a big bump up in its fund a cause. The Hospital asked Winesong guests to provide financial help for its Cancer Care Fund to cover the costs of chemotherapy and follow-up treatment for the uninsured and under-insured patient. |
Inspired By a $10,000 pledge from Dick & Ann Grace of Grace Family Vineyard, other guests open their wallets to bring the total contribution close to $74,000
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Highlights of the Live Auction, presided over by Dave Reynolds and DawnMarie Kotsonis, were the tailor-made trips and cult wines.
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Ten days in northern Spain (Rioja and Navarra) focused on food, wine, and architecture garnered over $55,000.
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| A week for four couples at the Monte Bernardi Villa and Winery in Tuscany went for $40,000. |
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Ten days in South Africa--seven exploring the wine country and three on a Safari—
sold after spirited bidding for $32,000. |
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A collection of Medoc wines from St. Julien which included a double magnum of 1975 Leoville Las Cases went for $8,500. The same final bid was offered from a 24 bottle collection of great French Burgundy. Among California cult wines, an etched six liter of Grace Family Cabernet Sauvignon sold for $14,000. A selection of Hartwell Vineyards’ 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap District was hammered down at $7,500. |
Among other highlights, the original Winesong! artwork painted by David Jonason set a record by selling for $9,000.
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| Bill and Sharon Shubin of Boca Raton, Florida were this year’s top bidders. Others in the top five include Marvin Dennis of Hillsboro, Jose Nazar of Los Angeles, Nat Harty of __________ and David Greco of San Clemente.
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For further information, contact Carol Joyce, Winesong Coordinator at 707.961.4994.
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