Trefethen Family Vineyards Celebrate the Good Life
In 1979, Trefethen’s 1976 Chardonnay was named “Best Chardonnay in the World” at the Gault Millau World Wine Olympics in France, beginning a 30-year tradition of excellence, all along following the credo of “One Family, One Estate, One Passion.” Come share in this excellence and visit the world-famous Trefethen Family Vineyards in the legendary Napa Valley. Your adventure begins with a private winery tour for a party of eight, followed by a tasting of Trefethen’s finest Estate and Reserve wines in the elegant Wine Library. The gate to the Trefethen's private garden will then be opened for a wonderful Napa Valley luncheon prepared by Trefethen's winery chef. Depending on the time of year, fruits and vegetables will be picked directly from the garden for a delicious gourmet lunch. Magnificent Trefethen wines will be paired with the chef's three-course feast. You will also bring home two impressive Magnums: a 2007 Trefethen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2010 Trefethen Estate Chardonnay.
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $800 Includes Private Tour & Tasting for Eight Luncheon for Eight Two 1.5-Liter Bottles Donor Trefethen Family Vineyards Napa, California
Date must be mutually agreeable for all parties.
Martinelli Winery Martinelli Magic
The Martinelli family has been growing grapes in the Russian River Valley since 1887. Their handcrafted wines never fail to impress. You can witness how the magic happens with a visit to the vineyard for a behind-the-scenes look. Enjoy a two-night stay for four in luxurious guest accommodations at the winery and explore the historic vineyard during a VIP tour of the beautiful grounds. After your tour, don’t miss the private tasting in Martinelli’s unique tasting room, situated in an historic turn-of-the-century hop barn. You will take much pleasure in sampling these delightful estate -grown and estate-produced wines while taking in the stunning scenery of the Russian River Valley.
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $350 Includes Two-Night Stay for Four Tour & Tasting for Four Donor Martinelli Winery Windsor, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $175 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle Donor Morgan Winery Salinas, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $400 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle Donor Amuse Bouche Winery Napa, California
Morgan Winery
Au Sommet Winery
Conscientious, innovative farming regimens allied with traditional “minimalist” winemaking techniques result in wines of balance, elegance, and distinction. For Morgan Winery, this single-minded focus has produced a record of consistent, category leading, award-winning wines. Their Double L Vineyard is located near the northern tip of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Afternoon winds. Evening fog. Porous mountainside soils. The perfect location for growing the best Pinot grapes. Tonight’s offering from this magical spot is a Magnum of the 2009 Morgan Double L Vineyard Pinot Noir. The vineyard’s special terroir shines through in this signature wine. Power and elegance. Fruit and spice and 94 points from Wine Enthusiast. This vintage presents aromas of blackberry, plum, and almond with hints of black licorice and clove. Flavors of cranberry and leather are backed by a deft touch of toasty oak and structuring tannins. The wine is an exquisite match for duck confit, lamb shank, and prime rib. Bon appetit!
Winemaker Heidi Barrett, dubbed “the first lady of wine” by Robert Parker, has been crafting cult wines since 1983, many of them receiving 95 points and above and selling for record prices at wine auctions around the country. She has donated a Magnum of her Au Sommet 2010 Cabernet blend for your enjoyment. This wine, produced from long-hanging grapes grown atop Napa Valley’ Atlas Peak, is rich and intense, with ripe, dark fruits and powerful aromas. Its long and spicy finish means that it is a great wine for the cellar. Take it to the top with this fantastic bottle.
Amuse Bouche Winery
Barnett Vineyards
This limited-edition red wine is graced by the original and exceptional work of the late artist Tony Curtis. Winemaker Heidi Barrett has created a lush blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc with an abundance of fruitfocused flavors and aromas of red licorice, raw coffee beans, and dark chocolate. The deeply saturated flavors of the 2010 Amuse Bouche Red Blend make it “a gorgeous, beautifully balanced wine,” according to The Wine Advocate, which awarded it 92 points. This magnificent Magnum is just what your wine cellar needs.
As described by the winery, the 2010 Spring Mountain District Cabernet “has an immediate core of pure black fruit. This dry red table wine from Barnett Vineyards is quite plush with concentrated raspberry and more gravel mineral tones on the palette. The tannins are very firm, with natural mountain acid to balance demanding some time in the bottle to show its best.” This etched Double Magnum is an outstanding addition to any wine collection. According to The Wine Advocate, the wine is “deep, dense, and rich … oozes with character and sheer personality and has many nuances that unfold as the wine sits in the glass.” This “fascinating and totally intriguing Cabernet” with a “sinewy, powerful finish” is one you do not want to miss. There is a reason it received a rating of 93 points!
