The Wine Women & Shoes 2010 Silent Auction Items

Read what last year's winners had to say:
"We have made a few wine trips to California and Italy.
The best winery visits we have ever had were those like
made available through the WW&S auctions."

There's No Place Like Napa

After they click their heels three times, three lucky couples will find themselves among the emerald vines of Napa where they'll enjoy a 3-night stay* at the stunning Solage Calistoga Resort just north of St. Helena. They'll melt when they take in the breathtaking views from Howell Mountain - their stop for an exclusive tasting of current and past releases from Lail Vineyards with 4th generation vintner, Robin Lail, at her family's estate. Follow the yellow brick road down to Yountville for an exploration of "a life aesthetic" when you and your guests taste the critically-acclaimed wines of Blackbird Vineyards at Ma(i)sonry where art, antiques, and wine culminate in a historic stone building with outdoor sculpture garden. No courage needed to experience one of the best, which is what you'll taste at the Wagner Family's exquisite estate - home of the beloved Caymus and Mer Soleil wines. No lions or tigers, but, oh my! The adventure continues within the caves as you tour the historic Flora Springs Winery and Estate vineyards followed by a tasting of current releases on the outdoor pavilion overlooking the valley. You're definitely not in Sarasota anymore!

*Rooms available Sunday-Thursday; holidays excluded.

Estimated Value: $5,895
Opening Bid: $3,500
BUY IT NOW: $7,500

Bidding for this item ends midnight October 23 after the Winemaker Dinners.

Saint Life Grand?

Attention all Pinot Noir enthusiasts! It will be a sinfully delicious getaway to the beloved Napa Valley wine country for two (2) couples when they hang their hats in the Winery Guesthouse for an overnight stay at Saintsbury, where you'll savor Pinot Noirs in a private tasting on the property. The cowboys and cowgirls will get to say giddyup as they hop on the four-wheel-drive "Mule" at The Terraces for a private vineyard tour where you'll ogle spectacular panoramic views and you just might get spooked as they share the history of the "ghost" winery built in 1885. Foodies will swoon for a lesson in the making of balsamic vinegar complete with a tasting of a 12-year-old barrel sample, before sitting down to a private wine tasting.

Estimate Value: $950
Opening Bid: $500
BUY IT NOW: $1200

Bidding for this item ends midnight October 23 after the Winemaker Dinners.

Put the "I Know" in Pinot

Wine enthusiasts are invited on a vine-to-barrel-to-bottle journey in breathtaking Oregon wine country. Two (2) couples will stay for 2 nights at A Tuscan Villa, a European style Bed & Breakfast located in the historical district of McMinnville. Your tasting adventure through the Willamette Valley will include four fabulous stops at some of the most respected and beloved wineries beginning with a tour of Bethel Heights - originally planted as a walnut grove in 1909 - where you'll sample nibbles of local cheese, sausage, and salmon paté while sipping wines. Next you'll venture through the sustainable three-level gravity winery at Penner-Ash where you'll sample critically acclaimed Pinots, Syrahs, and Viogners followed by a delicious lunch. It's no wonder REX HILL has been named winery of the year with their winning combination of exceptional wines and exquisite grounds - the quintessential site for swirling. Finally, gaze upon the 110-acre vineyard named for their four daughters at The Four Graces where owners Steve and Paula Black will open their doors to your group in the Red Hills of Dundee - home of spectacular views you'll never forget.

Estimated Value: $1,750
Opening Bid: $1,200
Buy IT NOW: $2,200

Bidding for this item ends midnight October 23 after the Winemaker Dinners.

Swirls Just Wanna Have Fun

It may be an unlucky number, but thirteen (13) fortunate guests will thank their lucky stars as they gather in your home for an exclusive tasting of Quintessential Wines. As Quintessential's very own Megan Cushman coaches you in the secrets of sniffing and swirling, you'll quickly become wine-tasting pros. Megan will lead you on a "tour" through some of the best wine regions in the world including "best buy" wines from from Argentina, Australia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, and the USA. She'll select 6 wines that will pair perfectly with you palettes. Before you know it, you'll be effortlessly tossing around words like viscosity, balance and complexity. They say home is where the heart is...we say it's where the wine is!

Estimated Value: $700
Opening Bid: $400
BUY IT NOW: $900

Bidding for this item ends midnight October 23 after the Winemaker Dinners.

Top Chef

Get ready to hang up your apron, kick up your feet and fork over your kitchen and watch someone else do all the work because you'll be getting your very own personal sommelier and gourmet chef for a lunch or dinner* you and your friends will never forget! In the comfort of home, a party of 8 will be saying sip, sip, hooray with a case of wine and plenty of wisdom to boot courtesy of Jane Hyttel with Cameron Hughes who will verse you in varietals before Chef Andrea Bozzolo of Andrea's Restaurant will take you on a gastronomic journey through his native Italy. He'll bring a slice of Piedmont into your Sarasota home wher you might get a taste of his pasta made from scratch or his freshest catch of the day. Viva Italia!
*Fridays and Saturdays excluded; subject to availability.

