Livermore Valley Wine Auction Raises Over $250,000 for Local Charities

LIVERMORE VALLEY, Calif., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation and the Wente Family Foundation are pleased to announce that over $250,000 was raised at the 18^th annual Livermore Valley Wine Auction on May 5, 2012. The two host foundations will present checks in August to the beneficiaries – ValleyCare Foundation, Open Heart Kitchen, Bankhead Theater, and Livermore Valley Education Foundation.

The Livermore Valley Wine Auction was generously sponsored by Shames Construction as the Title Sponsor, as well as the following companies as Master Sommelier Sponsors: FedEx, Sybase, The Rose Hotel, Diablo Magazine, Black Tie Transportation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Alaska Airlines. Many other local companies sponsored at the Sommelier, Wine Lover, and Friends of the Foundation levels, as well as donated items to the live and silent auction. "We are very appreciative of the tremendous support of our beneficiaries by sponsors, donors, wineries, Board members, and volunteers," said Lorelei Fernandes, President of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation Board.

The Wine Auction, held in the Barrel Room at the Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, was attended by approximately 300 guests who enthusiastically bid on 60 silent auction items and 21 live auction packages. In addition, the guests generously raised their bidding paddles during the Fund-a-Need portion, raising $53,000 for ValleyCare Foundation's neonatal unit.  During the silent auction, 16 Livermore Valley winemakers poured their wines, showcasing the range and quality of wines grown and produced in the region.   

Live music was an integral part of the event, starting with students from Granada High School playing strings during the wine tasting, followed by Wolf Hamlin, of American Idol fame, playing with Karl Wente's band, The Front Porch, and culminating in an acoustic performance by acclaimed musician Mat Kearney. Mat Kearney played an encore for a dancing crowd, and then The Front Porch came back up for another set.  Christine Wente, Chairperson of the Wente Family Foundation Board, states "The Livermore Valley Wine Auction is an excellent example of the Livermore Valley wineries' commitment to our community, and we were thrilled to co-host the event. The fabulous live music at the event underlines our mission to provide support for arts education programs."

The mission of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation is to raise funds to improve the quality of life for under-served local children.  The mission of the Wente Family Foundation is to provide support for arts education programs in the Livermore Valley and throughout the United States.  For more information, please contact Brandi Addington, Auction Manager, at [email protected] or (925) 321-8338.

SOURCE Wente Family Foundation