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September
21, 2000
Winery auction raises $85,000
for farmworker housing
by
Juliane Poirier Locke
Beaulieu Vineyards'
Saturday night centennial gala in San Francisco wrapped up
with a benefit auction that raised about $85,O00–half
of which was donated by B.V. to match auction revenues –
that will go toward the establishment of farmworker housing
in Napa County.
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| Comediam
Jay Leno and auctioneer Dave Reynolds charm the audience
at the Beaulieu Vineyard centennial gala auction that
benefits farmworker housing in Napa County. |
Father
John Brenkle, pastor of the St. Helena Catholic Church and
representing the Farmworker Committee, was I among the winery's
700 guests I attending the dinner and auction held at the
Weston St. Francis, with live entertainment by comedian Jay
Leno.
Leno, during his
comedy routine, referred to Brenkle as the guy who has people
"living on his porch."
Brenkle reported
that during the gala auction, depending on the amount of each
bid, Leno would say, "There's two more people off Father Brenkle's
porch."
According to B.V.
representative Jessica Keefe, "Brenkle gave a great presentation
at the auction about the efforts (to find permanent farmworker
housing) and what he goes through struggling to find funding."
B.V. has reportedly
funded the farmworker cause in the past.
Priscilla Felton,
BV's national director of public relations in St. Helena,
said "Beaulieu reognizes the dire situation that many farmworkers
are facing. We believe it is fitting that during the centennial
gala celebration we give something back to the community without
whom we could not function successfully."
The highest bidder
at the gala auction purchased for $10,000 a lot that included
a chance to be "winemaker for a day" at B.V. and receive a
barrel of cabernet in the deal.
One of the lots
included a tour in Georges de Latour's 1925 T Cadillac, including
lunch at Meadowood. That lot went for $3,600, but the bidder
offered to 3 double the price if he was allowed to bring his
own 1936 Cadillac.
"We said OK," Keefe
explained. "We did not argue with this offer."
Leno, at the last
rninute, threw in a couple of auction items of his own: tickets
to "The Tonight Show" and a signed magnum of 1990 Private
Reserve Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon.
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