Roving Reporter, Bruce L. 
with bid paddle #1

By George Heritier

The Hospice du Rhône Barrel Auction was held at about noon on Saturday with an al fresco luncheon that focused on the wines and foods of Santa Barbara County.  Proceeds from the auction benefit the Hospice of San Luis Obispo County, a non-profit organization that is “committed to the dignity of the human experience, provides volunteer support, education, and counseling to those living with a life threatening or terminal illness, their families, and to those seeking support through the grief process.”  The auction, modeled after Burgundy's Hospice du Beaune, offered up donated barrels of Rhône wine from thirty wineries. 

After lunch, one Mo Vedre entertained the crowd with a little Rhône-related rap.  Apparently, Gangster Moe Vedre AKA Chris Gross AKA Chairman Moe has no plans to consult counsel regarding the matter.  

Then, auctioneer David Reynolds presided over an auction of 30 one-of-a-kind barrel lots.  Mr. Reynolds was most entertaining, and led the audience through two hours of bidding on these extremely rare lots, which total about twenty cases each. 

Proceeds totaled $150,000.  The first lot of the day, the 1999 Alban Grenache, Seymour Vineyard went to none other than Brad Harrington of West Coast Wine Network fame, for $5,200.  The high bid of the day was $14,000, made anonymously, for the 1999 Turley Alban Vineyard Roussanne.

On to the Grand Tasting

            © Gang of Pour