Sonoma County Wine Auction raises $5.7 million for charitable causes, including post-fire housing

Sonoma County Vintners made fire relief a special focus of this year's auction, with $2.5 million set to benefit affordable housing efforts.|

Recovery from October’s devastating wildfires will be prolonged, painful and costly, leaders of the region’s wine industry stressed Saturday as the Sonoma County Wine Auction raised a record $5.7 million for charitable causes, nearly half of which will be targeted to assist with post-fire affordable housing.

Auction chairman George Hamel Jr., co-vintner of Sonoma’s Hamel Family Wines, noted that many of those who lost their homes in Sonoma County - more than 5,300 were destroyed in the fires - “are still in temporary housing, couch surfing or living with relatives,” Hamel said. “Today we had the chance to do something special to help them.”

About 350 people gathered for the auction under a white tent at the La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard in Richard’s Grove outside Windsor.

With the first day of fall hovering around 75 degrees, paddle holders were comfortable as they sipped on wine and grazed on appetizers, including black tiger shrimp, Kung Pao chicken meatballs and beef sliders.

Sonoma County Vintners, which puts on the auction, made fire relief the focus by creating a fund-a-need group lot for bidders.

A video montage introduced the lot with scenes from the firestorm, followed by images of the still-nascent recovery.

Bidders raised $2.1 million for the fund-a-need offering, with several vintners rounding it up to $2.5 million. Donations came in a range of price points, from $300,000 down to $500. The contributions will be distributed through the Emergency Relief Fund of the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation.

Top donors at $300,000 were Hamel Family Wines and Jackson Family Wines, with E & J Gallo at $150,000. Donors who came in at $100,000 included Joe Anderson & Mary Dewane of Benovia, Stewart & Lynda Resnick of Landmark Vineyards, Mac McQuown of Stone Edge Farm Estate Winery, Francis Ford Coppola Family & Winery and Jim Bailey of Knights Bridge Winery.

Last year the auction raised $1.8 million for Fund-the-?Future, which targeted literacy programs in Sonoma County. The literacy campaign began in 2013 with a five-year commitment, now extended through 2020.

Hamel Jr. said the Sonoma County Vintners will continue to honor its commitment to the literacy campaign with money raised through the auction’s general fund and from funds raised in prior years. But, the need was great this year for those who continue to struggle with housing.

“There’s still an enormous need for it,” said Gina Gallo, senior director of winemaking for E & J Gallo. “There’s still a lot that needs to happen in the community. It’s great everyone one is stepping up.”

In addition to the fund-a-need lot, there were 40 single offerings and the top lot of the day sold for $460,000. The lot features a private solo concert with Grammy Award-winning pianist George Winston. It includes classic music from the animated Peanuts specials. It also features a five-course gourmet dinner paired with Hamel Family Wines. Forty-six couples purchased the lot by paying $10,000 each.

Another top lot, featuring four tickets to the Men’s Final at Wimbledon 2019 sold for $190,000 to David Shimmon, formerly of San Francisco’s Pinnacle Inc.

“I love the Sonoma County Vintners,” Shimmon said. “It does great work and it’s a critical point for the community.”

Another popular lot with spiraling bids offered a six-night stay for six guests at a castle in Mazzo di Valtellina, Italy. The lot went for $95,000.

Judy Jordan, former owner of J Vineyards & Winery, bought the lot with two of her friends - Peggy Furth, managing partner of Sonoma Ceuticals, and Connie Codding, founder of the Codding Foundation.

Jordan, founder of Capra Vineyards, said, “We’re honored to be supporting the families who are doing so much. We want to support the community and have the youth stay in Sonoma County post–fire.”

In addition to wildfire relief, the auction supports more than 70 local charities, including health and human services and environmental preservation.

The auction began as a humble harvest party for vintners to break bread. The first incarnation - the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction - dates back to 1993. In recent years the event has grown in its drawing power and philanthropic capacity. Before this year’s auction, the previous record take came last year, at $5.2 million.

By comparison, Auction Napa Valley had a weekend take of $13.4 million in June. The Naples Winter Wine Festival raised more than $15 million in January at its live auction.

The weekend of events began with a festive and symbolic kickoff at Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa, the only winery in Sonoma County that took a direct and near-total hit in fires.

“We lost almost all our buildings,” said Walter Byck, who co-founded Paradise Ridge in 1994. “I’m 86 and luckily now I have something to do in my old age. I’m going to rebuild this place and build it even better.”

Peg Melnik can be reached at peg.melnik@pressdemocrat.com

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