Eve's Wine 101

33rd Annual Winesong Event on Mendocino Coast Raises $700,000 for Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

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FORT BRAGG, CA – After a spectacular weekend of award-winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving, this year’s 33rd annual Winesong was declared a resounding success, with increased auction sales and more guests than ever participating in the auctions. Held on the Mendocino Coast on September 8th and 9th, highlights included A Pinot Noir Celebration, the Grand Tasting event and a Live and Silent auction. Winesong is the main fundraising event benefiting the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, all proceeds go towards supporting the local Hospital that serves the entire Mendocino Coast, plus rural inland areas covering nearly half the distance to Highway 101.

16700480_1337706902918986_3346115599218014502_oWinesong 2017 kicked off on Friday, September 8th with a sold-out insider’s view of spectacular Pinot Noirs at ‘A Pinot Noir Celebration’ hosted by the Little River Inn. Guests enjoyed Pinot Noir tastings and delicious passed hors d’oeuvres, along with a chance to “talk shop” with the winemakers from Mendocino County, Napa and Sonoma Counties. On Saturday, September 9th, attendees to the Grand Tasting strolled the enchanting Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and beyond, and bites from nearly 50 fine food purveyors. The celebration continued in the Auction Tents with the always-entertaining main attraction, the Live and Silent Auctions, where nearly 150 lots were on offer – including spectacular wines from a selection of prestigious wine producers, rare and hard-to-find vintages, special vertical and horizontal collections, original paintings and art from highly acclaimed artists, and domestic and international vacation packages.

Bidders at the Live Auction under the big tent helped raise significant funds, with a projected gross of more than $700,000 coming in from the two-day event. After covering production expenses, the Winesong net return will be used to assist the Mendocino Coast District Hospital purchase needed equipment. Some of the most coveted items were the big international trips and spectacular wine auction lots. Leading the way for bidding was a 10-day trip to South Africa, which was doubled at $21,000 per trip! Trips to Italy and Amsterdam each garnered $18,000. An unparalleled 20-bottle collection of Chateau Gruaud Larose Grand Cru went for $16,000 and a rare wine lot featuring companion vineyards from Chateau Pichon Longueville went for $17,000. Another highlight was the “Fund-A-Need” to help provide comfort and care to patients by way of upgraded beds and patient room improvements. The goal was $200,000, which was surpassed by a combination of day of bidders and pre-event gifts to raise $205,000, with 100% of these donations going directly to the Hospital.

“This year’s Winesong had a different layout than in the past, and one of the main purposes was to encourage general admission ticketholders to register for bidder paddles and join the fun,” says Jamie Peters, Event Director for Winesong. “And I’m happy to say that it worked! We had more new bidders than ever and are encouraged ourselves to continue to make it easy and convenient for all guests to participate in the auctions as well as the beautiful tasting.”

Other highlights from the live and silent auction include:

  • Lot 12: Artist of the Year art piece – “Barn Song” – a 30” x 30” Bas Relief – $14,000
  • Lot 16A: A surprise lot courtesy of Ann & Dick Grace that includes dinner for 4 at The French Laundry and large format wines from Grace Family Vineyards – $12,000
  • Lot 22:  “Sweethearts in Paradise” – a trip for two couples to Barbados – $13,000
  • Lot 24: 45” x 60” giclee on canvas by the late Lowell Herrero – $15,000

“We were thrilled with the results of Winesong 2017,” states Michelle Roberts, Executive Director of the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation. “The live auction tent was filled with energy as generous donors responded to the call to action to help us fund vital equipment at Mendocino Coast District Hospital. We thank everyone who helped make the day a success. The generosity around this event is truly awe-inspiring.”

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, a Bedside Medicine Verification System and a Patient Bedside Monitoring & Alert system.

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org or call (707) 961-4688.

SPONSORS AND DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR WINESONG, MENDOCINO’S PREMIER FOOD & WINE EVENT

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FORT BRAGG, CA –  Tickets are on sale for the 33rd Annual Winesong event — a spectacular weekend of award-winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, the main event – featuring a grand food and wine tasting and a live and silent auction – takes place at the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 9th, and on Friday, September 8th, the nearby Little River Inn will host A Pinot Noir Celebration, showcasing winemakers from Anderson Valley and other renowned Pinot regions. Proceeds from both events go towards supporting the local Mendocino Coast District Hospital that serves so many in the area.

16700480_1337706902918986_3346115599218014502_oWinesong is very pleased to announce at this time the sponsors for the 2017 event. Some have been with Winesong for years, while others are new to the family, but all contribute in helping to raise essential funds for the rural Hospital. This year, we have a wonderful mix of local and regional, as well as commercial and private sponsors. Sponsors are a vital part of any event — they help offset costs of production, provide auction lots, and add value to the attendees’ experience.

Two of the newest sponsors are Garton Tractor, in conjunction with Kubota Tractors, and American AgCredit.  Garton Tractor is a leader in agricultural equipment – for sales, service, parts, and rentals.  Garton Tractor has nine stores in Northern CA, and extending to the Central Valley, with the Ukiah Store being represented at Winesong.  Kubota Tractors are one of their quality brands and both will be on hand at Winesong, not just for display, but to also help with vendors and guests alike.  Both companies stress quality, integrity, and putting people first – and their respective values are both valued and appreciated by Winesong.  Another leader in the agriculture industry – American AgCredit – whose mission is to be the best lender to agriculture.  American AgCredit is committed to serving all segments on agriculture, ensuring they remain responsible stewards of borrower’s investments. Winesong welcomes the new ag-centric sponsors to our larger Winesong family!

