Sonoma Wine Harvest Auction raises $1.4 million

(PD) - A scantily clad Samba troupe, costumed in feathers and jewels and little else, created a colorful backdrop for a record-breaking afternoon of bidding at Sunday's Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction. Spiraling bids climbed to $1.4 million, up from last year's take of $750,000.

About 600 people gathered under the Magnolia trees at Kenwood's Chateau St. Jean taking in the Brazilian carnival scene - the Copacabana Bar, the drummers and the colorful masks. The Sonoma Samba theme, the free-flowing bubbly and the auction's trademark hijinks, set the stage for a lively afternoon of bidding.

The most suspenseful lot was the Fund-the-Future offering, where a group of bidders pooled their efforts to raise $691,250 to raise local literacy rates. The total dwarfs last year's special needs lot at $264,000.

The big spenders included the Sonoma County vintners of Kendall-Jackson Vineyard Estates, E&J Gallo Winery and the Cline Cellars, among a score of individual bidders.

Katie Jackson, who contributed $75,000, said, “My family cares a lot about education and children. My mom (Barbara Banke) is really devoted to this. She really wanted to make this contribution.”

Matt Gallo, whose family also contributed $75,000, said “taking care of literacy is an important issue so that's where our family's focus is today.”

The second highest lot sold for $125,000, with bidders eager for a chance to go to the “Denim and Diamonds” party at MacMurray Ranch in Healdsburg. Kate MacMurray and the Gallo family members plan to be on hand with a feast grilled by sausage pro Bruce Aidells.