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November
16, 2007 Tyler, Texas.
One of the most popular fundraisers in East Texas has announced
its 2008 headliners and event dates. The Off the Vine Wine
Gala & Auction has proven to be a hot commodity since
its inception, perpetually selling out in advance, and raising
record breaking amounts for charity. The event is set for
Saturday, April 5, 2008 at the Grand Tent on Mewbourne Field
on the All Saints Episcopal School campus in Tyler.
A stellar
lineup of honorary wine ambassadors from Oregon, Washington,
and California will co-host the event and present the wines
for the gala dinner. Honorary ambassadors represent high
profile wine brands and the winemaker or owner will be in
attendance to greet guests and talk about their wines. Ken
Wright, winemaker/owner of Ken Wright Cellars will act as
Oregon ambassador and Eric Dunham, winemaker of Dunham Cellars
will represent Washington. Grgich Hills, the California ambassador,
is represented by proprietor Violet Grgich.
Mark
Kiffin, chef/owner of The Compound Restaurant in Santa Fe,
New Mexico is the featured celebrity chef. Kiffin received
the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southwest in 2005,
and has worked, written, and taught in the restaurant industry
for more than 25 years. In 2004, he was featured at the Masters
of Food & Wine event in Carmel, California, and in 2002
participated in the James Beard Foundation’s Awards
Reception, the culinary equivalent of the Oscars.
David
Reynolds of Reynolds & Buckley Auctioneers will preside
over the live auction festivities. Reynolds is nationally
renowned for his showmanship, witty repartee, and ability
to extract large sums of money for charity.
The event
lineup for the 2008 event includes the following activities:
Wine
Dinners Saturday, March 29 in Dallas, and Thursday,
April 3 in Tyler
New
this year are a limited number of intimate wine dinners
at fine
dining establishments. Each dinner seats 10-20 persons depending
upon the venue and is hosted by representatives from two
wine brands wineries. A special menu will be created by the
restaurant’s executive chef to complement the featured
wines.
Ambassadors Reception
Saturday, April 5
This
exclusive opportunity for sponsors and key patrons is limited
to 100 persons who will mingle with the honorary wine ambassadors
and sample their reserve or premium wines prior to the gala
and auction.
Off
the Vine Wine Gala & Auction Saturday, April
5
The
main event—complete with a grand wine tasting, multi-course
menu prepared by the celebrity chef, ambassador wines, silent,
super silent, and live auctions. The wines to be auctioned
are donated by private collectors, winemakers, retailers,
and distributors. The quality and importance are superb and
many are often not available to the public. Unique and exciting
travel packages are also offered.
The
Off the Vine Wine Gala & Auction is attended by an
affluent clientele of wine enthusiasts, business, civic,
and social
leaders. Proceeds from the event help two beneficiaries.
The East Texas Crisis Center provides safety, shelter, counseling
and education for victims of family violence and sexual assault
and is committed to creating public awareness to reduce violence
in the community. The original beneficiary, All Saints Episcopal
School, is an independent college preparatory school focusing
on excellence in academics, fine arts, and athletics.
Sponsorships are now
available. For more information, contact Judy Anderson, Wine
Gala Director, at 800-601-8123 or by email at offthevine@comcast.net.
More information can be found on the web site at www.offthevinetyler.com.
See
a pdf version of our Press Release
See
a copy of our 2006 Texas Monthly advertisment
2006
Off the Vine Wine Gala and Auction Photos
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