Winesong is also thrilled to welcome Grape Encounters Radio as a sponsor.  Last year David Wilson, Host of Grape Encounters, attended as a media affiliate and we’re elated that he chose to participate at a greater level this year. Grape Encounters Radio is the number one wine broadcast in America, simulcast on numerous stations across the country. What makes Grape Encounters a stand out is their focus on people as much as the wine itself.  Having been on the air for eight years, Grape Encounters seeks to bring the entire world of wine to their listeners – and it’s evidenced in their weekly broadcasts.  And – they make wine accessible to everyone, regardless of how great or little your knowledge or wine.

Local realty firm Pamela Hudson Real Estate is also a new sponsor to Winesong.  PHRE specializes in high-end residential and commercial properties for buyers and purchasers, for investments or personal use.  A highly-respected broker and realtor, Pamela herself is a huge community supporter, and we’re delighted to earn her support, and that of Pamela Hudson Real Estate, at Winesong.

Community First Credit Union, soon to merge with MendoLake Credit Union, is a new sponsor as well.  Community First Credit Union covers Napa, Sonoma, and as of August 1st, Mendocino & Lake Counties.  CFCU offers all of the amenities you’d find at other credits unions, plus amazing service. We welcome Community First as a new sponsor and member of our Winesong family and community.

A host of additional businesses and individuals will also be sponsoring this year’s event, including The Coast FM – KOZT, Harvest Market, D. Scott Farmer & Mia Ballentine, Savings Bank of Mendocino, Little River Inn, North Coast Brewing Company, Mendocino Coast District Hospital Physicians, Ledford House, Mission Linen Supply, Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association, Thanksgiving Coffee Company, Caito Fisheries, Steppin’ Out Magazine, Mendocino Winegrowers Inc, Rossi Building Materials, Canclini Television & Appliance, Braggadoon Signs & Graphics, and Anderson Logging.  For further information the 2017 Winesong event sponsors, please visit http://winesong.org/partners/sponsors/.

Further details regarding the Winesong events:

A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers

Friday, September 8, 2017 | 1 to 4 p.m.

The weekend kicks off with a prestigious Pinot Noir tasting, presented by Winesong and hosted by Little River Inn. Attendees will enjoy Pinot Noir from renowned Anderson Valley, along with wines from other award-winning pinot regions, alongside tastes of Little River Inn’s finest culinary offerings. General Admission Tickets for A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers are $75 per person.

Wine & Food Grand Tasting in the Gardens

Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stroll through the lush Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. Sample beer, spirits, and food from 50 of Mendocino County’s finest purveyors. The tasting is accented by various musical groups performing a variety of styles including jazz, classical, blues, calypso and folk rock. General Admission Tickets with festival seating at auction and access to wine and food tasting are $150 per person.

Silent & Live Auctions

Saturday, September 9, 2017 | SILENT: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; LIVE: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The centerpiece of Winesong weekend is the Charity Auction, featuring both a silent and live auction.  Nearly 200 lots will be on offer, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles and special vertical and horizontal collections, as well as original art from acclaimed California artists and highly coveted international and domestic vacation packages. Auction Reserve Tickets with assigned seating under the auction tent (w/catered lunch) and access to wine and food tasting are $250 per person.

Tickets to all events are available for purchase at:  http://winesong.org/events/purchase-tickets/

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org or call (707) 961-4688.

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, a Bedside Medicine Verification System, and most recently, a Patient Bedside Monitor Alert & Telemetry System. http://winesong.org

Announcing the Mendocino Coast’s Premier Food & Wine Event – WINESONG

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FORT BRAGG, CA – Tickets are now on sale for the 33rd Annual Winesong event — a spectacular weekend of award winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, the main event takes place at the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 9th, with A Pinot Noir Celebration at the nearby Little River Inn on Friday, September 8th. In addition, Winesong has just announced key honorees at this year’s event: Wine pioneer Nils Venge of famed Saddleback Cellars has been named Honored Vintner, Wine writer and aficionado Dan Berger and photographer and former wine industry executive George Rose have been named Auction Chairs, and local Anderson Valley Artist Rebecca Johnson has been named the 2017 Artist of the Year. The Hospital Foundation is thrilled to honor these individuals who have been incredibly supportive of Winesong and our goals to help with the equipment needs of the Mendocino Coast District Hospital.

1911175_698254950197521_1231258920_oWinesong allows attendees the opportunity to explore lauded wines from Mendocino County and around the world, all while sampling culinary delights from locally-based purveyors, as well as a selection of local brews and spirits. World-class artwork is also on display, all set against a backdrop of the stunning Botanical Gardens and the majestic Pacific Ocean. Winesong aims to create harmony between one of the most breathtaking vistas on earth and all of your other senses, all while raising money for our rural hospital.

