Whom You Know: BLACKBIRD VINEYARDS COLLECTIVELY RAISES NEARLY $170,000 AT 30TH ANNUAL AUCTION NAPA VALLEY

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

BLACKBIRD VINEYARDS COLLECTIVELY RAISES NEARLY $170,000 AT 30TH ANNUAL AUCTION NAPA VALLEY

We at Whom You Know love our wine and we love our auctions, so why not put them together? They did in Napa Valley, and they included an upcoming feature in Champagne Wishes: Blackbird Vineyards!   In its fourth year of participation in Auction Napa Valley, Blackbird Vineyards collectively raised almost $170,000 with its Live, Barrel and E-Auction lots, contributing to the Auction’s $8.5 million total. The result is over three times what Blackbird raised in the 2009 Auction, demonstrating both increasing enthusiasm for Blackbird Vineyards wines and new optimism for the luxury wine industry and the recovering economy as a whole.

For the 30^th year, wine lovers descended on Napa the first weekend of June for what has become one of the largest wine-focused charity auctions in the world. Blackbird Vineyards participated in every facet of the four-day event culminating in Saturday's live auction and dinner at Meadowood Resort. The auction’s final tally of $8.5 million benefits healthcare, youth services, and affordable housing non-profits in the Napa Valley and represents an increase of 49% from the 2009 Auction.

The Blackbird Barrel lot ranked among the most prized wines amongst more than 100 barrels auctioned. "We are thrilled to, once again, have a top finish amongst wines sold, as it further validates our belief that world-class Merlot can rival Napa Valley Cabernets. We are also pleased to have been able to create a one-of-a-kind experience in the Live Auction that resonated with auction attendees," noted Blackbird Vineyards Proprietor Michael Polenske.

Blackbird Vineyards' Live lot #36 - referred to as ‘Simply The Best’ - afforded its winner a four-year vertical collection of double magnums (12 Litres) from Blackbird Vineyards; two nights' accommodations for three couples at San Francisco’s Mandarin Oriental, one night’s accommodations for six at Yountville’s eco-luxurious Bardessono, dinner for six at both Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley art and fine furnishings gallery and Vita by Laura Cunningham, Napa Valley’s highly anticipated Sicilian restaurant opening in 2011.

The highlight of the Live Lot #36 includes the rare opportunity to contribute to the Robb Report’s 2011 ‘Car of The Year’ issue, test driving many of the world’s finest automobiles and providing feedback alongside the country’s leading automotive critics.  Highlights include an overnight stay for two at Meadowood Napa Valley, site of the two-day program, and the opportunity to judge cars such as those featured in previous ‘Car of the Year’ issues, including the Allard J2X, Aston Martin DBS, Bentley Continental, Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, Audi R8, BMW X6, Jaguar XKR, Lamborghini Murcielago, Spyker C8, and Porsche Panamera Turbo.

To kick off Auction Napa Valley, Blackbird Vineyards hosted two back-to-back dinners on Thursday June 3^rd and Friday June 4^th at Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley - "a life aesthetic." Guests had the opportunity to tour the sculpture garden and peruse the art, design, and furnishings gallery. Patrons enjoyed a five-course meal prepared by chefs from the New York, Miami, and San Francisco's Mandarin Oriental hotels, paired with the wines of Blackbird Vineyards and Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley.

Over the past five years, Blackbird has raised nearly $700,000 for Napa County health, youth, and low-income housing non-profit organizations, including an exclusive dual hemisphere live lot in 2009 and packages with XOJET in 2007 and 2008, along with a collection of CHANEL Fine Jewelry. This was the first year Blackbird collaborated with Robb Report. “We are truly grateful to our global partners who are simply invaluable when it comes to raising money for these worthy charities,” concludes Polenske.

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