Empire News
September 6, 1999
A cause to wine and dine
$600,000 from event for chanties
By Mary Fricker

BOYES HOT SPRINGS–Grape grower Ron Vitt paid $10,000 at the annual Sonoma Valley charity wine auction Sunday to have dinner with comedian-winery owner Tommy Smothers and his wife. To understand why, you have to go back 25 years.

That was when he and friends went to see a Smothers Brothers show at the Troubador in Los Angeles, and his friend laughed so hard she stopped the show. Literally.

Dick and Tommy Smothers stood there, while she laughed, Vitt said.

"I was really embarrassed," said Vitt, who owns Solstice Vineyard, about miles west of Sonoma. So the auction was a chance to make amends and have some fun. "I'm going to bring her to the dinner," he chuckled.

Vitt's winning bid and those ior 80 other items donated by Sonoma Valley wineries raised an estimated $359,000 Sunday afternoon at~the eiahtuhour auction at the Sonoma Mission Inn. Last year, the auction raised about $354,000.

Sunday's top bid was $28,000, by Charles Henning and Sonjay Varna representing the Sonoma Mission Inn, for 183 bottles of Sonoma Valley wine heralded by national wine publications.

The auction was the highlight of the seventh annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction, a three-day celebration of wine, food, charity and humor, where laughter is always the main ingredient. The final take for the weekend, about 55 percent of which will go to Sonoma Valley charities after costs are covered, is expected to be about $600,000.

"It's such a great way to support the community," said Vitt, who likes the fact that the auction is not "pretentious."

The fun-loving atmosphere is intentional. Each year organizers pick a wacky theme–this year it was an alien invasion, with aliens proclaiming "Take me to your liter"–and heavily discourage normal behavior.

"This is not the refined atmosphere of Sotheby's" auctioneer David Reynolds warred the crowd of 650, who sat under a white tent, with fans at the edge to ease the heat and bison roasting nearby on a spit. Reynolds said he would personally levy a $100 fine on anyone found guilty of spousal restraint–that is, restraining a spouse from bidding.

Nothing to worry about there. The bidding flowed freely, as did the wine.

Carolyn and Bob Stone, owners of World Products, a Sonoma electronic parts distributor, placed the winning bid of $4,000 for a Journey to the Center of Pinot. In "earthlings" language, that meant a trip in a four-wheeler with a Hanzell Vineyards guide to the "most significant" pinot noir grower and producer in each of four Sonoma County regions.

"It's an adventure people couldn't do themselves," said Ben Sessions, a Hanzell Vineyards employee sporting his best safari jacket and hat. "They would need someone on the inside."

For Carolyn Stone, the $4,000 will do double duty because she is president of the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, which was one of the nonprofit beneficiaries of the weekend.

"This is the largest money maker of our year," said Stone, who wore the day's favorite costume, alien antenna. "We buy up-to-date high-tech equipment for the hospital that.they otherwise could not afford."

The charitable purpose of the auction was a driving force behind much the bidding Sunday.

One highlight of the afternoon may have been an impromptue auction driven by auctioneer Reynolds–with absolutely noth ing as a prize, except feeling good about helping the less fortunate.

"Some of you may not be familiar with the Sonoma Community Health Center," said Michael Nugent, who is on the board of directors of the center, "but it is known very well to people who couldn't afford to be here."

Nugent asked the crowd to help the health center provide important equipment, education and prescription drugs for children, seniors, vineyard workers and others who couldn't otherwise afford the care – and almost everyone in the audience raised a paddle to bid. The result: $18,100.

Nurse Patricia Talbot, director of the health center, was in tears after the bidding, as was Nugent.

"You can't believe how much good this money will do," he said huskily.

The benefitting charities are the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Club, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, V.neyard Workers Servicds, La Luz Center and El Nido Teen Center.