This year’s Honored Vintner, Nils Venge, is universally regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of the Napa Valley wine industry. Born to Danish immigrants, Venge’s exposure to wine came at an early age, as his parents operated a wine and liquor import and distribution company in Southern California. Venge continued his pursuit of wine at the University of California in Davis where he earned a BS in Viticulture in 1967. Following a tour of duty in Vietnam as a Navy Reservist, Venge moved to the Napa Valley to pursue his interest in winemaking. In the subsequent years, Venge worked for the notable wineries Charles Krug, Sterling, Villa Mount Eden and Groth. During his tenure at Groth, Venge became the first American winemaker to receive a perfect 100 point rating from Wine Critic Robert Parker Jr. The 1985 Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon catapulted Venge to a venerated position in the California wine industry. Nils Venge continues to produce outstanding wines at his Oakville facility, Saddleback Cellars.

Auction Chair Dan Berger is a former Los Angeles Times Wine Columnist and a lifelong journalist who spent ten years as a general assignment reporter and editor for The Associated Press. He began writing about wine in 1976 and has been nationally syndicated since 1979. He and his wife, Juliann Savage, publish a private weekly wine newsletter, Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences, which began in February 1996. He has contributed articles to Wines & Vines, Decanter Magazine in London, Wine Press Northwest, Tasters’ Guild Journal, Sommelier Guild Journal, the privately published California Grapevine, trade journals Cheers and Beverage Dynamics, and numerous others. He has been a keynote speaker at wine marketing seminars and has been asked to judge several wine competitions over the years. Dan has also garnered many awards, including Wines and Vines magazine’s “Wine Writer of the Year.” In 2010, Mr. Berger was inducted into the Wine Media Guild Hall of Fame in New York. He is on the board of directors of the International Riesling Foundation. He is an aficionado of Napa and Sonoma wines.

More than 40 years ago, Auction Chair George Rose began his long career as a photographer. Throughout the years, he has traveled a long and winding road through the elite world of popular music, film, news, politics, and sports, eventually leading him to California’s Wine Country. During his prolific years as a Los Angeles-based photojournalist, Rose developed a remarkable and historic body of photographic work focused on popular culture. His independent assignments, focused primarily on the entertainment industry, have been published in USA Today, Time, Newsweek and Rolling Stone. Over 40 vintage prints of his are in the permanent collection of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. In 1987, Rose won a World Press Photo Award for news, and was named California “Newspaper Photographer of the Year” in 1976 by the University of Missouri, School of Journalism. The Los Angeles Times twice nominated him (1979 and 1980) for a Pulitzer Prize. For the past 25 years, Rose was a wine industry executive communications director at four successful wine companies: Fetzer Vineyards, Allied Domecq Wines USA, Kendall-Jackson, and J Vineyards & Winery. During this time, he continued to pursue his passion of photography. In 2015, Rose moved to Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. Much of his time is devoted to documenting the natural environment of the county as well as top vineyard estates up and down the coast of California. He is also a contributing photographer with Getty Images.

2017 Artist of the Year Rebecca Johnson grew up in an art-centric family in rural Hopewell, New Jersey. Her parents were designers, artists and art educators. “Life is art” was the family credo. This philosophy enriched and continues to inform Rebecca’s art and career. As a young artist Rebecca embraced the path of the successful professional. She received her BFA from Tyler School of Art and her MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She studied bronze casting at the Johnson Atelier in New Jersey and stone carving in quarries in Vermont. A fulcrum of change occurred when The British American Arts Council awarded her a three-month fellowship to work in Northwest Wales. In this land of stonewalls, craggy mountains, wild coast and rich folkloric history Rebecca’s ideas gestated. Time and solitude created space for her to thoroughly see and imbibe the light, color and form of the land. Her exterior and interior visions integrated and enhanced each other. Rebecca discovered a new degree of courage and conviction to follow her work to its true ultimate power, rural nature and a poetic vision. Rebecca now lives and works in Northern California, Mendocino County, a place of raw elemental forces. Her studio is located in the Anderson Valley, where inside a large renovated barn she creates paintings. The doors of the studio open to a hillside meadow filled with her stone sculpture. The calm beauty of this rural place resonates in her work.

Below is a quick overview of what you can expect at this year’s Winesong event. Tickets to each event are available for purchase at: http://winesong.org/events/purchase-tickets/.

A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers
Friday, September 8, 2017 | 1 to 4 p.m.

The weekend kicks off with a prestigious Pinot Noir tasting, presented by Winesong and hosted by Little River Inn. Attendees will enjoy Pinot Noir from renowned Anderson Valley, along with wines from other award-winning pinot regions, alongside tastes of Little River Inn’s finest culinary offerings. General Admission Tickets for A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers are $75 per person.

Wine & Food Grand Tasting in the Gardens
Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stroll through the lush Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. Sample beer, spirits, and food from 50 of Mendocino County’s finest purveyors. The tasting is accented by various musical groups performing a variety of styles including jazz, classical, blues, calypso and folk rock. General Admission Tickets with festival seating at auction and access to wine and food tasting are $125 per person for Early Responders; $150 per person after June 1st.

Silent & Live Charity Auctions
Saturday, September 9, 2017 | SILENT: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; LIVE: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The centerpiece of Winesong weekend is the Charity Auction, featuring both a silent and live auction. Nearly 200 lots will be on offer, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles and special vertical and horizontal collections, as well as original art from acclaimed California artists and highly coveted international and domestic vacation packages. Auction Reserve Tickets with assigned seating under the auction tent (w/catered lunch) and access to wine and food tasting are $225 per person for Early Responders; $250 per person after June 1st.

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org/events/purchase-tickets or call (707) 961-4688.