The Perfect Pinot
Amusement for the Mouth
To the Top
Spectacular Spring Mountain
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $450 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle Donor Au Sommet Winery Napa, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $200 Includes One 3-Liter Bottle Donor Hal & Fiona Barnett Barnett Vineyards St. Helena, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $450 Includes One 6-Liter Bottle Donor Basel Cellars Estate Winery Walla Walla, Washington
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $100 Includes Two 750ml Bottles Donor Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, Washington
Basel Cellars Estate Winery
Chehalem Winery
Included in the winemaker notes for the 2003 Basel Cellars Estate Merriment Red is this statement: “…beautifully balanced by the earthy structure that is a signature of our estate vineyard, Pheasant Run, and finishes with dense, rich, silky tannins.” If that doesn’t make your ears prick up, how about this? International Wine Cellar raved about this wine, describing it as “…supple, primary and sweet, with broad flavors of meaty dark berries. Nicely polished, nuanced wine that finishes with very good length.” The Imperial-sized bottle of this limited-production vintage has been aged perfectly to enjoy with your closest friends; its gorgeous mouthfeel and nicely integrated tannins make it an excellent choice for your collection.
This one’s a winner. Chehalem Winery has been producing magnificent wines for decades. The vineyard is named after a Native American word best translated as "gentle land" or "valley of flowers," phrases that capture a long-standing, almost religious reverence for the land. The 2010 Ian’s Reserve Chardonnay is a fine example of the winery’s expertise. Overall, this wine could be described as a very beautiful blonde. It has a rich, full structure and the finish is lovely, opulent, mouthwatering, and close to perfect. Its flavors include ripe peach or pear and baked apple with a touch of nutmeg, buttered pastry crust or creamy bread pudding, and golden raisins. Take home this Magnum signed by winemaker and proprietor Harry Peterson-Nedry, and you will also enjoy a complimentary tasting for four at the Chehalem Tasting Room in a renovated historic building in downtown Newburg, Oregon.
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Wente Family Estates
If your wishes could come true, these two Cabernets would have special spots in your cellar. The limited-release 2008 and 2009 Druthers from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington state’s oldest and most acclaimed winery, are two astoundingly good Cabernet Sauvignon blends. The Wine Advocate gave the 2008 vintage 93 points, calling it “dense, layered, and opulent … with the stuffing to evolve for four to five years and … provide peak drinking on its 20th birthday.” As winemaker Joshua Maloney notes, the 2008 “is a fleshy wine that presents aromas of rich fruit, mocha, vanilla and a touch of black licorice. On the palate, the fruit quickly crescendos, and carries firm yet unctuous tannins with it. The tannins continue to persist on the long finish.” And the 2009 is no slouch either. Rated 89 points by Wine Enthusiast, this wine has intense flavor and deep color. Says winemaker Bob Bertheau of this vintage, “We blended Druthers to be a powerful wine with layers of complexity. On the palate, there is incredible fruit concentration and robust, yet balanced tannins that linger on the finish.”
One of the Livermore Valley’s most prominent pioneers, Charles Wetmore is honored with Wente’s finest expression of the noble Cabernet Sauvignon. From their origins in Margaux in the 1880s to the present, only the best of the Cabernet Sauvignon vines Wetmore brought over from France have been selected for each new generation planted. And they are prized for making wines with intensity, depth of flavor, and rich, lush body. The 2010 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon won the silver medal at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. This Double Magnum could be yours for the taking. You will appreciate its heady aromas and flavors of black cherry, chocolate, and green olive. With balanced acidity and a full-bodied mouthfeel, this wine delivers a bold, long-lasting finish.
Merrymaking with Merriment
If You Had Your Druthers
Championship Chardonnay
Wente’s Heritage Block
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $100 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle Tasting for Four Donor Chehalem Winery Newberg, Oregon
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $90 Includes One 3-Liter Bottle Donor Wente Family Estates Livermore, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $30 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle Donor Mionetto USA White Plains, New York
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $1,500 Includes Three 3-Liter Bottles Two-Night Stay for Four One Large-Format Bottle Donor Trinchero Family Estates St. Helena, California
Mionetto USA
Vintner’s Collective Napa Valley
Founded in 1887 by Francesco Mionetto in the small village of Valdobbiadene, Italy. Mionetto has been the preeminent name known for quality for over 125 years. In the heart of the Prosecco region, Mionetto produces the exceptional wines that comprise America’s favorite Prosecco brand. You can take home this Magnum of Mionetto Prosecco Brut from the winery’s Prestige Collection tonight and savor it with seafood dishes and hard cheeses. On the palate, the wine has a hint of fruit and a well-balanced acidity that provides a fresh and lively mouthfeel with a clean, dry finish.
Vintner’s Collective is a select group of boutique Napa Valley vintners who share tasting room space in Napa’s oldest commercial building, an 1875 Italianate former saloon and brothel. This place brings amazing wines and incredible personalities together and opens the doors to Napa Valley’s finest for new visitors every day.
Bubbly and Bright
Membership Has Its Privileges
Winemaker dinners, release parties, a Napa guesthouse, and a concierge service are part of what the Vintner’s Collective offers to its members. This evening, you can bid on a complimentary “Bordello” membership at Vintner’s Collective, which includes three shipments of three or four bottles of phenomenal wine per year. You will also be invited to an exclusive private tasting for six people, paired with charcuterie and cheese, complimentary admission to VCNV events, preferred rates at local hotels, and a discount for a stay at the bungalow, La Casita Bonita. Now we’re talking!
