News

The special 10^th anniversary year of this important Naples event was a huge success, with more than $600,000 raised in support of the Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Naples. Held at the Ritz-Carlton, 1000 supporters attended the main luncheon, bidding on more than 150 silent auction items. Carte Blanche was an event patron and donated two magnums (2008 Cabernet and 2008 Proprietary Red) for the men’s live auction held at the Old Collier Golf Club. We are very honored to have helped raise $8,500 for this important cause. The Miami Dolphins’ Victor Rivas Rivers was the keynote speaker at the main event, speaking on his triumph over childhood abuse and adversity.

One of the highlights of the Tampa art scene, the second annual Margaret Acheson Stuart Society Auction raised nearly $190,000 for the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg. Carte Blanche was a patron, corporate sponsor, and attended the event, donating a Carte Blanche wine dinner as one auction item, in addition to a Legacy Wine Lot from Nick’s personal collection, raising $10,500 for the museum. Festivities began in the Marly Room and the museum’s lavish gardens, and then moved into the gorgeous glass conservatory for a seated dinner from Michael’s on East in Sarasota.  St. Pete native Fred Schrader and his wife, Carol, of Napa’s Schrader Cellars were in attendance, as auctioneer Ben Ferdinand rallied a crowd of national wine lovers.  Check it out.

We visited our friends in North Carolina for the Triangle Wine Experience weekend, participating in a Carte Blanche/Bure Family Wines dinner lot at the home of Eliza Kraft Olander, chairperson of the Triangle Wine Experience.  The auction item included dinner for 40 by Chef Nina Psarros of Nina’s Ristorante, with Carolina Hurricanes hockey stars Ron Francis, Eric Staal, Cam Ward, Jeff Skinner and Brandon Sutter, complemented by wine pairings from Carte Blanche and Val Bure’s Bure Family Wines, all held at the home of Eliza Craft Olander. The evening  was an elegant affair and huge success, raising $50,000 for the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center. Now in its 20^th year, this philanthropic weekend attracts national wine aficionados.