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, a Bedside Medicine Verification System and most recently, a Nurse Call System and a Patient Monitor Alert & Telemetry System.

Zachys Wine Auctions Stuns in $7,884,529 and 99% sold Season Opener

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White Plains, NY (PRWEB) – Zachys two-day auction on March 9 & 10 held in conjunction with La Paulée de New York realized $7,884,529 and was 99 percent sold, smashing pre-sale expectations. Held during NYC’s “Burgundy Week,” the auction was the most-attended Zachys auction ever with well over 150 friends, bidders, consignors, and Burgundian winemakers in the room at Le Bernardin Privé. All in all, an astonishing 833 lots of the 1925 on offer realized prices at or above the high estimate. Only 30 of the 1925 lots failed to find a buyer.

10462801_647699331992810_1445433728582060343_nThe big winner of the auction was Burgundy with the top 26 prices realized in the auction. A 1990 DRC Assortment was the top lot of the auction at $49,000 against a pre-auction estimate of $38,000-$55,000. Next was two magnums of the exceedingly rare 1988 Roumier Bonnes Mares VV, which realized $44,100 against presale estimates of $24,000-36,000. All told, DRC accounted for 16 of the top 25 wines in the auction, proving once again that DRC is the king of the hill at a Zachys auction.

For many collectors, the highlight of the auction was Treasures From the Legendary Collection of Robert Caine, which realized $1,674,820 against a pre-auction estimate of $950,750-$1,448,250, or 16% above the high estimate. 62 lots from the most famous white Burgundy producer, Coche-Dury, realized 28 percent above the high estimate. The two biggest winners in the Coche-Dury section were full 12-bottle cases of 1992 and 1996 Meursault-Perrières, each of which realized $39,200 against pre-auction estimates of $18,000-$28,000.

After the auction, Dr. Caine commented, “I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results of the auction last week. Everything about the sale—from the gorgeous catalog and photography to the beautiful venue of Le Bernardin, combined to produce spectacular results. My past consignments have done very well but, in this sale, Zachys exceeded my expectations. I’ve been collecting Burgundy for over 30 years, and Coche-Dury has always been a personal favorite. I am truly delighted that Zachys’ clientele appreciates the rarity and excellence in winemaking represented by this collection, and bid accordingly!”

Jeff Zacharia, President of Zachys, continued the sentiment and said, “It would be impossible to be more excited about the results of our ‘kick off’ auction in New York—especially as we head into the spring season. We look forward to partnering with La Paulée de New York or San Francisco every year, and this year was no exception. Burgundy ruled the week—in our auction as well as in our glasses—and taken in conjunction with our February Hong Kong sale, we’re delighted to report that we’re in the midst of a Burgundy upswing as we head into the heart of the spring season. A special thanks to Rob Caine for entrusting us with such a special collection.”

Please join Zachys at Smith & Wollensky on April 29 for a Bordeaux-Only Auction in Celebration of Burdigala. Email auction [at[ zachys [dot] com to reserve your seat today.

The Top Ten
Lot 1349: twelve bottle (750ML) Assortment Case Domaine de la Romanée Conti 1990
Pre-Sale Estimates: $38,000 – $55,000
Price realized: $49,000

Lot 1534: two magnums (1.5L) of Bonnes Mares Vieilles Vignes Georges Roumier 1988
Pre-Sale Estimates: $24,000 – $36,000
Price realized: $44,100

Lot 1199: three magnums (1.5L) of La Tâche Domaine de la Romanée Conti 2005
Pre-Sale Estimates: $20,000 – $30,000
Price realized: $41,650

Lot 1504: twelve bottles (750ML) of Chambertin Clos de Bèze Armand Rousseau 1993
Pre-Sale Estimates: $24,000 – $36,000
Price realized: $41,650

Lot 1204: one magnum (1.5L) of Romanée Conti Domaine de la Romanée Conti 1999
Pre-Sale Estimates: $22,000 – $32,000
Price realized: $39,200

Lot 1243: three bottles (750ML) of Romanée Conti Domaine de la Romanée Conti 1996
Pre-Sale Estimates: $26,000 – $40,000
Price realized: $39,200

Lot 1332: twelve bottles (750ML) of Meursault Perrières Coche-Dury 1992
Pre-Sale Estimates: $18,000 – $28,000
Price realized: $39,200

Lot 1333: twelve bottles (750ML) of Meursault Perrières Coche-Dury 1996
Pre-Sale Estimates: $18,000 – $28,000
Price realized: $39,200

Lot 1812: right bottles (750ML) of La Tâche Domaine de la Romanée Conti 1990
Pre-Sale Estimates: $22,000 – $34,000
Price realized: $36,750

Lot 979: three bottles (750ML) of Romanée Conti Domaine de la Romanée Conti 2013
Pre-Sale Estimates: $24,000 – $36,000
Price realized: $34,300

Wine Spectator Magazine Ranks Destin Charity Wine Auction #3

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Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) proudly announces that the 11th Annual Auction in 2016 ranked third among the nation’s top 10 highest-grossing charity wine auctions by Wine Spectator Magazine. DCWAF has earned a spot in the top 10 for the last five consecutive years, and since its inception, has donated more than $13 million to support children in need in Northwest Florida. In 2016, DCWAF donated $2.66 million to 14 local charities serving children in need in Northwest Florida.

