Nov. 30, 1996
Master Thespian
Transplanted Brit David Reynolds plays up the theater of charity wine auctions
By Thomas Garrett

David Reynolds was at his parents' home in London one day in 1984 when the telephone rang. His father answered it and then said, "It's someone from Sun Valley who wants you to do an auction in two weeks."

And so Reynolds' career as a charity auctioneer began, based on the recommendation of an American friend who admired Reynolds' knowledge of wine–and his accent. "He thought that anyone with a British accent was a step up," says Reynolds.

Auctioneer David Reynolds has accent, will travel. Photo by John Harding

Born and raised in London, Reynolds attended the University of Manchester and studied politics, philosophy and economics. On his way to Australia in 1975, he ran out of money in Los Angeles. His goal of getting a job in wine retail led him to an intense study session on the subject: "After three days in the L.A. public library and a British accent, I became a connoisseur."

He started at the Wine Merchant of Beverly Hills, where he worked with Randall Grahm, the future creator of Bonny Doon, who Reynolds remembers being "droll." After a retail stint in San Diego and one in San Francisco, he settled in the City by the Bay as a computer programmer who regularly moonlighted as a charity auctioneer.

But then three years ago, Reynolds'priorities changed. "I had a heart attack and decided computer work was too stressful," he says.

Now at age 42, after 12 years on the charity auction circuit, the full-time auctioneer Reynolds is one of the most experienced around, but with a twist: Unlike his counterparts, he has never worked as a commercial auctioneer. "Commercial auctions are too limiting," he says. "l would not be allowed to do what I do. I love raising money for charities."

Reynolds' stage presence is simply an exaggerated version of himself, one with quick yet civilized humor and enormous energy. And that famous accent works wonders, according to Margaret Duckhorn of Duckhorn Vineyards. "Auctions can be confusing with lots of action and noise," she says. "The accent many times takes David's voice out of the realm of background noise and helps people focus."

To help him finesse the crowd during unexpected events–like the power failure that threatened the California Wine Auction in August–Reynolds practices with an improvisational comedy group. He also takes classes in voice, movement, clowning and miming.

"When the audience clicks in, pays attention and is laughing with you and anticipating what will happen next, that's what you're going for," Reynolds says. "It's just a great feeling. Of course, the reverse is hell."

Since the urge to moonlight seems inbred in Reynolds, he also appears as "the wine guy" on a local San Francisco radio talk show. "Basically I talk about what I drank last week," he says. He is also planning his next radio project, a solo show, called "Reynolds'Wine Rap."

Although full of jokes, Reynolds is serious enough about wine to appreciate the unique offerings of the events he presides over. "This year at the Seattle wine auction [PONCHO], there is a complete vertical of every reserve that Mondavi has ever done," he says. "Items like that, kept in perfect condition, can't be found anywhere else."

There are also the odd lots, which often become the most memorable. At the Florida Winefest in April, Reynolds sold two pizzas for $8,000. "It is the theater of the event created which made spending $8,000 on pizza possible, made it make sense," says Reynolds, adding, "but I'm sure they were also great pizzas."