Jul 28, 2008

Vintage Affaire Peninsula's classic wine benefit

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

The 26th annual Vintage Affaire, a benefit for Palo Alto's Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, was both an elegant garden party and a feast for the eyes and palate. The event, which took a year to produce, featured 32 vintners, six chefs, and 80 live and 120 silent auction lots.

About 500 guests, sitting at brown silk-draped tables with white rose, rosemary and grape leaf centerpieces, once again raised in excess of $400,000 for the center.

Vista Center board president Bruce Fielding called the July 19 event at the Los Altos Hills home of Bob and Susan Wayman "a grand Peninsula tradition." Vintage Affaire provides one-fifth of the Vista Center's annual funding, said center executive director Pam Brandin.

Speaking on behalf of herself and co-president Dana Griffin, Susan Martin said, "We both were very honored to have served as co-presidents (this) year. ... The weather was perfect and the venue was elegant. We are truly blessed to have the dedication of our incredible committee, underwriters, patrons, our loyal guests, pouring vintners, chefs and generous donators."

Chefs Alessandaro Cartumini, Cal Stamenov, Daniel Patino, Xavier Salomon, Christopher Kostow and Robert Holt served delicious bites to accompany the wine tasting and shared their recipes with guests.

Several attendees took home memorable souvenirs: Scott and Bernadette Perry purchased the winning raffle ticket for a Tiffany & Co. sapphire and diamond ladies ring, and John Thompson took home a men's Tiffany Mark stainless steel coupe quartz watch.

Famous auctioneer Fritz Hatton (who only missed the auction the year he got married) and his assistant Daniel Donahoe set a fast pace for the live auction. The two had the distinction of presenting the most expensive auction item ever: a 10-day voyage for two on The World, a luxurious residential sea liner, donated by ResidenSea.

Bill Walsh's family - daughter TJ Arnold and son-in-law Mark Arnold - were the toast of the auction, not only purchasing a wide variety of wines, but also winning a trip to the Point Resort on Upper Saranac Lake in New York State.

Bidding for a dinner at Palo Alto's Chez Annie was so popular auctioneer Hatton sold the auction lot twice. The winners were Robert Hammer and Robert Arminstead and his wife Mona, who was president of the first Vintage Affaire.

High bidders included David Drummond, David and Laura Krane, as well as Ron and Barb Peyton, whom won a trip to the Four Seasons Hualalai Resort on the big island of Hawaii.


"FOR THE KIDS" DINNER BENEFIT

Serena Williams may have had a tough time winning her first match at the Bank of the West Classic against 15-year-old Michelle Larcher De Brito, but Youth Tennis Advantage - a tennis and tutoring program with nine sites in the Bay Area - scored an ace.

"The night was perfect," said Loretta Conway, YTA executive director. "Great weather, exciting tennis and a crowd of generous and dedicated individuals who understand a little yellow ball can, often times, change someone's life for the better."

The 16th annual "For the Kids" dinner on July 16 at Stanford University's Cardinal Plaza attracted 150 guests and raised about $300,000 for YTA's programs. With the help of an anonymous donor, $103,000 was raised to help expand Bear Trax, a tennis and life skills program at the University of California, Berkeley, to a year-round program.

"This year was a landmark for YTA tennis at our Bank of the West reception," said YTA board president Ron Grant. "Next year promises to be even more exciting."

The dinner featured scholar athlete Thai Tu, who is a true success story. When his family emigrated from Vietnam in 1995, Tu joined the YTA program at Lanie College in Oakland at the age of 8, and is now entering U.C.-Berkeley on a full tennis scholarship. Tu, who will be a member of the men's tennis team in the fall, said, "I'm hoping to have a winning record in singles and doubles."

One of the dinner's traditions is the presentation of the Arthur Ashe Award of Excellence. When former YTA board president Mike Skinner presented the award to Tom Steyer for his 15 years with YTA and his philanthropic work focusing on education and the environment, Skinner said Steyer carried out Ashe's ideal of pairing youth with sports.

"We're the only sport using the love system; this organization runs on the love system," Steyer said.

Veteran tennis star Patty Schneyder dropped by the dinner to be interviewed by YTA board member Barry MacKay, of BMK Sports. MacKay asked Schneyder what her thoughts were on playing Williams. Her reply was simple: "We're both ready."

Guests included Pamela Grant, Dick and Anne Gould, Tad and Dianne Taube, L. Jay and Gretchen Tenenbaum, Lisa and Doug Goldman, Richard Goldman, Helena and Jack Hafner, Kat Taylor and U.C.-Berkeley head tennis coach Peter Wright.


Janet Duca Norton's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 255 Constitution Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025 or e-mail society@paloaltodailynews.com.