2853h“We are ecstatic about our ranking as the number three ‘Top Charity Wine Auction in the US’ by Wine Spectator Magazine,” said Destin Charity Wine Auction President, John Russell. “The best thing about this incredible recognition is what it means for our ability to help children in our community. We are beyond grateful for the support we have received from our local community and our friends in the wine industry.”

Wine Spectator reported that the top five highest grossing wine auctions of 2016 were Naples Winter Wine Festival, Auction Napa Valley, Destin Charity Wine Auction, Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction, and Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest.

During the past several years, DCWAF has experienced exponential growth in name recognition, attendance, and revenue. As a result, the organization has been able to attract some of the most influential vintners in the world to participate in the event. The weekend also draws celebrity chefs from across the country who are paired with premier vintners for 14 patron dinners, each supporting a different benefiting charity.

In 2017, Destin Charity Wine Auction will feature approximately 250 silent and live offerings, and will welcome hundreds of auction attendees who look forward to the ability to secure rare and highly sought after wines, wine-oriented excursions and other exclusive opportunities. In 2017, DCWAF is proud to offer a selection of 55 live auction lots that include trips to Virgin Gorda, Italy, Napa Valley, Argentina, Tahiti and so much more. In addition to the multitude of trips offered, the 2017 Auction will feature its first vehicle: a rare 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport donated by the St. Joe Community Foundation. The public is invited to visit the Café at WaterSound to vote on which Tesla (white or black) will be placed in the auction. The 2017 Auction will also offer a powerhouse line-up of wines including Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Scarecrow and several highly allocated cult wines and well-respected Old and New World brands from around the globe.

This year, the Destin Charity Wine Auction will be held on Saturday, April 29 at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. The 2017 Honorary Vintner is DeLille Cellars and owners Greg and Stacy Lill will be attending the auction in April. In addition, DCWAF has named Marchesi Antinori as this year’s International Honorary Vintner. Accepting the award for the Italian winery will be Erik Saccomani, Antinori State Manager, and Glenn Salva, Wine Estate Manager for Antinori’s California vineyard, Antica Napa Valley.

The weekend kicks off with 14 intimate Patron Dinners held on Friday evening, April 28, allowing patrons to experience exclusive wine and food pairings and get a closer look at one of the 14 charities this mission-driven event benefits. For more information on DCWAF and the Auction, visit http://www.dcwaf.org. To view the 2016 financials and annual report, visit dcwaf.org/annualreport2016/.

About Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s mission is to connect wine enthusiasts to raise money to benefit children in need in Northwest Florida. Founded in 2005, DCWAF has donated more than $13 million to Northwest Florida charities through hosting world class wine and culinary events. These funds have impacted the lives of over 75,000 youth, including those afflicted by health issues and abuse. The funds raised are distributed to 14 local non-profit organizations for specific projects and programs that benefit children. Charity partners for 2017 include Children in Crisis, Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Emerald Coast Autism Center, the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Food for Thought, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, Arc of the Emerald Coast, Opportunity Place, Pathways for Change, Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, Shelter House of Northwest Florida, AMIKids Emerald Coast, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties and Youth Village. Learn more at DCWAF.org or facebook.com/DCWAF.

Tickets Now on Sale for Florida’s South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival

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Tickets are on sale now for South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival, taking place April 27 – April 30, 2017, with another prestigious lineup of celebrity winemaker appearances. Among the headliners are renowned winemaker and CEO of Jackson Family Wines, Don Hartford, and Glenn C. Salva, longtime Napa winemaker with Antica Napa Valley. Salva also works with other Antinori and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates joint wine ventures in the Red Mountain region of Washington State, as well as the iconic Stag’s Leap Winery Cellars.

sowal-homeslider_savethedateThe festival weekend takes place in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, located within the beach communities of idyllic South Walton in Northwest Florida.

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.sowalwine.com.

“This festival celebrates diversity and we will have something for everyone,” said Chan Cox, festival founder and owner of Wine World. “The best wines, an amazing culinary village, celebrity winemakers and chefs, craft beer and spirits, not to mention many experts in their field will join us at a beautiful location in Grand Boulevard.”

The festival offers more than 800 wines, on-going wine tastings with dozens of celebrity winemakers on hand to talk about their wines, food tastings, tasting seminars, live entertainment and special features including Spirits Row and a Champagne Lane tasting.

“For those who appreciate a fine and fun wine experience, South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival and Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation join forces to create The Northwest Florida Beaches Ultimate Wine Week, a wine lover’s dream, the last weekend in April every year,” said Festival Executive Director, Stacey Brady.

Destin Charity Wine Auction takes place on Saturday during the festival with more than 500 patrons bidding on luxury travel packages, collectable wines and other fine living lots. Monies raised at the auction as well as proceeds from the festival go to support more than a dozen children’s charities in Northwest Florida.

Presented by Visit South Walton and Wine Enthusiast Media, the festival offers the ideal backdrop for a beach getaway. South Walton beaches are consistently named among the best beaches in the country.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is made possible by the generous support of the following Founding Partners: Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Visit South Walton Tourist Development Council, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Wine World of Northwest Florida and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin®. Resortquest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is the Official Lodging Partner.

About South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is an annual charity event held the last weekend of April. The festival features a stunning showcase of the best wines the world has to offer. Celebrity wine producers and chefs present fine wine and food pairings from the world’s most famous appellations. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food tasting seminars and live entertainment. The event is a major fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.SoWalWine.com.

