Sonoma County Vintners’ Auction Raises Nearly $1 Million for Literacy Initiatives

By / Events, Sonoma, Sonoma County, Wine

Alexandra O’Gorman receives leadership award to kick off Sonoma County Wine Celebration event. 

Alexandra O’Gorman, vice president of community relations at Foley Family Wines & Spirits (lead photo), cut loose for a moment before receiving the 2025 Wine Business Leadership Award. The presentation was part of the Sonoma County Wine Celebration’s live auction festivities on September 20th. The auction, held at Cline Family Cellars in Sonoma, raised just under $1 million to benefit children’s literacy initiatives. The chief beneficiary, the K-3 Proficiency Project, has achieved demonstrable success in increasing literacy among Sonoma County elementary school students.

Below follow some photos and observations adapted from recent social media posts.

Auctioneer in action.
Whirling dervish auctioneer John Curley provided verve and drama.
Two women at auction.
Sonoma County Vintners interim executive director Emilie Eliason stands with the organization’s Dana Macaulay as the auction begins.
Shot of three people with label shots of their wines.
The wineries of Brandon Muller (Brandon Gregory), Laura Kirk Lee (Knights Bridge Winery), and Drew Johnson (Linked Vineyards) teamed up for one of the most sought-after lots, the Ultimate Knights Valley Experience.
Woman holding wine bottle, three addition bottle shots.
Clockwise from top left, Chenoweth Wines Green Valley Pinot Noir (held by owner-winemaker Amy Chenoweth); Kobler Estate’s Cuvée of the River Grenache; Williams Selyem’s Westside Neighbors Pinot Noir; and Merry Edwards Winery’s Sauvignon Blanc.
Two men at wine event.
Winemaker Kyle Altamore, left, and vineyard director Brad Kurtz of Gloria Ferrer with their impressive 2021 Sencilla sparkling wine, 100% Chardonnay with zero dosage (no added sugar).
Five women of the Sonoma County wine world.
From left, five wine-business ladies who matter: journalist and wine academic Liz Thach; Medlock Ames president Julie Rothberg; Aldina Vineyards / Bacchus Landing’s Monica Lopez, Alexandra O’Gorman; and Emily Martin of Jetsetting Fashionista fame.
Woman pours wine for man.
Meghan Delzell of Sangiacomo Wines pours a terrific Sonoma Coast Chardonnay for the Wine Business Institute’s Damien Wilson shortly before he presented O’Gorman’s award.
Man holds a bottle of wine while another man looks on.
Ryan Prichard holds a rosé he made for Three Sticks Wines; Art Murray at Flambeaux Wine, Prichard’s other gig, looks on. I was lucky to be seated at the wineries’ joint table—so many good sips.
Woman raising auction paddle.
Brittainy Haraszthy (Three Sticks business development) raises her paddle high for the final Fund-A-Need auction lot.

The Sonoma County Vintners Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sonoma County Vintners, hosts the annual Sonoma County Wine Celebration. In its various incarnations, the live auction has raised more than $44 million for local charities over the years.

1 thought on “Sonoma County Vintners’ Auction Raises Nearly $1 Million for Literacy Initiatives”

  1. Pingback: It’s a Families Affair at Bacchus Landing – Daniel Mangin

Comments are closed.

Scroll to Top