FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rebecca Robinson
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas
512-327-7555 or 512-350-4621
robinson@winefoodfoundation.org
21st ANNUAL RARE & FINE
WINE AUCTION
PULLS IN OVER $315,000 FOR CHARITY
Austin, Texas – April 10, 2006 – The Wine & Food Foundation
of Texas raised a whopping $315,000.00 at the 21st annual Rare & Fine Wine
Auction on Saturday, April 8 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. This figure
marks a nearly $30,000.00 increase over last year’s record-breaking total
and benchmarks the Auction’s remarkable growth when compared to the $3,500.00
raised at the inaugural event in 1986.
Now one of the largest and most prestigious wine auctions in the Southwest,
the Rare & Fine Wine Auction has raised more than $1.5 million to date.
The proceeds benefit the Foundation’s mission of supporting education
and research in the culinary and viticulture arts. A portion of the proceeds
also supports Austin’s public television station KLRU-TV.
A record number of over 125 lots were on the block this year, gathered from
around the world by a 30-member committee of industry professionals and collectors.
Offered were such rare finds as a collection of Wine Spectator’s Top
Ten Wines of 2005 (all rated 95+), which sold for $4,200.00; a 1995 Magnum
of Château Haut Brion, garnering $1,250.00; a collection of 1996 Big
Boss Reds including 12 bottles of 90+ rated California wines ripe and ready
to drink, collected by the Auction Committee which collected $3,100.00. The
Committee also assembled an incredibly rare lot of 1990 Bordeaux Classified
First Growths which experts have classified as some of the ‘greatest
wines in the world’, that nabbed $5,700.00.
Also up for bid was an instant wine cellar by KitchenAid Architect Series stocked
with 48 carefully selected bottles of 90+ rated wines carefully selected by
Foundation President and Sommelier, Michael Vilim, which brought in $4,200.00.
Caymus Vineyards, a longtime friend of the Auction, donated a 2003 Salmanazar
(equal to a case of .750 liter bottles) of Caymus Special Selection Cabernet
Sauvignon Napa Valley (rated 94 by Robert Parker), specially bottled for the
Auction, that brought in $5,500.00.
Unique travel lots included an exclusive trip for eight guests to Kendall Jackson’s
Wine Center & Gardens in Santa Rosa, California. Soaring to a winning bid
of $10,000.00, the lot included a viewing party of the 2007 Academy Awards,
airfare, accommodations and a Salmanazar (9L) of Kendall Jackson Highland Estates
Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon in a hand-painted bottle.
The Auction also featured a private party for 200 guests in the legendary Austin
City Limits Studios complete with Los Cardos wine from Argentina, catering
by Castle Hill Café and entertainment provided by Columbian band Groupo
Fantasma, which pulled in $8,000.00.
This year’s Auction was underwritten by Russell Korman Fine Jewelry & Watches,
upscale Balinese jewelry-designer John Hardy and Breitling watches, who also
donated auction lots. Additionally, Korman Jewelers sponsored the fanfare delivery
of Dom Perignon champagne to guests whose winning bids were double or more
of the market value of the lot listed in the auction catalog. Two lucky guests
were also treated to $250 John Hardy/Russell Korman gift certificates.
“
The success of this year’s auction is a result of a true collaborative
effort and labor of love,” said Michael Vilim, Auction co-chair and Foundation
president. “Our auction committee and volunteers are fiercely proud of
sharing a common mission that reaches across industry, community and personal
lives. Education in wine and food makes for healthier bodies, richer lives
and better communities in which to live and grow. It’s important work
and we’re proud of the support by our sponsors, volunteers and the community.”
Austin’s veteran auctioneers; Doyle Fellers, Gene Fondren, Howard Chalmers
and Michael Hanley took turns at the podium throughout the evening.
Guests were treated to a champagne reception upon arrival in addition to a
complimentary tequila bar. Wine was served by guest sommeliers from the Four
Seasons Hotel and Pappas Brothers in Dallas, Whole Foods Market, Mirabelle
and Prestige, all in Austin. A stunning buffet was served by Executive Chef
Elmar Prambs of the Four Seasons Hotel, Austin.
To learn more about the Foundation, please visit www.winefoodfoundation.org,
call 512-327-7555 or contact Executive Director Rebecca Robinson at robinson@winefoodfoundation.org.
About The Foundation
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas is a public charity dedicated to recognizing
and developing creativity, professionalism and state-of-the-science research
in all areas of the culinary and viticulture arts. To achieve this mission,
the Foundation provides grants, scholarships and programs for education in
wine and food. www.winefoodfoundation.org
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