auction items

Catch a sneak preview of a few of our amazing one-of-a kind live auction items designed especially for this event:

Wine Buyer for a Day
Anyone who loves wine thinks Ray Zemke has the best job in the world - tasting a couple hundred wines a week, picking out the winners, traveling to wineries around the world ... you know, stressful stuff. Well, here's your chance to do his job for a day. Starting at 9 a.m., you'll be meeting with wine reps, tasting and deciding what is a keeper and what is not. After a quick break for lunch, it's back to tasting and reviewing what wines stay on our shelves and what goes away. The work day ends at 5 p.m. but there's a bit of "homework" to be done as well. Of course Ray will help you get through the day. We suggest a designated driver. The winner will coordinate with Ray's schedule for a Tuesday or Thursday date. Date must be selected before January 1, 2012 and fulfilled before August 30, 2012.
Donated by Ray Zemke, The Cellars Wines & Spirits
Value: Priceless

The Saint Paul Hotel Ultimate Romance Package
You and your sweetheart have never had it better with this offering from The Saint Paul Hotel! This historic, luxury four-diamond hotel is offering an evening of elegance and relaxation for you and your special guest. When you arrive for your memorable night, the valet will whisk your car to its complimentary valet space. Your deluxe room will be ready with tuxedo strawberries, champagne and fresh flowers. After your dinner at The St. Paul Grill with your $100 certificate, you may retreat to your room to don your two plush bathrobes complimentary of The Saint Paul Hotel (that you may take home with you the next day). Breakfast in bed will be served the following morning, but you will want to relax and enjoy the hotel and room for a while longer, as your 2:00 p.m. late checkout gives you more time with your sweetie. Must be used by November 4, 2012.
Donated by The Saint Paul Hotel
Value: $300

Private Island Villa: Getaway to the Grenadines
Nothing says relaxation like the Caribbean, Bequia.  Just seven square miles in size, but with a real life of its own, it’s an exquisite Caribbean jewel. You and five of your friends or family will soak up the sun at Seacliff, where covered terrace walkways link the living spaces and open onto a sun-kissed deck with an infinity edge pool. Views are calendar-perfect and you're a short drive from Bequia's glorious, palm-fringed, undeveloped white sand beaches where more than ten people can constitute a crowd. Yachting, snorkeling and windsurfing fill a Bequia day.  A choice of nightlife awaits you, too - gourmet cuisine, or delicious local cooking; elegant cocktails or sundowners in a local bar; or a wonderfully romantic candlelit dinner. Three bedrooms sleep six: one king, one queen, two twins, and four bathrooms.  A gift certificate for $500 towards travel is included. Available beginning July 2012 for ten days; dates will be mutually agreed upon.  Sorry, no Christmas, New Year’s or Easter stays available.
Donated by Michael and Kerry D’Amato
Value:  $6,500

Ritz-Carleton Resort Trip to Dove Mountain Arizona
Escape the snow and travel to one of Tucson’s finest luxury hotels, set in the high Sonoran Desert in the scenic town of Marana.  Enjoy a 3-night stay for two (deluxe room) at this breathtaking hotel in complete serenity in this exclusive desert setting.  Savor the unforgettable spa, with eco-holistic therapies designed around the elements of wood, fire, earth, and water honoring the indigenous outdoor Sonoran lifestyle.  Experience indoor and outdoor treatment rooms or an oversized treatment suite for couples complete with a private fireplace, courtyard, and outdoor serenity pool. Enjoy a round of golf at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf course, which hosts world-class competitions featuring the world’s top players.  Hike or bike on trails winding through spectacular mountain terrain. A $200 gift certificate is included for The Ritz-Carleton’s Core Kitchen and Wine Bar (it has an adjoining Citrus Grove!), a spa service or golf round, and a $500 gift certificate towards travel is included.  Valid until October 26, 2012. Recipient must make reservations at least 30 days in advance and be aware that black-out dates may apply if the hotel is fully booked during the selected period.
Donated by Vanguard Travel and Teresa Morrow
Value:  $2,000

Progressive Dinner Experience with Ray Zemke of The Cellars Wines & Spirits and Chefs Russell Klein, Meritage; Scott Pampuch, Minnesota Valley Country Club; and, Marshall Paulsen, Birchwood Cafe
This is a one-of-a-kind experience! Our own celebrity chefs will be waiting for you and your guests to arrive at their restaurants via limousine service and they will be prepared to amaze you with a special course of their favorite dish or a new creation inspired by a seasonal ingredient. Ray Zemke of The Cellars Wines & Spirits and Chef Scott Pampuch will ride along with your group serving as your private tour guide, to take a sneak peek into the kitchens of these culinary masters and glean insider tips on reading menus and pairing wines. Please note that you must schedule your mutually agreed upon date (preferably a Tuesday or Thursday) between the chefs and Ray Zemke by January 1, 2012, for up to 6 people. Limousine will pick up and return your party to the donor’s home.
Donated by Chefs Russell Klein, Meritage; Scott Pampuch, Minnesota Valley Country Club; Marshall Paulsen, BirchwoodCafe, and, Ray Zemke, The Cellars Wines & Spirits
Value: Priceless

Start Your Wine Collection Tonight!
We’ll start your new wine collection out with the exceptional wines from The Cellars Wines & Spirits that have been featured this evening: 2005 Gloria Ferrer Blanc De Blancs (CA) 2009 Corte Sant'Alda Soave Vigne Di Mezzane (IT) 2009 Michel Delhommeau Muscadet Sur Lie Cuvee Harmonie (FR) 2008 Santa Barbara Winery Santa Ynez Syrah (CA) Ronco Blanchis Pinot Grigio (IT) 2009 Zuccardi Q Series Malbec (AR) 2004 La Stoppa Vigna del Volta Malvasia Passito (IT)
Donated by The Cellars Wines & Spirits
Value: $200

Chef for a Day
Chef Erick Harcey changed the Twin Cities dining experience forever with the chef-as-server model.  Now you can join him for an experience you will long remember. Share a half-day with Erick as you travel with him to a local farm where he carefully chooses product, all the while learning about his passion for sustainable cooking. Then back to his kitchen for a hands-on experience in helping to prepare a delicacy or two, ending with dinner and wine at his cozy and critically acclaimed restaurant, Victory 44 in Minneapolis.  The winner will coordinate with Erick’s schedule. Up to 2 people only please.
Donated by Erick Harcey, Victory 44
Value: Priceless