Dear Editor, Community-spirited volunteers joined forces with
good-hearted vintners and local restaurants to culminate in the
best ever South Valley Wine Auction. This seventh annual event
rallied volunteers from Live Oak and Sobrato high schools as well
as Britton and Murphy middle schools. They catered to more than 300
wine and food enthusiasts at the fundraiser for track and cross
country programs at the four Morgan Hill public schools.
Dear Editor,
Community-spirited volunteers joined forces with good-hearted vintners and local restaurants to culminate in the best ever South Valley Wine Auction. This seventh annual event rallied volunteers from Live Oak and Sobrato high schools as well as Britton and Murphy middle schools. They catered to more than 300 wine and food enthusiasts at the fundraiser for track and cross country programs at the four Morgan Hill public schools.
Attendees were treated to a walk on a red carpet leading from the lobby to the spacious Hiram Morgan Hill Room. Along the way they were warmly greeted by sponsorship chairman Mayor Dennis Kennedy and Jon Hatakeyama, the event’s founder, who also chairs the event’s main sponsor, the South Valley Athletic Foundation. Displays of team and individual photos of past and present cross country and track teams of the four schools adorned the hallway.
John and Wendy Campos devised an improved cashier area that made for quicker and smoother-than-ever ticket and silent auction payment. Donna Mott and her decoration crew displayed a true labor of love in transforming this location. The eyes, mind and palate were treated to a delightfully warm party atmosphere with balloon arches and some 30 floral table pieces provided by Kajiko Nursery. They integrated into an inviting country French theme complete with lanterns, floral tablecloths and an array of cheery, colorful decorative pieces.
Event emcee, radio personality Jona Denz-Hamilton got the evening off to a lively start. Patrons milled around the silent auction tables bidding on such goodies as ski packages, kayaking in Monterey Bay, a romantic lunch at Maurizio’s and a great selection of wines. The aroma of all varieties of foods tempted them – teriyaki skewered braised albacore (Rosy’s at the Beach), shellfish-dominated Spanish paella (Le Bistro), barbecue tri-tip (Trail Dust), and an abundance of the tastes of Italy. There was torellini pomodoro (Mama Mia’s), bruschetta ala Romana (Giancarlo’s), and rotellini de Parma (Maurizio’s).
Asian cuisine was represented by a presentation from Mr. Hongs of spring rolls, Chinese chicken salad and yummy pot stickers. Golden Oak supplied seafood lovers with both shrimp and crab cakes in addition to the offerings of grilled shrimp skewers, paella and fish cakes. Joining the barbecue chicken, Italian sausage, barbecue ribs supplied by other restaurants, Mushrooms Restaurant checked in with, what else – an assorted variety of delicious stuffed mushrooms.
For the wine aficionado, more than 60 different wines were offered by 20 vintners. The familiar offerings from local wineries Guglielmo, Pedrizzetti, Fortino, Solis, Hecker Pass Winery, Sarah’s Vineyard and Kirigin were very well received. Especially noted were the 2001 Sarah’s Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir and the Guglielmo Sangiovese. Wine enthusiasts welcomed newcomers Caviglia Winery, Windy Oaks, J. Lohr Vineyards and Pessagno Winery.
Pessagno Hames Valley Port won rave reviews from the crowd, and many were buzzing about Windy Oak’s Reserve Pinot Noir, gold medal winner of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Great offerings were also sampled from Mirrasou, Rancho Zabaco and Louis Martini with very favorable reviews of the Borelli Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from Gallo of Sonoma, and the MacMurray Ranch Russian River Pinot Noir. The attendees commented on the fine job which Rick Lieninger and Hatakeyama did of drawing these fine restaurants and wineries to this event.
The climax of the evening was the exciting live auction, operated by veteran auctioneers Pete DeVries and V.G. “Sleepy” Avant of Salinas. Dressed in black tuxedos with black Stetsons, these two “cowboys” worked the crowd with the help of auction emcee and next Morgan Hill Rotary President, Lou Mirviss. The auction began with a “Sideways” package including a private tour at Sunstone Winery and ended with a double magnum signed by the three Guglielmo brothers, a selection of Guglielmo Italian variety wines and tickets to their 80th Anniversary celebration. In between were items including wines from Katherine Kennedy, Turley, Beringer Bancroft Ranch/Howell Mountain single vineyard Cabernets, and much more. (Go to www.svwineauction.org for a complete list of auction items offered.)
Jona wrapped the evening up by thanking the crowd for its wonderful generosity. Auctioneers Pete and “Sleepy” chimed in that they volunteered their time in exchange for eating and drinking such great offerings, enjoying the company of really nice people, getting to dress up like cowboys and having the opportunity to help raise funds for student/athletes – over $50,000. Next year’s event takes place April 28. Sign up early, it will surely be a sell out.
Jona Denz-Hamilton and Jon Hatakeyama,
Morgan Hill