Sour Grapes and Grain: A Film Review and A Warning

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The only auctions we’ve ever purchased wine from were Juan Alonso’s at Le Chene benefitting the senior center, Circle of Hope’s Vine 2 Wine and an event I co-hosted: Toast and a Wish. Those were little auctions in comparison to the ones held in Napa Valley that raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, or any auction – ever – held by a respected auction house like Sotheby’s or Christie’s. Why no those? Because we don’t have that kind of money.

15003411_1215564208534739_6178823305423283059_oIf you do buy wine via wine auction, or are a vinophile, you’ve undoubtedly heard the story of Rudy Kurniawan by now. (I’ll be just abbreviating his name to RK for the rest of this article, as he’s all over this.) RK wormed his way into the wine world first by buying wine in large amounts, possibly driving up price and demand, and then started selling large amounts of it.

A new film on Netflix, Sour Grapes, is an a eye-opening documentary on RK that I just watched before writing this article.

The wine RK sold via auction couldn’t be pinpointed to a specific source or cellar other than his own and he relied on the opinions, or so he said, of other respected somms of their quality.

There were no actual tests done by the auction houses to authenticate the wines before putting them up for sale.

Things unraveled when one millionaire buyer and a French winemaker started to question RK more and more. The film is compelling to watch as the sleuths uncover RK’s work and, finally, get into his Arcadia home where everything from a printing press to bottles soaking in a sink long enough to remove their labels are exposed.

We learn in the film that Petrus didn’t make a magnum for the vintage year RK sold, glossy photos of bottles in the auction program were of fakes, one winery didn’t even exist in the vintage years sold and while a label looked brand new – albeit misspellings appeared – the foil capsules were definitely from older vintages.

Also of note in the film was a person I recognized in several shots drinking with RK: Calogero Drago of Pasadena’s Celestino restaurant. I Googled their names together and found nothing. But, if you watch the film, you will see and hear from many people that trusted, and some that still trust, RK. I found that interesting too.

We wine people are a tight bunch. If I find someone I like to taste with, that is sharing some nice wines, I might not ask/care how the wine was obtained. But I would be embarrassed to have liked a wine that turned out to have been blended by someone other than the true winemaker.

There is a scene with Christian Navarro of Wally’s Wine where a few bottles of Rudy’s wine is brought in and tasted, two or three people claim it as being perfect, and Navarro calls it out for crap. That was hard to watch.

Then this hit my newsfeed: a report of Fake Whiskey in the auction market. The article highlights a 1903 Laphroaig but the story doesn’t end there. Like RK’s cellar, these whiskies may still be out there and available via auctions, and in personal collections.

How much fake wine and whiskey could there be on the market? How much may already be purchased but the buyer left unaware? Are the auction houses now taking more serious precautions? I’m a wee bit grateful not to be a millionaire right now.

For your further study:

A little more on the ongoing story of Rudy Kurniawan.

Follow more Sour Grapes news on Facebook.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

WINESONG — The Mendocino Coast’s Premier Food & Wine Event (Sep 9 & 10, 2016)

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(HOT! HOT!) AUCTION LOTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2016 WINESONG, MENDOCINO’S PREMIER CHARITY AUCTION AND FOOD & WINE EVENT

** Friday, September 9th and Saturday, September 10th on the Mendocino Coast **

FORT BRAGG, CA – The 32nd Annual Winesong event, a spectacular weekend of award-winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving held on the Mendocino Coast, will take place next month, and event organizers are pleased to announce this year’s line-up of spectacular auction lots.

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Winesong kicks off of Friday, September 9 with A Pinot Noir Celebration at the Little River Inn. On Saturday, September 12, guests who attend the Grand Tasting will stroll through the enchanting Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries in Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and beyond, and bites from nearly 50 fine food purveyors. The celebration continues on into the Auction Tents for the always-entertaining main attraction, the Live and Silent Auctions, where the Hot! Hot! Auction Lots will be on offer. Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation and all proceeds from both events go towards supporting the local Mendocino Coast District Hospital that serves so many in the area.

Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on more than 150 lots, featuring spectacular wines from a selection of prestigious wine producers, rare and hard-to-find vintages, and special vertical and horizontal collections. Original paintings and art from highly acclaimed artists, as well as domestic and international vacation packages and custom-designed wine getaway experiences will also share the auction limelight. In addition, a variety of items will be on offer in the silent and super silent auctions.

Some select ‘HOT LOT’ highlights from Winesong 2016:

Wine Lots

  • 24 bottle vertical of Chateauneuf du Pape – Chateau de Beaucastel

  • 4 Perfect wines of 100 points per Robert Parker – all 2005 vintages of Bordeaux blends

  • Six bottle vertical of 1987 Opus One

International Trips

  • Golf at St. Andrews, Scotland (2 ppl) – 7 night stay at 5-star Fairmont St. Andrews Golf Resort & Spa

  • Tuscany Truffle Hunt (4 ppl) – 7 nights in a private villa in Cortona, Italy (think Under the Tuscan Sun)

Domestic Trips

  • Kentucky Bourbon Trail (4 ppl) – 3 night stay

  • Indy 500 (2 ppl) – 3 night stay at Conrad Hotel, plus tickets for 101st Indy 500, includes parade, grandstand seats, pit & garage area, Snakepit Ball

Artwork

  • Lowell Herrero’s “Garvey Grape Harvest” – 4’ x 5’ framed giclee on canvas (Artist of the Year)