Trinchero Family Estates
ZD Wines
Winemaking is a collage of art, science, intuition, and tradition. It is the passion that the Trinchero team lives by, the air that they breathe, and the bond that brings them together. Napa Cellars, one of the Trinchero brands, embodies the classic Napa Valley style: ripe, rich, balanced, and collectible. The Napa Cellars winemaking team believes that the land shapes the balance, complexity, aroma, and flavor of their wine, and the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon stands as a testament to that belief. Tonight Trinchero tempts you with three Double Magnums of the 2010 vintage. Its elegant and concentrated aromas of plum and dark fruit open to a soft mouthfeel of black and red fruit flavor with a subtle hint of cinnamon and tobacco. This fantastic package also means that two couples will enjoy a two-night stay with breakfast and dinner at the Trinchero culinary center plus enjoy a tour and tasting for four and another large-format bottle to take home as a souvenir from your trip.
Pinot Noir is the grandfather of ZD Wines. It was one of the first wines ZD produced and has been produced every year since the first 1969 vintage. Consistent quality has earned the Carneros region a reputation as one of the premier wine-growing regions of California. ZD Pinot Noirs are crafted to reflect richness and intense varietal character in a style that uses the California sunshine in a cool grape-growing region to fully mature the grapes for intensity and flavor. Six bottles of the limited-release, award-winning 2011 ZD Founder’s Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros could be yours tonight. You have the power to make it happen. The 2011 Founders Reserve Pinot Noir boasts a beautiful ruby/ garnet color with aromas of black cherry, rhubarb, cedar, and a hint of toasted hazelnut. The palate is rich and full-bodied, with copious amounts of ripe plum, cherry, and spice. The tannins are soft and lush, and toasty French oak is integrated beautifully. This wine is an ongoing commemoration to ZD’s Founder, Norman deLeuze, and a tribute to his favorite varietal, Pinot Noir.
A Tremendous Trio from Trinchero
Founder’s Reserve … A Taste of Excellence
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $475 Includes Vintner’s Collective Membership for 1 Year Nine-Twelve 750ml Bottles Donor Vintner’s Collective Napa, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $200 Includes Six 750ml Bottles Donor ZD Wines Napa, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $50 Includes Mustard for a year Donor Sun Valley Mustard Sun Valley, Idaho
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $850 Includes 2 1.5-Liter Bottles Tours and Tastings for Four Donor Far Niente Winery Oakville, California
Sun Valley Mustard
Nickel & Nickel Winery
Locally-made Sun Valley Mustard is a perennial favorite and incredibly versatile. The freshest and finest ingredients go into the mix to produce a taste that is totally different from anything else out there. The mustards are made by hand in small batches to create distinctive texture and flavor. Now you can have your pick of the six delicious gourmet flavors for an entire year! Making a quick sandwich? Need a tasty dipping sauce for your favorite hors d’oeuvre? Use it for a spicy marinade! Or what about an easy hostess gift? Everybody loves it. Go with the classic “Spicy-Sweet” or get adventurous with the “Hot Jalapeno.” You’ve got it covered from all angles with this one.
Nickel & Nickel and EnRoute, present the ultimate collection of wines from the family and partners that launched Far Niente in 1979. Tonight’s winning bid will bring home these gorgeous bottles to add to the cellar: 2006 Nickel & Nickel Sullenger Cabernet Sauvignon and 2011 En Route Pinot Noir les Pommiers. And when you and friends next find yourself in Napa Valley, enjoy a tour and tasting for four at the Nickel & Nickel Winery. Tastings will follow each tour and feature the current releases of estate wines.
Far Niente Winery
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery
Far Niente, EnRoute, and Dolce present the ultimate collection of wines from the family and partners that launched Far Niente in 1979. Tonight’s winning bid will bring home these gorgeous bottles to add to the cellar: a Magnum each of 2011 Far Niente Estate Chardonnay and 2001 Dolce. And when you and friends next find yourself in Napa Valley, enjoy a tour and tasting for four at the Far Niente Winery. Tours at Far Niente begin with a walk through the historic, tri-level winery, which is built into the surrounding hillside. You will then get a peek at the 40,000-square-foot wine aging caves and finish up with a visit to the Carriage House, home to a fascinating collection of classic automobiles. Tastings will follow the tour and feature the current releases of estate wines. It will certainly be a visit to remember!
Don and Rhonda Carano invite you to visit the beautiful home of FerrariCarano wines, the spectacular Italianate hospitality wine center, Villa Fiore, set in the midst of the 70-acre Dry Creek Valley estate vineyard. Your group will have the chance to taste critically-acclaimed Ferrari-Carano wines, stroll through five acres of exquisite gardens, view the magnificent underground, double-vaulted barrel cellar, and sample limited and reserve wines in the Enoteca Reserve Tasting Bar and Lounge.
Spread the Love
Tour, Taste, Repeat
Tour and Taste
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $300 Includes Two 1.5-Liter Bottles Tours and Tastings for Four Donor Nickel & Nickel Winery and EnRoute Winery Oakville, California
Behind the Scenes
Ferrari-Carano’s winery tour, hosted by their friendly and knowledgeable staff, will take you on a winding journey through the renowned gardens and offer a glimpse of the vineyards up close, perhaps even catching one of the winemaking team or cellar crew hard at work on the crush pad or in the winery's cellars or tank rooms. You can also view Don and Rhonda Carano’s personal wine cellar and hear about Ferrari-Carano’s history–how Don and Rhonda first came to Sonoma County on a wine buying trip and fell in love with the area. After the enlightening tour, enjoy a private tasting hosted in the PreVail Room, designed to highlight the many nuances of wine in a fun and informative style.
