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Fine wines to sparkle at Vintage Affaire

by Jane Knoerle

Fine wines, great food, and a worthy cause will be celebrated on Saturday, June 27, when the 27th annual Vintage Affaire comes to wine lovers a few weeks earlier than in past years.

The reason? The committee hopes to attract wine lovers who might be on vacation during July and August.

The event, benefiting Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and to be held on a private estate in Atherton, will also begin a little later in the day. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., guests will stroll the grounds during a silent auction and sample wines poured by 25 California wineries.

The wines will be paired with hors d'oeuvres prepared byAlessandro Cartumini of Quattro Restaurant at Four Seasons Silicon Valley; Daniel Patino of Michael Mina's Arcadia in San Jose; Xavier Salomon of the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay; and Cal Stamenov of Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley.

The hors d'oeuvres range from duck ravioli with mango, nectarine and candied walnuts by Chef Cartumini, to seared day boat scallops with passion fruit and cauliflower by Chef Patino.

Music will be provided by the Magnolia Jazz Band.

Among the California vintners who will be pouring their wines for the tasting and supper are Duckhorn Vineyards, Ridge Vineyards, Stags Leap Wine Cellars and Mumm Napa.

The live auction begins at 5:30 p.m., an hour later than last year, with auctioneers Fritz Hatton and Daniel Donahoe.

Auction highlights include a 10-day Mediterranean cruise in a penthouse suite aboard the Regatta, part of the Oceana Cruises' fleet. The winning bidder will also have the services of a personal butler. The item is valued at $25,000.

Also featured are a getaway at the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Kona coast of Hawaii with golf and spa treatments, and a "Great Gatsby" cocktail party for 100 guests in a private Atherton garden.

The Vintage Affaire invitation lists such wine lots as two magnums of 2000 Harlan Estate cabernet sauvignon, a double magnum of 1989 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, and a magnum of Pol Roger and Company Champagne 2000.

As they have done since the mid-1990s, McCall Associates of San Francisco will keep guests well fed during the evening. During the auction they will be serving platters of antipasti and crostini. Dinner, to be served after the auction, will feature beef two ways — filet mignon and braised short rib — fingerling potatoes, and spring vegetables. Dessert will be sticky toffee pudding and espresso creme with lemon cookies.

Stephanie von Thaden of Atherton is the chairman of this year's Vintage Affaire. Serving with her on the Vista Center Foundation Board are Pat Dunbar, Dave Heppberger, Martha Edwards, Bridget Madigan, Grant Giske, Suzanne Legallet, Susan Gregory, Jan Woolsey, Vanessa Roach, Michele Mandell, Martha Kambe, Debbie Eastburn, Trish Moxon, Pam Brandin, and Bruce Fielding.

Last year's Vintage Affaire raised $320,000. Since 1983, nearly $6 million has been raised to assist blind and low-vision clients and their families.

Tickets to Vintage Affaire are $300. To receive an invitation, call Vista Center at 858-0202, or visit the Vintage Affaire Web site at www.vintageaffaire.org.