  • Edward Gordon, rare (SOLD OUT) signed limited edition giclee, “Corner Room” (28/350)

Wine Experiences

  • Grace Family Vineyards tour, tasting and dinner for 4 with Grace Family and Janet Herrero, plus etched 3L of Lowell Herrero work and a 3’ x 4’ giclee of “Graceful Harvest” by Lowell Herrero

  • Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Estate Wine Tasting & Cave Tour for 4 ppl, plus limited edition etched double magnum 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon to commemorate 40th Anniversary of the Judgement of Paris

The main sponsor, Celebrity Cruises, is proud to support Winesong and the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation for the second year as part of their commitment to enhancing the life of the collective community here in Northern California. A host of additional local and national businesses will also be sponsoring this year’s event, including Harvest Market, North Coast Brewing Company, JetBlue, Mendo Lake Credit Union, The Coast FM – KOZT, Savings Bank of Mendocino, Mendocino Winegrowers Inc., Safeway, CalStar Air Ambulance, Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association, and Birchware Compostable Utensils. For further information the 2016 Winesong event sponsors, please visit http://winesong.org/sponsors-2/.

In addition, Winesong is pleased to announce revered artist and long-time Winesong supporter, the late Lowell Herrero, as this year’s Artist of the Year, and Grace Family Vineyards as the 2016 Honored Winery.

Further details regarding the Winesong events:

A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers
Friday, September 9, 2016 | 1 to 4 p.m.
The weekend kicks off with a prestigious Pinot Noir tasting, presented by Winesong and hosted by Little River Inn. Attendees will enjoy Pinot Noir from renowned Anderson Valley, along with wines from other award-winning pinot regions, alongside tastes of Little River Inn’s finest culinary offerings. General Admission Tickets for A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers are $75 per person.

Wine & Food Grand Tasting in the Gardens
Saturday, September 10, 2016 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stroll through the lush Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. Sample beer, spirits, and food from fine purveyors. The tasting is accented by various musical groups performing a variety of styles including jazz, classical, blues, calypso and folk rock. General Admission Tickets with festival seating at auction and access to wine and food tasting are $150 per person.

Silent & Live Auctions
Saturday, September 10, 2016 | SILENT: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; LIVE: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The centerpiece of Winesong weekend is the Charity Auction, featuring both a silent and live auction. More than 100 lots will be on offer, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles and special vertical and horizontal collections, as well as original art from acclaimed California artists (including Lowell Herrero) and highly coveted international and domestic vacation packages. Auction Reserve Tickets with assigned seating under the auction tent (w/catered lunch) and access to wine and food tasting are $250 per person.

Tickets to all events are available for purchase at: https://winesong.ejoinme.org/purchase-tickets-winesong-2016.

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org or call (707) 961-4688.

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation
Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center, Cardiology Equipment, and most recently, a Bedside Medicine Verification System.

Save the Date: STARS of Cabernet November 9-10

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Announcing STARS of Cabernet
Over 40+ Cabernet producers from around the world is traveling to Southern California for an elite tasting event on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at The Grand Del Mar in San Diego and Thursday, November 10 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.
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Los Angeles, California  – Los Angeles’ largest Cabernet event is back for its’ 8th year celebrating top collectible Cabernet brands. This year, wineLA will be not only taking over Beverly Hills, but San Diego as well!   Past participants include: Ackerman Family Vineyards, Acumen Wines, Alpha Omega, Bougetz Cellars, Broman Cellars, Cain Vineyard & Winery, Cairdean Estate, Calcareous Vineyard, Cass Winery, Chateau Margene, Coquerel Family Wines, Daou Vineyards & Winery, Duckhorn, Eberle Winery, Frank Family Vineyards, Halter Ranch Vineyard, Hawk & Horse, Heitz Cellar, Hendry, Hidden Ridge Vineyard, J. Lohr Vineyard & Wines, John Bookwalter Winery, Jordan, Justin Vineyards, Krupp Brothers, Mario Bazan Cellars, Michael Mondavi Winery-Folio, Modus Operandi, Oakville East, Oakville Ranch Vineyards, Paradigm Winery, Parry Cellars, Patland Vineyards, Pomar Junction Vineyard, Priest Ranch Wines, Raymond Vineyards, Rotta Winery, Round Pond Estate, Salvestrin Winery, Sextant Wines, Signorello Estate, Sleight Of Hand Cellars, St. Supery Estate, The Debate, Tierra Roja, Va Piano Vineyards, Vina Robles Vineyards, Westerly Wines, ZD Wines. The winery participants for 2016 are to be announced in the coming month.This tasting will be jammed packed with wine, food and a whole lot of fun. Dance to special celebrity DJ, visit tables of local businesses and enjoy over 200 Cabernet wines. Early bird general admission gold and silver tickets can be purchased for $100- $125 and includes unlimited wine tasting, and an elegant assortment of appetizers, cheeses, and desserts. Wine aficionados can choose to purchase a VIP ticket for $200, which includes early admission, 6 p.m. plated dinner, exclusive tasting with and VIP sponsored gift bags upon departure.  Tickets will increase October 1. 
 
Guests will also have a chance to bid on an array of extraordinary auction items:  rare wines, dinners, collectables, and trips ranging in value from $100 to $10,000. One hundred percent of the silent auction proceeds benefit the TJ Martell Foundation, a Los Angeles based 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to supporting innovative groundbreaking research for leukemia, cancer, and AIDS.  We have raised over $350,000, and want to continue raising money for this fantastic life changing cause! 