Estimated Value: $1,100
Opening Bid: $600
BUY IT NOW: $1,400

Bidding for this item ends midnight October 23 after the Winemaker Dinners.

One Year's Membership at The Founder's Club The Founder's Club is a private, traditional Golf and Social Club Community, expresses and encourages communion with nature and connection to the timeless traditions of Scottish links golf with its Signature Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed course. Nestled amid 700 acres of verdant natural landscape, The Founders Club Offers such amenities as a golf shop, dining, fitness and other facilities of Golf Hall, the magnificent clubhouse. The lucky bidder of this one-year Invitational Golf Membership will enjoy unlimited greens for free golfing year-round for one year as well as social privileges at Sarasota's premier private club. This family membership includes all deposits, minimums, etc. Guest is responsible for $25 cart fee per round. Estimate Value: $16,000 Opening Bid: $2,500 BUY IT NOW: $16,000 Bidding for this item ends midnight October 23 after the Winemaker Dinners

		M.K. Designs necklace designed uniquely for Wine Women & Shoes Handcrafted from 14k white gold, this necklace is a creation of natural white and colored diamonds. There is a lot of flash and sparkle as it boasts the following un-enhanced colored diamonds: grey blue, green, orangish-brown, cognac, pink and yellow. To add even more drama, the 14K white gold, hand-carved star features a gorgeous Montana sapphire in the center accented by four enhanced blue diamonds. Unique, beautiful and one-of-a-kind! Estimated Value: $4600 Opening Bid: $2,000 BUY IT NOW: $5,800 Bidding for this item will close October 22 at the end of the Signature Luncheon.

Custom Made Tube Chick Sculpture 6' tall and 3 feet wide, red "Tube Chick" sculpture custom-made for Wine Women & Shes. Pop Art/Modern handmade by artist Scott Gerber, composed of double powder-coated aluminum. Holding a handbag, wearing a custom necklace from jewelry maker Chris Voelker. Estimated Value: $1,500 Opening Bid: $700 BUY IT NOW:  $1,900 Bidding for this item will close October 22 at the end of the Signature Luncheon.

Dinner for 8 at Michael's On East

One of only 10 restaurants in America inducted into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame, the award winning Michael's on East's cutting edge cuisine and plush decor will create an unparalleled evening for you and your guests.

Enjoy a delicious dinner courtesy of Michael Klauber, to include appetizer, salad, entrée & dessert with handpicked wine. Restrictions: Valid Monday through Thursday only, holidays excluded; service and gratuity not included.

Estimated Value: $800
Opening Bid: $400
BUY IT NOW: $1,000

Bidding for this item ends midnight October 23 after the Winemaker Dinners.

Bottle Lots

Lail Vineyards 3L 2008 Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvée

Estimated Value: $560        Opening Bid: $200

Quintessential Wines 1.5L Two Angels Cabernet

Estimated Value $60         Opening Bid:$25

Blackbird Vineyards 1.5L hand-etched 2006 Blackbird Vineyards "illustration" Proprietary Red wine in a branded wooden box

Estimated Value $250         Opening Bid: $100

Cameron Hughes 6 pack of Cameron Hughes Wines

Estimated Value $120         Opening Bid: $50

Saintsbury 1.5L 2007 Brown Ranch Pinot Noir

Estimated Value $160         Opening Bid: $75

Wines from the Wagner Family 3L Conundrum

Estimated Value $90         Opening Bid: $40

The Four Graces 3L The Four Graces Black Family Estate Pinot Noir

Estimated Value $350         Opening Bid: $150

Flora Springs 3L 2007 Trilogy

Estimated Value $800         Opening Bid: $250

Layer Cake gift set of 4 wines plus 4 Riedel glasses

Estimated Value $175         Opening Bid: $75

The Terraces gift set of wines- Chardonnay, Petite Sirah & Zinfandel

Estimated Value $125         Opening Bid: $60

NW Core Collection 1.5L 2007 Bethel Heights Casteel Reserve Pinot Noir

Estimated Value $135         Opening Bid: $65

NW Core Collection 1.5L 2007 Penner Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Estimated Value $100         Opening Bid: $50

Rex Hill gift set of Pinot Noir:
    2006 Rex Hill Jacobs Hart Pinot Noir
    2006 Rex Hill Reserve Pinot Noir
    2007 Rex Hill Dundee Hills Pinot Noir

Estimated Value $135         Opening Bid: $65

Bidding for the Bottle Lots will end midnight October 23 after the Winemaker Dinners.