In this our 30th “Year of Firsts” we’ve added our FIRST Napa Valley Wine Auction.
Jim & Carol smiling and serving at Rubicon Estates
Held at the fabled Rubicon Estate owned by Francis Ford Coppola and his talented family, it was a scene right out of Hollywood. All of the stars of Napa Valley culinary and viticulture scene were on stage.
And we played our bit part!
Our setting was “The Terrace” and the “E-bid Hall” on the second floor of the massive stone winery founded in the 1800s known then as Inglenook.
Shaded by a 150 year old Redwood tree, the Terrace was lined by a legion of legendary chefs, caterers and vintners. In the center was a grand piano on a Persian carpet, its keys sending familiar notes to the heavens.
The weather gods had been exceedingly kind by allowing the morning fog to linger- sparing us from the sun’s glare and heat.
Our duties were as simple as they were clear: we were to do anything the chefs, caterers, vintners asked, with a smile and knowledge certain that we ALL were there to serve the guests. We were a team.
Our team was captained by our dear friend Arthur Roosa, a veteran volunteer of the Wine Auction. His second in command was the lovely Keiko, his wife and we were joined by Arthur’s sister Donna from Phoenix. The team was filled out by Charles from Angwin and Laura from St Helena.
Team Roosa: Arthur, Keiko, Carol, Laura & Donna. The Electronic Bids "Cave" is behind.
We worked beside two other teams: one on the Terrace and one team of techies helping with the Electronic Auction in the Barrel room. This cave-like hall was lined with vintners and purveyors with its center glowing with laptops set to take their “E” bids.
This was the first day of the famed event, which over the last 30 years has raised almost $100 MILLION for local charity. The auctioneers would wring a near record breaking $8.51 million out of the guests at Meadowood Resort the next day.
These generous guests were as easy to serve as our Beazley House guests. They were polite and grateful as we whisked away their napkins and nibbles on silver trays. Even after hours of wine tasting NO one appeared tipsy.
Rubicon's fountain was the center piece for the 30th Napa Valley Wine Auction
Perhaps the setting of the romantic Rubicon Estate with its splashing fountains and gardens demanded decorum.
However, given the copious quantities of wine consumed along with culinary delicacies, even a saint would have been tempted to over indulge.
And there was serious money being bid, even before the next day’s “main event.” Usually money spoils a good time, ask any working girl.
But in the end it was the “paradise effect” that probably mellowed the crowds: that feeling that they had died and gone to Heaven.
That and they were a classy crowd.
