Vintage Affaire wine auction to benefit Peninsula Center for the Blind Vintage Affaire wine auction to benefit Peninsula Center for the Blind (July 06, 2005)

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Lifestyles Editor

On Sunday, July 10, the Vintage Affaire garden party/wine auction, will be once again be held in the gardens of Jane and Bill Walsh in Atherton. This will be the fifth time the Walshes have opened their estate to benefit the Peninsula Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The event, which includes a silent auction with wine tasting and hors d'oeuvre pairings, and a live auction followed by a sunset supper in the garden, begins at 2:30 p.m.

The first Vintage Affaire in 1982, held at the Fleishhacker estate in Woodside, drew 100 guests and raised $65,000. Last year's Vintage Affaire raised $425,000 to benefit the Peninsula Center for the Blind.

Four award-winning chefs will create hors d'oeuvres to be served with a special wine varietal during the tasting. The chefs are Mark Sullivan of the Village Pub in Woodside, Clyde Griesbach of Lavanda in Palo Alto, Bart Hosmer of Parcel 104 in Santa Clara, and consulting chef Tim Benham of Bogie's restaurant in San Mateo.

The live auction begins at 4:30 p.m. with auctioneers Fritz Hatton and Ursula Hermacinski. Some of the wine lots to be auctioned include:

** California cabernet sauvignon and meritage from Harlan, Shafer, Matanzas Creek, Ridge, Spottswoode and Joseph Phelps.

** Kistler chardonnay, including Cuvee Cathleen and Kistler vineyards.

** Red bordeaux wines from Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and Chateau Margaux.

** Bollinger 1995 Grand Annee champagne.

Tour tasting events from Arietta, Vineyard 29, Provenance, Baldacci and others, some including overnight stays, will also be up for auction. Along with getaways to private homes, there will be a stay at Calistoga Ranch, the newest member of the Auberge Resorts group.

As they have done since the mid-1990s, McCall Associates of San Francisco will keep guests well fed during the afternoon and evening event. After an assortment of small plates during the auction, they will serve a sunset sit-down supper.

Nancye Beck is president of the Peninsula Center for the Blind Foundation board. Her officers include: Dianne Brinson, Vanessa Roach, Suzi Tinsley, Pam Williams, Janet Bennett, Marilyn Pratt, Kathy Pendleton, Gunilla Follett, Charlotte Horton, Lori Furusho, Carter Perez, Martha Barry, Martha Edwards, Suznne Legallet and Pam Brandin.

Tickets are $200 per person. For more information about Vintage Affaire, visit www.vintageaffaire.org. To order tickets, call Peninsula Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired at 858-0202.

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