The Wood River Valley's leading promoter of the arts raised more than $1.1 million last weekend during a series of events that kept oenophiles from across the West grinning with delight.
The Sun Valley Center for the Arts 2005 Wine Auction, an annual affair that is the core of the Ketchum-based organization's fund-raising program, brought together hundreds of wine lovers and winemakers Thursday, July 21, through Saturday, July 23.
The heart of the event was the wine auction itself, an extravaganza at the River Run base of Bald Mountain that brought visions of the Napa Valley and Tuscany to the Idaho mountains.
The July 22 auction, which in recent years has ranked in Wine Spectator magazine's Top 10 list of most lucrative charity auctions in the nation, answered any doubts about whether Ketchum-area residents support the arts—or if they have an interest in fine wine.
Auctioneer Dave Reynolds drew upon a unique combination of charm and quick wit to sell off 64 "lots" during the spirited live auction, which took place concurrently with a silent auction that offered dozens of additional small collections of hard-to-find wines.
"This is not the refined atmosphere of Sotheby's or Christie's," Reynolds told the crowd, referring to two of the world's renowned auction houses.
Before commencing the sale, Reynolds quipped that "spousal restraint" in the bidding process would not be tolerated.
The featured item in Lot 1 was a 12-liter bottle of 2000 Schramsberg Blancs de Blancs sparkling wine, chilled so the winning bidder could pop the cork immediately and offer it to friends.
"Just think of it as a giant, internal Jacuzzi," Reynolds said.
The bidding was opened at $2,000 and persisted with vigor until Reynolds finally called out "Sold!" after bidding concluded at $6,500.
"Let it fly," the bidder said, and the cork was promptly released.
Next up was an offering of three 3-liter bottles—two bottles of cabernet sauvignon from California's famed Silver Oak Cellars and one bottle of merlot from Twomey Cellars. After several well-dressed bidders brought the asking price up to $15,000, Reynolds egged them on.
"The IRS will believe 15 (thousand)," he joked. "It's a nice, round number."
The lot ultimately sold for $16,000.
As the crowd dined on gourmet foods, drank wine and produced a loud chatter, Reynolds deftly kept the bids coming. A single 1.5-liter bottle of 2002 Screaming Eagle cabernet sauvignon, a wine that has earned "cult" status among collectors, garnered $7,000. A 2006 Lexus GS 300 luxury sedan brought in $68,000.
All told, the auction grossed more than $1.1 million, a record amount in its 24-year history. All of the auction proceeds go directly toward the arts organization's programs.
The grand wine tasting on Saturday afternoon was also held under the expansive tent at River Run. It was attended by the public, "premier cru" and "grand cru" ticket holders, vintners, local distributors and trade tasters. A chance to taste a $100 bottle of wine is one of the gifts the event allows.
Saturday evening, the sold-out Wine Auction Picnic served high-end picnic fare to 1,600 people at the Bigwood Golf Club in Ketchum. Bigwood Bread and Mountain Pride catered the Southern-theme meal. Lively music by Zydeco artist Geno Delofose encouraged attendees to dance on the grass and taste the dozens of wines available to sample.
Sam Gappmayer, executive director of the Center, said the final tally of the net amount the Center will gain from all of the weekend's events will not be known for about four weeks.
"It was very successful," he said. "We think it will be one of our most successful years ever."
Gappmayer added: "Each year I am overwhelmed by the incredible effort that goes into the Wine Auction. From a huge army of volunteers to high-end bidders and sponsors, it is truly a labor of love that requires a tremendous amount of effort and energy."
(Express staff writer Dana DuGan contributed to this report.)
Owners of Fantesca Vineyard & Estate, Duane and Susan Hoff, celebrate after having secured the final bid on one of the auction's many lots. The winery based in St. Helena, Calif., was also a donor of one of the lots up for auction. Photo by Willy Cook
