The Peninsula Education Foundation held its first wine auction fundraiser, The Wine Event, in an effort to keep pace with its increased pledge of $3 million to PVPUSD schools.
The Jan. 19 sold-out event at the home of Lisa and Chuck Noski was an intimate evening limited to 100 guests that provided a unique experience with California’s premier winemaker Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena Winery. The Wine Event featured a five-course meal by Chez Melange Restaurant designed to accompany tastings of Chateau Montelena’s wines, some of which are no longer available to the public, including the highly coveted 1997, 2003 and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon.
“This is one of the California wineries that won the famous Judgment of Paris in 1976, which put Napa on the map and changed the way the world regarded California wines,” said The Wine Event planning committee’s Bob Fullerton, who shared the microphone with committee member and auctioneer, Adam Carroll.
Bo Barrett, a Palos Verdes Peninsula ‘native son’, captivated the guests throughout the evening with winemaking stories and insights into the wines being tasted, always displaying his signature humility and humor. His wife and renowned winemaker Heidi Barrett (Screaming Eagle, La Sirena, Barrett & Barrett) was a welcome addition to the guest list.
Michael Franks and Robert Bell of Chez Melange Restaurant created a sumptuous menu to pair with each wine including eggplant Lasagne with lamb ragout and a béchamel sauce; Asian marinated duck with pomegranate fried rice; and Wagyu American Kobe Rib Eye with cheddar mashed potatoes.
The silent and live auctions featured difficult to obtain wines including a four bottle set of Italian Gaja Barbaresco and Chateau Montelena’s sought-after 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as priceless experiences including a 2-night stay at Chateau Montelena’s private 3 bedroom residence and a 5-night stay at a 3 bedroom villa at the Beach Village at the Hotel Del Coronado.
“We are lucky to have such good friends of PEF who worked hard on this first annual event to raise funds for the sake of our schools and our children,” said the Foundation’s Executive Director Andrea Sala. She noted that The Wine Event would not have been possible without the generous help and donations from PEF’s President Deidre Manns and VP of Fundraising Amy Ricci; the Noski family; Robert Kraak of Classic Tents; Chez Melange Restaurant; Michelle and Bob Fullerton; Susan and Adam Carroll; Tori and Jim Schladen; The Colonna Family, Rich Severa, Diane and Davis Moore, Dave Klein and several other devoted supporters. Chateau Montelena’s generous donations and the gift of Bo Barrett’s time made the event a special experience for all attending this first annual event.
The Wine Event raised in excess of $50,000, although donations are still needed as the Foundation stretches to raise $3 million this school year for critical programs like engineering and music; as well as key school staff, including teaching positions, academic counselors and College & Career Center staff in the Palos Verdes Peninsula public schools.
For more information, call 310-378-2278 or visit www.pvpef.org.