Stars of Cabernet will commence at 7:00 p.m. for gold ticket holders, 7:30 p.m. for silver tickets and 6:00 p.m. for VIP attendees.

For more information about Stars of Cabernet or to purchase tickets, visit www.winela.com/starsofcabernet or
call wineLA at (310) 451-7600.

About wineLA

wineLA is focused on enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles. wineLA hosts significant events, occasional classes, and tastings of merit. This is the second phase of what the organization started 20 years ago at LearnAboutWine.com – America’s first wine education website and first in wine event creation.

To accomplish it’s mission, wineLA recognizes that wine must be placed in rhythm with fashion, music, food, geography, centers of interest, and architecture. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, rooftops, gardens, and magical views. wineLA is leaving a footprint of wine lifestyle by celebrating people, places, and passion.

Announcing STARS of Pinot

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Over 60+ Pinot producers from around the world will be gathering in Los Angeles for an elite tasting event on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

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Los Angeles, California – STARS of Pinot is back for a smashing event… we are preparing this to be wineLA’s biggest event in YEARS!!!  From Champagne, France to the heart of the Russian River in Sonoma, from McMinnville Oregon to Casablanca Chile; from Burgundy to Santa Barbara and great vineyards in-between; wineLA is proud to announce their 2016 winery participants which includes Official Champagne Sponsor “Charles Heidsieck” (Yes, “Champagne” is made from Pinot), AVE Winery, AVV Winery Co, Balletto Vineyards, Breathless Wines, Bernardus Winery, Blair Estate, Brittan Vineyards, Cakebread Cellars, Casa Marin, Cellars 33, Center of Effort, Challen Winery, Clos Pepe Estate, Decoy, Dolin Family Cellars, Donelan, Domaine Nicolas-Jay, Ferrari-Carano , Flowers, Fog Crest Vineyard, FOXEN, Frank Family Vineyards, Goldeneye , Guarachi Family Wines, Hanzell Vineyards , Hope & Grace Wines, J. Lohr, Keller Estate, Le Cadeau, Mansfield-Dunne Wines, Migration, Niner Wine Estates, Rocky Point Cellars, Sonoma-Loeb Wines, Talley Vineyards, Temerity Vineyard, Testarossa, The Fifty by Fifty, The Hilt, Timbre Winery, Tolosa Winery, Westwood Annadel, Wrath…. and the list goes on.Adding both delicious bites and conversation; event partners CHEFS WAREHOUSE distributors of all things tasty, and suppliers to some of the greatest restaurants in LOS ANGELES will be producing a luxury food show inside this event.  Guest Chefs will be invited to participate and enjoy the PINOT tasting at the same time.  Gourmet Cheeses from some of the nations top producers, Charcuterie by the best: Olympia Provisions from Oregon, Chocolate (can you say Val Rhona?) Truffles, Premium Olive Oils as well as our sponsor LA BREA BAKERY will be showcasing their best. Panel hosts and refined lifestyle experts will also be appearing for a luxury food panel (6:00pm VIP evening ticket holders) hosted by LA Restaurant Critic and Book Author Patric KUH – Author of   “Finding the Flavors We Lost: From Bread to Bourbon, How Artisans Reclaimed American Food” 

General Admission tickets can be purchased for $125 and includes unlimited wine tasting, and an exceptional assortment of appetizers, cheeses, and desserts all provided by some of the great sponsors mentioned above, the list is growing! Wine aficionados may choose to purchase a VIP ticket for $200, VIP includes early admission, a 6:00pm plated dinner, VIP gift bag, and a exclusive panel tasting (Panel A) with Amy Christine, A Master of Wine, who panels with Matt Dees- Jonata/ Hilt, Michael McNeill- Hanzell, Gerald Casale- The Fifty by Fifty, and Tom Mortimer- Le Cadeau or (Panel B) with Patric KUH, and named professions to be announced. All ticket purchasing guests will receive one complimentary take-home SCHOTT ZWIESEL Pinot Wine Glass – a $15 value!

Guests will also have a chance to bid on an array of extraordinary auction items:  rare wines, dinners, collectables, and exciting trips ranging in value from $100 to $10,000+. One hundred percent of the silent auction proceeds benefit the TJ Martell Foundation, a Los Angeles based 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to supporting innovative groundbreaking research for leukemia, cancer, and AIDS.  We have raised over $350,000, and want to continue raising money for this fantastic life changing cause!

Stars of Pinot will commence for General Admission at 7:00p.m., and VIP at 6:00p.m.

For more information about Stars of Pinot or to purchase tickets, visit www.winela.com/starsofpinot or
call wineLA at (310) 451-7600.

About wineLA
wineLA is focused on enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles. wineLA hosts significant events, occasional classes, wine programs, private client in-home wine experiences, and tastings of merit. This is the second phase of what the organization started 20 years ago at LearnAboutWine.com – America’s first wine education website and first in wine event creation!!To accomplish it’s mission, wineLA recognizes that wine must be placed in rhythm with fashion, music, food, geography, centers of interest, and architecture. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, rooftops, gardens, and magical views. wineLA is leaving a footprint of wine lifestyle by celebrating people, places, and passion. Come and enjoy!