Sonoma County Wine Auction raised over $5.7M
Sonoma County Wine Auction raised more than $5.7 million with $2.5 million dedicated to rebuilding Sonoma County focused on housing solutions. The live auction, attended by about 350 people, was held at La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard outside Windsor.
Auction chairman George Hamel Jr., co-vintner of Sonoma’s Hamel Family Wines, noted that many of those who lost their homes in Sonoma County - more than 5,300 were destroyed in the fires - “are still in temporary housing, couch surfing or living with relatives,” Hamel said. “Today we had the chance to do something special to help them.”
Bidders raised $2.1 million for the Fund-A-Need offering, with several vintners rounding it up to $2.5 million. Donations came in a range of price points, from $300,000 down to $500. The contributions will be distributed through the Emergency Relief Fund of the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation.
In addition to wildfire relief, the auction supports more than 70 local charities, including health and human services and environmental preservation.
Auction sponsors stated that including the weekend results, the Sonoma County Wine Auction has raised nearly $35 million to help fund charitable organizations focusing on literacy, education, arts and culture, environment and health and human services since its inception.
By comparison, Auction Napa Valley had a weekend take of $13.4 million in June. The Naples Winter Wine Festival raised more than $15 million in January at its live auction.
The weekend of events began with a festive and symbolic kickoff at Paradise Ridge Winery in Santa Rosa, the only winery in Sonoma County that took a direct and near-total hit in fires.
“We lost almost all our buildings,” said Walter Byck, who co-founded Paradise Ridge in 1994. “I’m 86 and luckily now I have something to do in my old age. I’m going to rebuild this place and build it even better.”
The Press Democrat contributed to this report.
