A Luxurious Evening of Wine and Design: GM and Cadillac Sponsor 31st Annual Detroit International Wine Auction to Benefit CCS

DETROIT, Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- World-class wines, automobiles and art converge on October 20 when General Motors and Cadillac present "The Art of Wine," the 31^st Annual Detroit International Wine Auction (DIWA). The event, which benefits Detroit's College for Creative Studies, will be held for the first time at the GM Design Center.

Chairing the auction and gala are Edward T. Welburn, Jr., vice president, GM Global Design and CCS trustee; and his wife, Rhonda D. Welburn of the law firm Dickinson Wright PLLC. Organizers hope to exceed the $1.4 million raised last year to fund undergraduate scholarships at CCS and art classes for at-risk youth in Detroit.

Guests will get a rare glimpse inside the GM Design Center and adjacent Design Dome, internationally recognized for their midcentury Modern architecture.

"The College for Creative Studies is such a jewel in Detroit's creative economy, and among the premier automotive and transportation design schools in the world," said Welburn. "During GM Design's 85th anniversary this past June, we celebrated design innovation and its power to differentiate great brands. This event helps make it possible to attract, educate and retain a new generation of designers who will lead our global industry into the future."

Winemaker, Manuel Louzada of Numanthia – known for its iconic, award-winning wines from Toro in northwestern Spain – is this year's featured vintner.  The Numanthia Estate is owned by LVMH, world leader of luxury goods which also includes a unique portfolio of prestigious wine and spirits brands, such as Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Cloudy Bay, Newton Vineyard, Belvedere and Hennessy.

Numanthia's powerful yet elegant wines are produced from Tinta de Toro, a single varietal from the Tempranillo grape family.  The Numanthia Estate's first vineyards were planted in 1880, and Numanthia's Termanthia wine, for example, is produced from grapes grown on ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines that are more than 120 years old.

"We are deeply grateful for the long-standing support of General Motors and Cadillac for the auction. Their generosity, along with that of so many other donors, helps us to increase the numbers of students who can experience the world-class creative education that CCS offers," says College for Creative Studies President Richard L. Rogers. "We are especially excited to hold the event this year at the home of creativity for GM, the GM Design Center, because it resonates so well with CCS's mission and will provide an unforgettable evening for our guests."

The Detroit International Wine Auction includes three levels of participation:

• The Vintner's Private Reception for benefactor-level sponsors and ticket holders is 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the exclusive Cadillac Design Studio. It features the best wine, hors d'oeuvres and auction items, and the opportunity for guests to hear Louzada describe his favorite wines in a more intimate setting. The Vintner's Private Reception is sponsored by Strategic Staffing Solutions.
• The Silent Auction Reception, open to all ticket holders, is 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Design Center's second-floor gallery.
• The Gala Dinner and Auction, featuring wines, exclusive dinners, travel packages and original works of art, is 8 to 10:30 p.m. in the Design Dome. The Grand Lot is a four-day epicurean trip to Spain exploring Madrid and the Toro region, including a limited-edition vertical (2007, 2008, 2009) of Numanthia 5-liter bottles. The five-course dinner is served with wines hand-selected by Louzada.

An afterglow party follows dinner, and is sponsored by the Metro Detroit Cadillac Dealers.

Tickets for "The Art of Wine," the 31^st Annual Detroit International Wine Auction, are $5,000 (Benefactor, includes admission for two to Vintner's Private Reception and Gala Dinner/Auction), $1,500 (Patron, single admission to Vintner's Private Reception and Gala Dinner/Auction) and $500 (Supporter, single admission to Gala Dinner/Auction). Table sponsorships also are available. For more information,visit www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/diwa or contact CCS directly at [email protected] or 313-664-7464.

About CCS

The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is an integrated learning community located in Detroit. A private, fully accredited college, CCS enrolls nearly 1,400 students pursuing Master of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. CCS also offers visual art opportunities for learners of all ages through its Community Arts Partnerships and Continuing Education programs. For more information, visit www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/about

About GM Design

General Motors Design is the first and largest global automotive OEM design function, with a network of 10 Design Centers in seven countries. More than 1,900 men and women are responsible for the design development of every GM concept and production car and truck globally. The Design Centers are located in the United States, Germany, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil and India.

SOURCE General Motors