BLACKBIRD VINEYARDS, CHANEL FINE JEWELRY COLLECTION, AND XOJET SHINE AT THE 2008 AUCTION NAPA VALLEY
Blackbird Vineyards collectively raises over $330,000 and its 10-case 2006 vintage barrel auction lot places 5th out of 128 Napa wineries
(Saint Helena, CA) - Wine lovers lifted their glasses and paddles this past weekend to raise an unprecedented $10.35 million at Auction Napa Valley - The American Wine Classic. The auction is one of the largest wine-focused charity auctions in the world and directly benefits healthcare, youth services, and affordable housing non-profits in the Napa Valley.
In its second year of participation in the auction, Blackbird Vineyards collectively raised an extraordinary $332,000. "We are thrilled by the enthusiastic support we received from auction attendees," states Blackbird Vineyards Proprietor Michael Polenske. "Our top tier barrel auction results over the last three years are a testament to the quality of Blackbird's terroir and to the talents of our winemaking team." Polenske continues, "the generosity of our strategic partners and friends allow us to create unobtainable auction lots that garner extraordinary bidding." The coveted lots from Blackbird that were on the auction block included a wine and fashion sojourn to Paris and the Napa Valley that raised $300,000 making it the 4th highest grossing lot, a 10-case lot of the 2006 vintage of Blackbird that had an impressive 5th place finish - selling for $30,250, and an E-Auction lot of one hand-etched 3.0L of 2005 Blackbird Vineyards Napa Valley Proprietary Red that sold for $2,100.
The brilliant wine and fashion excursion will begin with private jet transportation from New York to Paris on XOJET - the leading provider of global business aviation services. In Paris, guests will attend the spring 2009 CHANEL fashion show, receive a personal tour of the rarely seen, private Coco CHANEL apartment, and take pleasure in accommodations at the exclusive Plaza Athénéé Paris. In the Napa Valley, the winner will experience an unforgettable evening at Ma(i)sonry, the highly anticipated wine and design gallery opening in Yountville later this summer. An elegant dinner for eight will be prepared by a top Bay Area chef and enjoyed in a setting that is sophisticated, yet evokes the feel of a private home. Their wine and fashion journey is complete with a three year vertical collection of 2003 - 2005 double magnums from Blackbird Vineyards.
"Auction," as it is known, kicked off on Thursday night, June 5, 2008, and the valley was abuzz with vintner soirées. Blackbird Vineyards hosted a garden party along with Departures, Mandarin Oriental Hotels, Steinway Lyngdorf, and 30 leading Napa vintners at the Beaulieu Gardens estate in Rutherford.
The following evening, Blackbird Vineyards along with CHANEL Fine Jewelry Collection and Solstice Collection hosted 30 guests at "Indian Gap" - Solstice Collection's newest luxury estate in Napa Valley. Dinner was prepared by celebrated Executive Chef Mark Gordon from Terzo in San Francisco and paired alongside Blackbird Vineyards wines. This elegant gathering sparkled with a private viewing of the latest CHANEL Fine Jewelry Collection.
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