PONCHO Wine Auction at 20

Ken Hatch, Mark & Nancy Pellegrino, Cathi Hatch

Last night, the Sheraton Seattle was the site of the PONCHO 20th International Wine Auction for the Arts.  Almost every past Wine Auction Chairman was in attendance to celebrate the anniversary and to be introduced on stage in a similar parade as PONCHO past Presidents have been introduced in the past.  The parade of past Wine Auction Chairmen included Carl Behnke, founding Wine Auction Chairman, as well as Chris Kosmos, Bob Stevens, Bill Schallert, Ron Elgin, Bob Lucurell, Greg Lill, Jack Sowle, Jay Schiering, Mel Sturman, Dan Heidt, Tom Captain, Doug True, Bob Parks, Renee Behnke, Laurie Corliss, Stacy Lill, Kathleen Shoup and current chair, Tamara Wilson.

Paul Birkeland, Evelyn Zabo, Diane Birkeland

The Honorary Vintner was Dan Duckhorn and he donated wine and auction packages as well as purchased multiple items at the auction.  He spoke briefly and talked about Duckhorn Wine Company, which he founded in 1976 as being the 40th winery established in Napa Valley and that he was able to purchase an acre of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards for around $450 which today would sell for around $250,000.

We were seated with Ben Smith of Cadence Winery, who provided the barrel tasting and the wine that filled the commemorative magnums.  He shared a bottle of his current 2007 Bel Canto release at our table which was my favorite wine we tasted last evening.

Having served as PONCHO President in 1998-99 and having been on the PONCHO Board for 25 years, it was fun to see so many familiar faces volunteering and working the greeting line as well as many wine aficionados, PONCHO Board members and arts supporters attending as patrons including current PONCHO President, Evelyn Zabo, PONCHO Executive Director, Lorna Kneeland, Diane & Paul Birkeland, Nancy & Mark Pellegrino, Leslie & Dale Chihuly, Mitzi & John Morris, Connie Blumenthal, Joe Whinney, Robin du Brin & Douglas Howe, Janet True, Joan & Bob Hibbs, Annette Parks, Steve Kutz & Courtney Womack, Bonnie Elgin, Stacy & Doug King, Peggy Reddy & Christopher Chan, Jake Kosseff, Sheila Otter, Gary Roshak, plus several hundred others.

Family friend, Eliza Flug-Coburn purchased the Italian Wine Tasting Dinner at our home which was ably marketed by Mistress of Ceremonies Extraordinaire, Patti Payne.  The dinner is a Procurement Partner item for Pacific Northwest Ballet.  Ken and I are looking forward to the dinner along with co-donors, Michele & Dan Heidt, Jake Kosseff and Chef Philip Mihalski of Nell's Restaurant.

Now, on to the ARCS fundraiser tonight . . . Shaking it Up for Science in SoDo!