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $100 Includes Tour and Tasting for Four Donor Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery Healdsburg, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $500 Includes Two 1.5-Liter Bottles Three-Night Stay for Two Tasting for Two Donor Bill & Beverly Fraser Owners Fraser Vineyard & Winery Boise, Idaho
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $100 Includes Two 3-Liter Bottles Donor Mac McCarthy Frenchman’s Gulch Winery Ketchum, Idaho
Fraser Vineyard
Cakebread Cellars
Snap up this three-night getaway for two at Fraser Vineyard’s Casita in the lovely Snake River Valley. The house is set against the tranquil backdrop of a hillside vineyard and the Owyhee Mountains in the heart of the region’s wine country. The view from gorgeous patio overlooks the entire valley, from the Boise Mountains all the way to the Blue Mountains in Oregon. And, if you’re lucky, there might just be a couple of surprise bottles awaiting your arrival at the Casita.
Securing fruit from multiple, diverse microclimates allows the winemakers at Cakebread Cellars to craft a rich, yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, marrying the lush black fruit and sturdy tannins typical of the valley’s warmer northern districts with the bright fruit and acidity characteristic of its cooler southern climes. As the winner of this lot, you can experience the results of these techniques first-hand and bring home two Magnums of 2010 Cakebread Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
You are also invited to a tasting for two at the winery’s location in downtown Boise, voted 2011 Idaho Winery of the Year. And as for tonight’s takeaway, a Magnum each of the 2010 Fraser Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2011 Fraser Washington Malbec, which won a gold medal in the 2012 Great Northwest Wine Competition are yours to keep. Salut!
This intense wine offers wonderfully fragrant, complex aromas of ripe blackberry and boysenberry fruit augmented by complementary scents of loam, spice-box, dark chocolate, and toasty oak. Beautifully balanced and richly textured on the palate, its concentrated black cherry, wild berry, cassis, and mocha flavors extend into a long, chocolate-y finish. The product of a cool growing season, this vintage is delicious now, but will develop even greater nuance with another two to four years of cellaring. The choice is up to you!
Frenchman’s Gulch Winery
Idaho Wine Commission
This small, family-owned and European-styled winery will surely astound you with their lovely handcrafted reds. As noted by the winemakers themselves, “When our liquid pleasure dances on your tongue, you will taste mountains, sun, and frosty cheeks.” The grapes used by Frenchman’s Gulch Winery come from some of the best vineyards in the country to the breathtaking valleys of Idaho. With a style uniquely focused on balance and silky tannins, the winery utilizes a minimalist approach in the high-altitude environment of Sun Valley. Avoiding mass production techniques, the winemakers can offer intimate knowledge of every barrel produced. Tonight these two glorious Double Magnums can be yours- the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, a Tri-Cities Wine Festival and Seattle Wine Awards silver medalist, and the 2007 Syrah, a Tri-Cities Wine Festival gold medalist and winner of a silver medal at the Seattle Wine Awards. Now that's some impressive hardware!
Pssst … have you heard? The Idaho wine industry has been growing steadily for the last 30 years with remarkable expansion in the past decade. With 11 wineries in 2002, Idaho is now home to 50, with 1,600 acres of grapes planted. The region is just coming into its own, receiving a remarkable amount of recognition, and winemakers and growers are learning as they go while making great wine along the way. You can get a glimpse (or a taste!) of what makes Idaho wines so special by putting down the winning bid on this exciting lot. You will take home a fantastic assortment of fine wine from our very own Gem State—twelve bottles of mixed varietals from some of the region’s best vineyards. And your knowledge of the area and Idaho’s wine will be further enhanced after a personalized wine tour for four people in the Snake River Valley AVA. The state’s reputation as a respected and highly-regarded producer of fine wines is only getting better, and like the state motto, “Esto Perpetuo,” it is forever.
The Splendors of the Snake River Valley
A Little Local Flavor
Have Your Cakebread Cabernet and Drink It Too
Esto Perpetuo
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $150 Includes Two 1.5-Liter Bottles Donor Kobrand Wine and Spirits Cakebread Cellars Rutherford, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $150 Includes Twelve 750ml Bottles Regional Winery Tour for Four Donor Idaho Wine Commission Boise, Idaho
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $1,500 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle Two Four-Night Stays for Four Lunch & Wine Tasting for Four Two Dinners for Four Donor Thomas P. Kenefick, M.D Proprietor Kenefick Ranch Winery Calistoga, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $125 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle Donor Saxum Vineyards Paso Robles, California
Kenefick Ranch Winery
Shafer Vineyards
This lot is chock-full of fabulous wine, fine food, and fun to be had. What better way for you and three others to enjoy the beauty, wonder, and magic of Napa Valley’s wine country than to spend four nights at the Kenefick Ranch Farmhouse in Calistoga? During your stay, join Dr. Kenefick on the patio overlooking the vineyard for an afternoon luncheon while tasting some of the winery’s finest hand-crafted estate wine. And as a finale to your visit, savor the culinary delights of a dinner at Solage Resort’s Solbar Restaurant, including a selection of Kenefick Ranch award-winning wines. But that’s not all. Your group of four also gets to dust off the cowboy gear and spend four days at the Kenefick Ranch in Wise River, Montana. Enjoy dinner at The Ranch at Rock Creek and plan a day experiencing some of the best outdoor activities that the Big Sky State has to offer: hiking, rafting on the Big Hole River, or a fly fishing outing. And as a souvenir of this magical evening, you can bring home a Magnum of the 2006 Kenefick Ranch Chris’s Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon, an astonishing Napa Cabernet from a true artist of the vine.
A bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Shafer Vineyards is an enviable possession. As Wine & Spirits magazine says, Shafer produces “… Cabernet that defines the Stags Leap District.” John Shafer began his viticultural adventure back in 1972, and his son, Doug, soon joined him in building a reputation for excellence. The dynamic duo has been creating magnificent wines on the hillsides of Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail for almost two generations. And tonight, you may have the chance to bring home a remarkable piece of that history and heritage. The Vineyard is offering an Imperial of their 2007 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon to this evening’s high bidder. But get ready, this lot’s gonna be a hot one!
Saxum Vineyards
Sokol Blosser Winery
Saxum’s Broken Stones cuvée is Syrah-based, with a large portion of Grenache and a splash of Mourvedre. It is full-bodied, rich, and intense, but also reveals great purity, focus, and complexity. The Broken Stones is the only wine from Saxum that is a multi-vineyard blend, utilizing all the vineyards that they source from. The Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator both awarded the wine a score of 92-94, noting, “A rush of dark Syrah fruit announces the 2010 Broken Stones. Menthol, tar, and sweet spices develop with time in the glass, adding considerable complexity and nuance. This is a seriously rich, intense wine endowed with deep layers of fruit and a huge, muscular finish.” An enticing Magnum of this incredible wine awaits you. Don’t delay.
In 1971 the Sokol Blosser family planted grapes on just five acres in the Dundee Hills southwest of Portland. As one of the pioneering wineries of the region, Sokol Blosser has played a key role in developing and shaping the now-prominent Oregon wine industry. The winery is still family owned and operated, with the second generation now at the helm: siblings Alex and Alison Sokol Blosser. To thrive Pinot Noir grapes need a particular climate like that of Burgundy, France. Coincidentally, the location of the Sokol Blosser estate is perfect for the notoriously temperamental fruit. Their 2010 Dundee Hill Pinot Noir is extremely concentrated yet delicate and elegant, packed with intense black cherry, dried sage and coriander, hints of cigar box and mocha and a distinctive Jory soil forest floor earthiness. You would be remiss if you didn’t try your hardest to win this outstanding three-year vertical collection of Magnums from 2008-2010. They even come in a beautiful wooden box with the winery’s distinctive logo. Cheers!
A Fun Lot … or a Lot of Fun
Rich and Intense
The Consummate Cabernet
The Pleasures of Pinot
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $400 Includes One 6-Liter Bottle Donor John & Barbara Shafer Owners Shafer Vineyards Napa, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $175 Includes Three 1.5-Liter Bottles Donor Bill Blosser & Susan Sokol Blosser Proprietors Sokol Blosser Winery Dundee, Oregon
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $450 Includes Four 1.5-Liter Bottles Donor Spring Valley Vineyard Walla Walla, Washington
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $200 Includes Two VIP Concert Tickets Pre-Show Meet & Greet Two CDs Donor SVCA Sun Valley, Idaho
Spring Valley Vineyard
Velocio
For well over 100 years, the Corkrum-Derby family has been farming the land north of Walla Walla known as Spring Valley. Because of the land’s extraordinary terroir, the wines from Spring Valley Vineyard are arguably the most unique produced in Washington State. All of the bottles in this Merlot blend vertical selection of Magnums from 2007-2010 are named after founder Uriah Corkrum, the grandfather of Shari Corkrum Derby. You, too, can be woven into this rich family tapestry, if only for tonight. These award-winning bottles from Spring Valley Vineyards are etched and hand-painted, an exceptional collection for your wine cellar. As a preview of what’s in store for you, Wine Spectator gave the 2008 vintage 92 points, raving, “This has density without excess weight, showing a real depth to its cherry, cinnamon, almond and cedar flavors, lingering against crisp tannins. Impressive for its deft balance and the way the finish sneaks up on you.” And they described the 2009 as “…focused, ripe, deftly balanced, and generous with its dark berry and mint flavors.” Your taste buds will not be disappointed!
Check out this fun package of goodies from Velocio, Ketchum’s hottest new hangout.
Clint Black Concert
Canihan Family Cellars
A last-minute and very exciting addition to The Center’s summer events is a special evening with country music legend Clint Black. This VIP package includes a pre-show meet and greet and two VIP seats to the show at the Sun Valley Pavilion on Thursday, September 12, 2013. Shake hands and get your photo taken with the star and his band as they get ready for a knockout performance. You will also take home two CDs of Black’s music so you can keep on listening to your heart’s content. Prolific singer-songwriter Clint Black has long been heralded as one of country music’s brightest stars. His many talents have taken him even further, as Black has transcended genres to become one of the most successful artists in the entire music industry. Don’t miss the amazing opportunity to see … and meet … this country music legend.
