Palm Beach Wine Auction Uncorks Winning Bid for Area Children

PALM BEACH WINE AUCTION UNCORKS WINNING BID FOR AREA CHILDREN Seventh annual event benefits Kravis Center education programs

(February 5, 2014: PALM BEACH, Fla.) With paddles shaped like wine goblets, guests found it easy to raise a glass for the spirited bidding during the Seventh Annual Palm Beach Wine Auction on Thursday, January 30 at The Mar-a-Lago Club, Palm Beach. Nearly 200 arts patrons and oenophiles toasted to record-breaking funds for the award-winning education programs at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts as they indulged in an evening of fine wines and a star-studded menu.

Under the direction of Michael Troise, retired Auction Director for NY Wines/Christie's Fine and Rare Wine Department and an expert with more than 40 years’ experience tasting, buying and brokering wines, the live auction segment of the evening nearly doubled funds raised from last year. Vintner participants included Beau Vigne, Buccella, Carte Blanche, Colgin Cellars, Domaine Serene, Krug, Rémy Martin, Rudd Oakville Estate, The Stag’s Leap division of Chateau Ste. Michelle, and Antinori's Antica Winery among others.

While the catalogue listed 42 rare and coveted auction lots that would rival the finest wine auctions throughout the country, there were two unlisted lots which drew the evening’s highest bids.

Generously donated on the spot by House of Krug President and CEO, Margareth Henriquez, the “Dinner of the Century” was snapped up by a lucky bidder at $65,000. Featuring a magnificent eight-course meal prepared by a chef in the bidder’s home and paired with Krug’s finest vintages, the item set the bar for an evening of high bidding.

Rivaling the record-setting Krug “Dinner of the Century” lot was an unlisted chance for guests to “bid” on underwriting opportunities to send area youth to the Kravis Center’s popular camps and other education programs. More than $55,000 in heart-felt donations came as guests waived their goblet paddles all in the name of “the kids.”

“It is often said that our most valuable resource is our children,” said Palm Beach Wine Auction chairman and founder, Ted Mandes, as he welcomed guests to the evening’s benefit. “At the Kravis Center, the development and education of future audiences has always been top priority. This commitment enables us to provide area students with a wide variety of outstanding programs and performances that nurture their interest in the performing arts and, at the same time, help them develop skills in areas such as teamwork, self-esteem, problem solving and creativity.”

The Kravis Center’s education programs have served nearly 2 million children of all ages over the past 21 years. In its seventh year, the Palm Beach Wine Auction event has uncorked more than $2 million to provide children in our region with an introduction to the arts, which they might not otherwise have had an opportunity to experience.

In addition to the cases and magnums of rare and very special wines, other offerings resulted in bidding battles as well. Included was a stunning Rolex Yacht-Master II donated by Mayors Jewelers-- a steal at $15,000, and for her, an 18kt yellow gold Peretti bone cuff and cabochon green jade ring donated by Tiffany & Co. went for $12,500. Other popular lots included such incredible experiences as tours and tastings at Colgin Cellars IX Estate in the heart of Napa Valley; a never-to-forget day with three unbelievable VIP stops, courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Rudd Vineyards and Pride Mountain Vineyards; a Louis XIII Connoisseur’s Journey with an overnight stay to experience the King of Cognacs at its birthplace; the best of Montreal package for four – with three night stays and five-star service at the Omni Mont Royal Hotel; and dinner for 12 at the James Beard House in New York City, among others.

Following a reception featuring Krug Grande Cuvée champagne and charcuterie by the Chicago Omni Hotel’s Joshua Hasho, five delicious courses gave guests an opportunity to peruse the auction catalogue and strategize bidding on their favorite lots.

Once seated, an amuse bouche of sunchoke tart with house smoked Verlasso salmon, pink peppercorn crème fraîche and micro arugula was presented by Chef Douglas Katz from Cleveland’s Fire Food and Drink, The Katz Club Diner and Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

A first course of Hamachi with muscadine jus, celery, pine nuts and nasturtium was prepared by Chef Andrew Carmellini, from The Dutch at W South Beach. Chef Zach Bell from Boca Raton’s Addison Reserve Country Club and Chef Lindsay Autry double teamed to present the second course of open blue cobia with flavors of Provence and gratin of celery root and Florida stone crab.

The entrée of melt-in-your-mouth porcini-crusted prime beef tenderloin and burgundy braised beef cheek was accompanied by truffle parsnip purée, candied fennel, cipollini and confit tomato, and presented by master of the house, The Mar-a-Lago Club’s own Chef Aaron Fuller.

Chef Hasho then returned to prepare a cheese course of Mindoro smoked gorgonzola profiterole, triple cream panna cotta, beet variations and ursinus major aged sheep’s milk with charred cashew butter.

Dessert featured another at-home Mar-a-Lago Club superstar with Chef Graham Randall overseeing the pistachio and white chocolate pavé with crème chantilly, strawberry gelato and pistachio sabayon. As guests departed, they received another sweet send-off at the valet station from Chef Randall with fried cinnamon doughnuts and a shot of warm chocolate bisque.

The chef maestros for the evening were joined by a sommelier team including Jenny Benzie, Kirk Baker, Trish Sawyer and Café Chardonnay’s Brian Chamis.

Palm Beach Wine Auction sponsors included Madeline and Roderic Fink, Barbara and Jerome Golden, Steven M. Gottlieb and Laurie Raber-Gottlieb, Chris N. Kritikos, Stacey and Mark Levy, Rochelle and Craig Menin with Menin Development, Inc., Jane M. Mitchell, Park Foundation, PNC Wealth Management, Lewis M. Schott, Laurie Silvers and Mitchell Rubenstein, Tiffany & Co. (Gina and Jeff Sabean), Classical South Florida Radio and Gulfstream Media publications.

Guests at the seventh annual event included Nicole and Cressman Bronson, Steve Brown and Jamie Stern, Steve Colanero and Mariann Tenaglia, Amos Dare and Maria Marchetti, Yves de Launay, Lesley and Brad Dubner, Margaret and Ed Dudnyk, Ed Fischer, Henni and John Kessler, Judy Mitchell, Monika and John Preston, Justus Reid, Carolyn and Richard Sloane, Rusty Staub, Agnes and Jeffrey Stoops, Kathryn and Leo Vecellio, Lesley and Bruce Zafran.

“One cannot imagine how splendid the Palm Beach Wine Auction is until you experience it yourself,” summed up Krug’s Margareth Henriquez. “It is friendly, dynamic and full of enthusiastic guests, held in a beautiful setting, with elegance at every turn. I feel honored and privileged to be here sharing Krug, and will continue to support it with passion and enthusiasm. The Palm Beach Wine Auction is such a beautiful project, where you can feel excitement among friends, who gather with one objective: To give to a unique charity – the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts – which is inspiring creativity in children for our future world.”

For information about the Palm Beach Wine Auction, please visit www.PalmBeachWineAuction.org or reach the Kravis Center events team at (561) 651-4320.