Something to “Wine” About
by Sarah A. Cart
Boy, is it easy to find things to “wine” about in 2020! With everything going on in the world today it’s easy to feel down and out. Here at All Charities, however, we’re flipping the script to focus on how to help our local charity partners on and off The Reef. If you’ve been involved with All Charities in the past, you know how good it feels to focus on giving, especially in anxious times.
Wondering how you can help? How about packing up those special bottles sitting in your wine cellar and shipping them to Ocean Reef where they will make a difference by benefitting local charities at the All Charities Auction Weekend scheduled for February 19 and 20, 2021?
As you know, rare and vintage bottles of wine and spirits donated by our generous Members are big headliners at the annual auction. Once again, the wine category of the Silent Auction this past February broke records, and sales passed the $100,000 mark for the first time ever.
The star garnering the highest winning bid was a lot of one of the most revered first growths of the Bordeaux region of France, 12 bottles of 2000 Château Lafite Rothschild, securely snuggled in their original wooden case and donated by Sally and Tom Davidson, that went for $21,500. The co-starring “Crown Jewel of Napa,” six bottles of the ultra-rare 2015 Harlan Estate Proprietary Red Wine in its original wooden case and rated 100 points by Robert Parker, came in a close second at $20,000.
Plus, last season’s Live Auction featured multiple wine-centric items, each of which sold twice! They included the always popular Mount Veeder Magic Vineyards Experience for Six, garnering $65,000 each time; the Big Steaks, Big Cabs, Big Art and Big Hearts dinner for 30 at Key Largo Anglers Club, for $40,000 a pop; and Big Bold Bordeaux: A Priceless Food and Wine Adventure with Ethan Dupree, $75,000 each.
A historic Live Auction lot was a Harlan Estate Vertical of 18 bottles containing all the vintages from the day the winery opened that sold twice in 2012, generating $67,000. And, for many years, bidders have battled for a seat at John and Mary Lee’s Cult Wine Dinner, which, combined with the annual multitude of celebrity chef dinners with famous personalities pouring wines from Napa to Grand Cru, has raised millions of dollars.
All Charities Weekend actually started out as the Ocean Reef Community Foundation Wine Auction Dinner back in 1999 with the donation of an extraordinary wine collection helping to get the annual event off its feet. Since then, wine has always played a major role.
So all the critics agree, we’ve always found something to wine about here at Ocean Reef All Charities!
As you clean out your wine cellars this fall, keep us in mind. We’ll be happy to add your generous donation to our 2021 slate of offerings and will ease your task by sending the appropriate packaging to your home and even paying for the shipping.
If you’re interested in donating wine to this season’s All Charities Auction, contact Lesa Crayne or Amy Cornaire in the All Charities office by calling 305-367-5996 or emailing allcharities@oceanreef.com. As always, we thank you for your support!