This might just be the best mixed case of Pinot Noir you’ll ever come across. Canihan Family Cellar’s minimalist approach to winemaking have resulted in award-winning wines that are highly sought-after and rarely available. But don’t despair; tonight you can bring home three bottles each of their 2008 Exuberance Pinot Noir, 2009 Canihan Pinot Noir, 2010 Canihan Pinot Noir, and 2011 Canihan Pinot Noir to round out your wine collection.
A Terroir Like No Other
Meet a Country Music Legend
Coffee and Chocolate and You … Oh, My!
Velocio is one of the few coffee shops in the entire country that is approved to brew and sell the ultra-premium Intelligentsia coffee. Intelligentsia uses the purest method of brewing, the Pourover, to create the perfect cup. Now you can try for your own perfection at home with a Pourover home coffee kit for two. The kit includes coffee, two porcelain cups and saucers, and two sturdy diner mugs. There is also some tasty single-source organic chocolate to satisfy any cravings. Plus, as an added bonus, you will take home a basket filled with additional Velocio products. Velocio is hopping. Espressos. Gelato. Craft beer on tap. Wine, champagne, sake. And tasty snacks, too! Find out what everyone is talking about around town!
True to the Land
Describing even just one of these wines makes the mouth water. Take the Exuberance, for example, Canihan’s reserve bottling that they produce for only the finest vintages. Lush aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberries, and perfumes of rose petals fold into pomegranate, vanilla, leather, and caramel with an elegant, velvety mouthfeel. Led in the nose by a wealth of bright, deeply drafted cherry-like fruit and highlighted by enticing perfumes of dried violets, this first-rate look at the grapes is at once both wonderfully rich and very light on its feet with exemplary balance of outstanding Pinot Noir. Get ready to impress and be impressed with this prestigious selection!
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $75 Includes Intelligentsia Coffee, Velocio Products, and Accessories for Two Donor Velocio Ketchum, Idaho
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $500 Includes Twelve 750ml Bottles Private Tour and Tasting for Six Donor Bill Canihan Canihan Family Cellars Sonoma, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $1,000 Includes One 6-Liter Bottle Donor Paul & Maureen Draper Ridge Vineyards Healdsburg, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $1,000 Includes Two 3-Liter Bottles Donor Kosta Browne Winery Sebastopol, California
Ridge Vineyards
Matthews Estate and Tenor Wines
Perched high atop the cool Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Ridge Monte Bello estate is an ideal site for the winery’s Bordeaux varietals. These low-yielding vines produce two complementary Cabernet blends. An impressive Imperial of one of those, the Monte Bello Cabernet from 2006, could be yours this evening. Year after year, Monte Bello proves to be a consistently outstanding wine with great structure, complexity, and balance. And, in terms of ageability, it has been known to lay down for several decades with elegance and ease. The Wine Advocate gave it 94 points and said, “...a very strong effort. Its dense purple color is followed by copious aromas of crème de cassis, licorice, spice box, and a touch of oak. Well-balanced, dense, pure, and layered with big, rich style.” The longer this one sleeps in the cellar, the better it will be. Oh, the anticipation!
Matthews Winery, located in the heart of Washington’s Woodinville Wine Country, is owned by one local family and produces Bordeaux-style and single-varietal, vineyard-designated wines. Tenor Wines, the ultra-premium label from Matthews, produces a Cabernet that will blow you away with its finesse, refinement, power, and grace. This custom-etched Magnum of the 2009 Tenor Cabernet Sauvignon is an almost perfect blend of both the ripe and more forward styles of Cab and the fresher, more structured wines of the old world. Currants, plums, vanilla, and fruitcake fill the nose with licorice and bittersweet chocolate in the background. Volume, texture and balance are the hallmark of this wine and it offers polish and power at the same time, with a creamy sensation at the finish.
Kosta Browne Winery
Northstar Winery
Kosta Browne’s incredible wines are notoriously difficult to come by. But tonight, if you pay close attention, you might just be able to get your hands on two beautiful Double Magnums of their popular Pinot Noir. The 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a blend of three vineyards and exhibits dark black and blue fruits that drive down the center of the palate and slowly melt into all areas of the mouth. There is a special intensity to this wine that is followed by a slow release of complex flavors and textures, leading to a long and lingering finish. The 2011 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir has many layers and complexities. The wine is pure, balanced, and lush. Rich chocolate-covered cherries come to the front, while fresh ripe raspberries, pomegranate, and cola develop throughout the palate, all resting generously on the top of the tongue. The lingering finish echoes with focus and freshness. Both of these gorgeous bottles come in custom wooden boxes.
Just as the North Star has been used through the ages as a directional guide, Northstar Winery was established to create world-class Merlot-based wines. A Magnum of their extremely limited production 2009 Northstar Premier will certainly lead you down the right path. This tremendously aromatic Merlot (which, by the way, scored 90 points in The Wine Advocate) bursts from the glass with an explosion of cherry, black raspberry, vanilla, graham cracker, and spice, leading into a big mouthful of floral notes, dark fruit, and chocolate covered cherries on the finish. Bright, balanced, and food-friendly, this is a wine that can be enjoyed now and will age gracefully for many years. Enjoy this limited-production offering, lovingly hand-crafted to showcase the best that Washington Merlot has to offer.
