Gala Raises ~$225,000 for Bard
VANCOUVER, BC (February 26, 2018) — The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction kicked off the 40th Vancouver International Wine Festival on February 24 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver with a spectacular evening of wine and food, topped by a thrilling live auction. Live and silent auctions raised $205,000, while the sold-out raffle for two Delta One International Business Class tickets, donated by Delta Air Lines, raised an additional $20,000. Net proceeds of this annual fundraiser benefit charitable partner Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.
“The Gala was absolutely marvelous and all of us at Bard say a heartfelt thank you to those who attended, and the team that created it,” said Christopher Gaze, artistic director of Bard on the Beach. “The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver provided a truly dramatic and elegant backdrop. The wonderful chair of the Gala, Stephanie Hungerford, along with MC Chris Gailus of Global BC, made sure the night was great fun. It was everything a successful Gala should be – full of laughter, excitement, superb wines and an exquisite gourmet menu. The funds raised will do remarkable things for our Bard Education programs and I’m so thrilled that this generous support will help us reach thousands of young people across British Columbia.”
The sold-out gala began with a sparkling Cava reception and an opportunity to bid on a fantastic range of wines in the One Bid auction. Following the reception, guests savoured nine spectacular wines paired with five inventive courses created by the Fairmont’s executive chef, Cameron Ballendine, that took guests on a culinary journey to the Iberian Peninsula.
Throughout dinner, guests were able to place their bids using electronic tablets on silent auction lots of unique and rare wines, while Master of Ceremonies Chris Gailus kept the evening flowing. During the dinner, Jana Maclagan, past Gala chair, hosted the exciting Live Auction, which featured once-in-a-lifetime wine lots and spectacular packages.
Live Auction bidding proved so competitive that several lots sold twice, including a dinner for 10 at the Vancouver Club with Christopher Gaze and members of the Bard Company for $6,000 each; and the Sip & Savour weekend in the Okanagan at Vanessa Vineyard and Spirit Ridge Resort for $9,000 and $8,000. A last-minute donation from the floor of a private jet to a Seattle Seahawks game plus dinner for two went for $6,500, while Whistler’s Bearfoot Bistro stepped up with a Champagne and Caviar dinner for 10 that raised more than $10,000. In total, the live and silent auctions raised nearly $205,000. The sold-out raffle for two Delta One International Business Class tickets, donated by Delta Air Lines, raised an additional $20,000.
“The energy at Saturday’s Bacchanalia Gala was nothing short of exhilarating,” said Stephanie Hungerford, chair of the Bacchanalia Gala committee. “The fantastic partnership between the Vancouver International Wine Festival and Bard on the Beach is rare and wonderful. Together, the two organizations help raise money for Bard’s educational programs, which I believe would make Shakespeare and Bacchus very proud!”
Net proceeds from the 2018 festival, contributed to Bard on the Beach, will be announced at VIWF’s fiscal year-end and in conjunction with the opening of the Bard on the Beach season in June. The 2019 Bacchanalia Gala is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2019.
Bacchanalia Gala Dinner Wines:
Juvé y Camps Reserva de la Familia Brut Nature Cava 2014, Penedès, Spain
Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016, California, USA
Jean-Luc Colombo Amour de Dieu Condrieu 2016, Rhône Valley, France
François Martenot Chartron et Trébuchet La Chapelle Pouilly-Fuissé 2016, Burgundy, France
La Crema Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir 2015, Oregon, USA
Vivanco Colección 4 Varietales Rioja 2014, La Rioja, Spain
Suvla Single Vineyard Bozokbag Reserve Syrah 2011, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina
Bodegas Tridente Rejón Tempranillo 2014, Castilla y León, Spain
Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal
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