For the week of July 31 - August 6, 2002

Wine Auction 
pops a cork

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The Sun Valley Wine Auction was uncorked last weekend, under sunny cloudless skies.

The theme this year, "Piazza Americana," was played out over the weekend in decorations and style.

Pat and Lisa McMurray from Boise toast each other during the Wine Auction on Friday night. Express photo by Willy Cook

Vineyards represented this year at the Vintner’s Dinners Thursday evening included Frog’s Leap, Far Niente, Silver Oak and Pine Ridge.

On Friday evening, the Wine Auction was held at River Run Lodge, where the featured wines were in the emerging Cal-Ital tradition. These include wines made in California from Italian wine grape varieties and using Italian methods.

A 9-liter bottle of Schramsberg sparkling wine is opened upon sale as the traditional start of the auction.

Some $48,500 was raised for the Sun Valley Center for the Arts Scholarships.

Sun Valley Center for the Arts volunteer J.J. Somer holds aloft Lot 38, a 3-liter Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, which ultimately fetched $9,500. Express photo by Willy Cook

"The level of in-house and out-of-house scholarships SVCA provides is unique in my professional experience," said Sam Gappmeyer, director of SVCA. "The money raised at the auction is a key element."

The auction went on to raise about $400,000 to help fund the Center and its programs for the next year.

After dinner, revelers danced the night away to the dulcet tunes of the Peter Duchin Orchestra.

Under the Sun Valley Symphony tent on Saturday afternoon, more than 120 wines were poured by vintners and representatives.

Colleen Lewis from King Estate Winery in Oregon pours a taste of one of their wines, represented by S&C Importers during the Wine Tasting on Saturday. Express photo by Willy Cook

Later that evening, at the gala picnic, sponsored by Tom Lenze of Smith Barney, more than 1,500 people partook of a sumptuous picnic.

While wines were poured and picnics spread, the Fabulous Toast Points played. At evening’s end a Vespa was raffled off and won by Benjamin Wood, a part-time resident of the valley.

Cal-Ital by way of Idaho—a perfect blend.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.