Monte Bello … Que Bella
Worth Every Penny
Respect for the Soil
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $300 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle One 750ml Bottle Donor Matthews Estate & Tenor Wines Woodinville, Washington
And it just keeps getting better! You will also bring home a bottle of 2009 Matthews Columbia Valley Claret, the winery’s flagship red blend. You must read on … this wine is deep garnet in color, with notes of plums, currants, and dried strawberries buffered by vanilla bean and smoky oak. Swirling brings up ripe, textured black fruit, with a beautiful nose that shows balance and purity. The palate is luscious and forward but balanced by great tannins and acidity. The 2009 is a wonderful vintage showing both ripeness and freshness at the same time.
A Shining Star
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $150 Includes One 1.5-Liter Bottle Donor Northstar Winery Walla Walla, Washington
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $300 Includes Four 750ml Bottles Donor David & Carla Ramey Proprietors Ramey Wine Cellars Healdsburg, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $500 Includes One 5-Liter Bottle Donor Geoff & Alison Rusack Owners Rusack Vineyards Solvang, California
Ramey Wine Cellars
Erath Winery
Goodness in the glass. That is what the team at Ramey strives for. They all share the belief that life is for living, wine is for sharing, and harmony is essential to both. Their wines are pure California, and you will get to take a little piece of California home with you tonight as the winning bidder. 2010 was an excellent year at Ramey, and they’d like to share that fabulous flavor with you in this collection of classic Chardonnays. To whet your appetite, the selection starts with two wines that were both awarded 95 points by The Wine Advocate—the 2010 Platt Vineyard Chardonnay and the 2010 Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay. The first is a big, broad-shouldered wine, reminiscent of a red wine in its structure. Reviews of the second are glowing: “…it bursts from the palate with honey, nectarine, butterscotch, orange blossoms, and flowers. Beautiful, vivid and constantly changing in the glass, the 2010 is wonderfully alive and classy throughout.” Also part of this amazing offering are the 2010 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay and the 2010 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay. Hooray for Chardonnay!
What happens when the perfect vineyard conditions result in the perfect Pinot Noir, Tonight, you can find out. This premier, ten-bottle collection of Erath Winery’s 2006 Single-Vineyard Pinot Noirs, handsomely displayed in a limited-edition, custom wooden box, is a standout example of the stunning wines that result from serendipitous winegrowing. These wines showcase the distinctive characteristics of each vineyard site, and are produced only when the vineyard’s fruit meets the standards of the winemaker and display the hallmarks of its specific terroir with each vintage. These special bottlings are crafted to evolve and will gain additional complexity and sophistication when cellared. Each wine in the collection has garnered ratings of 90 points or higher from the wine industry’s top publications.
Rusack Vineyards
Domaine Serene Vineyards & Winery
Rusack, a boutique winery and vineyard, is nestled among the oak-studded rolling hills of Ballard Canyon. Their mission is to create world-class, handcrafted wines. These wines have become known around the world for their striking elegance, robust yet silky fruit, and seductive finish—reminiscent of the gorgeous rolling hills of Ballard Canyon at dusk. The winery sources Pinot Noir grapes from some of the premier vineyards on the Central Coast. The wide variety of microclimates in the region, ranging from the wind-swept, misty hilltops of Santa Rita Hills to the diverse, fertile soils in Santa Maria Valley, provide the opportunity to craft a variety of wines with bright acidity, silky texture, and a lingering finish. This particular wine, the 2011 Rusack Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir, is packed with the bright, spicy flavors of strawberries, coffee, and caramel. This makes for a very approachable, food-friendly wine. And packaged in a Magnum etched and hand-painted with vintage Sun Valley artwork, this bottle is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that you will surely treasure.
Domaine Serene’s little slice of paradise in the hills of the Willamette Valley is a sight to behold. And so is its reputation. The vineyard has had more than 85 of their wines rated 90 points or higher by Wine Spectator since the first vintage. Now you can experience the pastoral tranquility of Oregon’s wine country from the wonderful luxuries of Domaine Serene’s Winery Hill House retreat. Two couples will relax for a 3-night stay in a private hideaway on the winery grounds. This beautifully-appointed “home away from home” is the perfect place to start your adventures and the ideal sanctuary at the end of a memorable day among the vines. Situated atop the Dundee Hills, Oregon’s premier wine-growing region, the winery is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy all that the area has to offer. With picturesque views from every vantage and the heart of the valley at your fingertips, you will experience the unique and unspoiled region in grand style. And prepare to be pampered! Also included are a bottle each of Domaine Serene Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to enjoy during your stay as well as a VIP tour of the winery grounds and a tasting in the cave.
