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We glammed up to attend LIFE’s “Wine, Women and Song” benefit Thursday, the 10th Exclusive Wine Dinner and Auction.
The event was given by Lois Pope to benefit the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. Held in the grand ballroom at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, it was complete with beautiful surroundings, beautiful people and some amazing bottles of wine up for auction. Check out our photos of the evening here.
Swirling at Mar-a-Lago, L to R: J. Gwen Berry (Dry), Lynn Kalber (Bold), Libby Volgyes (Sweet) and Jennifer Podis (Earthy). Photo by Meghan McCarthy.
On two long sides of the ballroom were dozens of lots for silent auction. One of the most impressive was a 1975 Petrus Pomerol, and we would love to know who – if anyone – took that home. (We’ll offer to sit in on a taste test, too…)
A live auction was held and, while some lots were passed on (such as those three bottles of Screaming Eagle 1995, 1996, 1997 for $10,000), other bottles found homes. Some highlights:
- Three bottles of 1995 Chateau Haut-Brion, Premier Cru Classe, Pessac; rated 96 points by Robert Parker. Sold for $3,000.
- One bottle of 1947 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port. Sold for $1,000.
- One bottle of 1986 Chateau Petrus, Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac; the 1986 year was one of Parker’s favorite recent vintages in Bordeaux. Sold for $800.
- Two bottles of 1995 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Premier Cru Classe, Pauillac; rated 97 by Parker. Sold for $1,100.
- Three bottles – 1998, 1999 and 2001 years – Screaming Eagle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; this is the rarest of California Super Wines. Sold for $6,500.
From our table to Mar-a-Lago’s table
Thoughts from Sweet:
It’s always gratifying to see familiar friends at a wine event. And by friends, we mean certain wines. We were surprised and proud of ourselves when we found some of our go-to wines being poured during the cocktail hour before the dinner.
We recognized the Artessa Pinot Noir, the Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut Chardonnay and the Folie a Deux Menage a Trois. In addition, they had a lovely fresh rose. As Dry put it, “I’ve never met a rose I didn’t like.”
Being so familiar with these value wines speaks to the universal appeal to good, affordable wines. In addition, we heartily commend the choice of serving an albarino with the salad. It’s possible to get a great albarino under $20, such as the Nessa Albariño 2008 was and will definitely please most palates.
Thoughts from Earthy:
What a supreme treat to get all gussied up and join the exclusive wine dinner and auction at Mar-a-Lago! (We never did find the wine cellar, drat.)
Every aspect of it was exhilarating… from perusing the prestigious bottles of wine in the silent auction (how’s three bottles of 1970 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild valued at $1,200 grab you?), to admiring the bejeweled society set (see Jose Page Two Live’s photos here), to swirling our cocktail dresses on the dance floor.
Even getting a glimpse of some of the ornate and lavish rooms as we walked from entrance to ballroom was jaw-dropping.
Boy, a Swirl Girl sure could get spoiled…
