Imagine 2006 Charity Wine Auction
< Press ReleasesImagine 2006 Charity Wine Auction Raises Over $2.5 Million for Children's CharitiesSanta Rosa, CAAugust 22, 2006. - The Imagine 2006 benefit, one of the country’s top charity wine auctions raised approximately $2.5 million dollars on Saturday, July 29. Held at Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke's Jackson Park Vineyard in Bennett Valley, Sonoma County, the exciting auction afternoon included musical entertainment, a gourmet luncheon and the opportunity to rub shoulders with sports, screen and TV stars.The top-dollar lot of the day was an offered 10% racing share in the speedy two-year-old thoroughbred filly, Polyhymnia, donated by Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke. The lot was in such demand that, with Jackson’s agreement, it sold three times, entitling each of the three new shareholders or shareholder groups to 10% of all purse winnings of the filly with no obligation to pay any expenses. Polyhymnia begins her racing career in the fall of 2006 and the interest terminates upon the filly’s retirement. The top ten lots of the day included: 10% racing share in thoroughbred racehorse, Polyhymnia, plus one etched 5-liter bottle of 2002 Anakota Helena Dakota Cabernet Sauvignon and one etched 5-liter bottle of 2002 Anakota Helena Montana Cabernet Sauvignon (sold three times) $360,000 Cessna Citation Mustang with one 6-liter 2003 Furth and one 6-liter 2001 Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Christopher’s Cabernet Sauvignon $200,000 Vacation package at Jane Seymour & James Keach’s English country manor in Bath, plus one 3-liter 2003 PlumpJack Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (sold twice) $180,000 7.32 carat Martin Katz intense yellow canary diamond ring with one 5-liter Lokoya Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $150,000 Maserati Quattroporte luxury sedan, plus one 3-liter Chateau Lasségue and one 3-liter Brunello di Montalcino Ciacci Piccolomini D’Aragona $150,000 Chairwomen's Lot including commissioned painting by Jane Seymour, one 5-liter 2003 Chalk Hill Chardonnay, one 5-liter 2003 Matanzas Creek Bennett Valley Merlot and lunch for 12 with Jane Seymour, Peggy Furth and Barbara Banke $75,000 Dinner for eight at Michael Mina in San Francisco hosted by Tom Black with 1979 Krug, 1979 Salon, 1979 Cristal, 1979 Krug Clos de Mesnil, 1983 Montrachet Ramonet, 1983 Montrachet DRC, 1999 Corton Charlemagne Coche Dury, 1947 Corton C. Giroud, 1959 Grands Echezeaux Leroy, 1961 Latour, 1959 Mouton Rothschild, 1988 Chateau d’Yquem, 1990 Chateau d’Yquem, 1955 Dow and 1955 Sandeman $60,000 Dinner for eight in Paris with Robert Parker, Jr., at L’Ami Louis and accommodations at Ritz Paris for four couples $55,000 South Africa vacation for two couples for seven nights, including golf at Elements Private Golf Course and Erinvale, two day stay at Singita Private Game Reserve, tour and tasting at Lourensford and Vergeleegen wineries, visit to Robben Island and Table Mountain $55,000 Da Vinci Code vacation in France for 10, including two nights at George V, dinner at Le Cinq, two nights at Chateau de Villete, cooking lessons with Michel Cornu, two nights at Chateau Grimaldi, visit to private Hermés museum $46,000 Chalk Hill Winery proprietor Fred Furth successfully fended off challengers to capture the Cessna Citation Mustang Jet - the first jet ever to be auctioned at a charity wine event. Included in the lot was a 6-Liter 2003 Furth proprietary wine and a 6-Liter 2001 Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate Christopher's Cabernet Sauvignon. Auctioneers Fritz Hatton and Ryan Mahan brought down the gavel on a total of $5.039 million at the Imagine 2006 auction. The Cessna Mustang jet and other lots carried purchase reserves that made the net earned for charity approximately $2.5 million. Final accounting will be provided prior to a distribution ceremony later in the fall. The panoramic setting at Jackson Park in the midst of the Bennett Valley appellation highlighted the exclusive Gershwin-themed mid-day event. The indoor riding arena was air-conditioned and draped in off-white to provide an elegant indoor lot preview, reception and display of memorabilia from the Ira and Leonore Gershwin Trusts archives. A gigantic tent on the grounds housed the auction, entertainment and a lunch by Kendall-Jackson chef, Justin Wangler. Among the celebrants at the auction were many familiar faces, including TV and film stars Jane Seymour and her husband producer James Keach, actor Kyle MacLachlan, Olympic-gold and World Champion figure skater Brian Boitano, former San Francisco Forty-Niner president Carmen Policy. Stage and screen star Franc D'Ambrosio performed musical classics throughout the auction afternoon, keeping with the George and Ira Gershwin theme. Marcy and Tommy Smothers participated in Imagine 2006 on Thursday, July 27, with Marcy appearing as the narrator of a free concert for disadvantaged children performed by the Santa Rosa Symphony and Pickle Family Circus. Tommy Smothers also entertained with his infamous yo-yo mastery, which was thoroughly enjoyed by over 1500 school-age children who had been through a curriculum on classical music and performance inspired by the music. Imagine 2006 benefits Sonoma children’s charities including Boys and Girls Club of Windsor, Sonoma Academy Scholarship Fund, Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation, WCC Charitable Foundation, Megan Furth Academy, Bay Area Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, The Children's Village of Sonoma County, Boys & Girls Club of St. Helena and Calistoga, Voice of Youth, and the Russian Arts Foundation Magic of Music Educational Program. Imagine 2006 is co-chaired by Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson of Jackson Family Wines, Peggy and Fred Furth of Chalk Hill Estate, and Bill and Elizabeth Shea. Honorary Co-Chairs for 2006 include Andy & Betty Beckstoffer, Andy & Rachel Berliner, Bill & Lisa Curtis, Ray & Sally Duncan, Tom & Sandra Jordan, John & Nancy Lasseter, Scott & Simone Lutgert, Joe & Jennifer Montana, Jim & Stephanie Pugash, Jonathan & Lillian Stern and Michael & Jean Strunsky. Like wine, food and music, Imagine reaches across boundaries and borders to bring people together. A complete list of Imagine 2006 auction lots may be viewed at www.Imagine2006.com. For more information contact: Monty Sander 707.253.8503 Tom Fuller 707.253.0868 |