A Chardonnay Collection
From Santa Barbara to Sun Valley
A Stellar Selection
Another Day in Paradise
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $350 Includes Ten 750ml Bottles Donor Erath Winery Dundee, Oregon
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $1,500 Includes Three-Night Stay for Four Tour & Tasting for Four Two 750ml Bottles Donor Ken & Grace Evanstad Domaine Serene Vineyards & Winery Dayton, Oregon
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $700 Includes One 6L Bottle Donor Marilyn & Steven Rivera Rivera Vineyards Napa, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $100 Includes One 1.5L Bottle Donor Archery Summit Winery Dayton, Oregon
Rivera Vineyards
10 Barrel Brewing Company
A decade ago, Marilyn and Steven Rivera set out to make a difference in the lives of as many people as possible. With the help of their two sons, they are committed to creating very special wine with a singular purpose— to help those who are less fortunate. Their philanthropic efforts have blossomed into a powerful vehicle for good works. Proceeds from their wine sales are donated to charitable organizations, helping create better lives for those in need. Rivera Vineyard’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon from 2005 is incredibly difficult to find and exceptionally delicious. Any wine made for a good cause always tastes a bit better, and this one certainly does. The tannins are rich and thick but retain an elegance and softness from the vineyard. If there was ever a wine that was good for the heart, this is it. And an Imperial of Rivera Cabernet also happens to be good for the soul!
If you’re in the mood to take a break from wine and try something different, downtown Boise has a brand-new brew pub and it is movin’ and groovin’! The pub, an offshoot of the original location in Bend, Oregon, opened in April and serves a revolving selection of outstanding hoppy ales and stouts made by brewmaster Shawn Kelso, anchored by some flagships brews like Apocalypse IPA and Sinistor Black Ale. And even if you’re not a beer drinker, the food is divine! 10 Barrel’s Boise Pub serves delicious stone-oven pizzas, juicy burgers, and tasty fish tacos in a large, renovated dining room right in front of the brewing area so you can see all the action up close. As the winner of this lot, four of you are invited to a private tour of the brewery and barrel room in Boise with a private tasting of all their creative concoctions as well as lunch or dinner with brewmaster Shawn Kelso. Sounds like the perfect way to spend a hot summer afternoon!
Archery Summit Winery
Pietra Santa Winery
For twenty years, the team at Archery Summit Winery has been crafting some of the most evocative Pinot Noir in the world from some of the oldest vines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The wines from their Renegade Ridge vineyard have an elegant style, showing more minerality and greater acidity than other Archery Summit wines. The vibrant red fruit character makes them extremely accessible upon release. Four Renegade Ridge Estate releases have been given above 90 points by The Wine Spectator. And you can find out for yourself how amazing these wines are by taking home this Magnum of 2009 Renegade Ridge Estate Pinot Noir. This wine opens with inviting aromas of mountain huckleberry, lingonberry, and marionberry. There are woodsy notes of sandalwood and cedar as well as wet river stone and alpine wildflower. Expressive and fruit-laden yet poised and complex, this wine offers flavors of blue fruits, spiced cherry, gingersnap, black tea, and candied walnuts. There is purity to this wine that is evocative of fresh mountain air and vibrancy on the palate that is taught and tensile.
Pietra Santa’s Signature Collection wines represent the very best of the estate and honor the legacy of Frenchman Theophile Vache, who founded the vineyard in the 1850s. Its remarkable soils and unique terroir, high in limestone and shale due to the location on the San Andreas Fault, give each Pietra Santa wine its singular taste and quality. These exceptional wines are crafted with the finest care and attention. A mixed case from Pietra Santa’s award-winning Signature Collection will round out your wine cellar beautifully with four bottles each of the 2011 Amore Pinot Grigio, which bursts with grapefruit, peach, and citrus flavors and has a clean and crisp finish, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, with its deep color and intense fruit flavors, and the 2009 Merlot, well-balanced and bold with concentrated flavors of blackberries and cassis. You will love entertaining with these wines!
A Singular Purpose
Renegade Ridge
A Perfect Ten
The Signature Collection
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $150 Includes Lunch or Dinner for Four Tour & Tasting for Four Donor 10 Barrel Brewing Company Bend, Oregon
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $250 Includes Twelve 750ml Bottles Donor Pietra Santa Winery Hollister, California
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $450 Includes Nine 750ml Bottles Donor Anonymous
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Silent Lots Opening Bid $1,600 Includes Three 750ml Bottles Donor Anonymous
Heitz Wine Cellars, Leonetti Cellar & PlumpJack Winery A Cellar’s Dream
This is like finding buried treasure, my friends. Some generous and anonymous soul has pulled a selection of rare and outstanding wines for this unusual lot that some of us can only dream about. Yet here it is … a dream come true … three bottles each of 1995 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, 1994 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1998 PlumpJack Cabernet Sauvignon. It is rare to come across wines like this in one place and at one time. Adding these wines to your cellar or enjoying them with close friends will be memories you will not soon forget. These rich and voluptuous red jewels will make Cabernet-lovers out of anyone. Long live the mighty Cabernet!
Château Margaux The Best of the Best
If you are a wine collector, this lot is for you. And even if you’re not, it will be almost impossible not to be drawn to the sheer perfection of this incredible offering. We present to you … drum roll, please … three bottles of 1995 Château Margaux Cabernet Sauvignon from an anonymous donor. The Wine Spectator gave this beautiful wine the rare and illustrious rating of a perfect 100 points, calling it “…the greatest Château Margaux yet produced. A stunning red. The essence of raspberry, violet, and berry, with hints of vanilla and toasted oak. Full-bodied and thick, yet racy, with masses of tannins and a harmonious structure. Long, long finish.” As you can tell folks, this is heaven in a glass. But don’t take our word for it; find out for yourself and start bidding!