Since horse-and-buggy days, folks in the relatively isolated Santa Ynez Valley have looked out for one another, sharing tools, helping to build neighbors’ barns, and tending those who were ill. That collective spirit hasn’t changed, and the Valley continues to thrive as a cooperative community ready to rally behind those in need.
Located in Los Olivos, St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church is recognized as a vital part of the community. Home to a vibrant Episcopal congregation and preschool, it also serves as a meeting place for the region’s Jewish congregation.
Dozens of local organizations—including the FoodBank, Toastmasters, Pacific Pride Foundation, and Alcoholics Anonymous—hold meetings and events at the church, and although donations are welcome, there’s never a charge for using the facility. Local musicians and the Valley Community Theatre rehearse in the Parish Hall, while the church supports the arts by hosting chamber and summer music series, as well as exhibitions of photography and painting.
According to the church’s rector, the Rev. Randall C.K. Day, “We embrace a spacious Christianity where there is room for absolutely everyone.”
To help fund St. Mark’s good works, a trio of local vintners—Steve Pepe (owner of Clos Pepe Vineyards), Richard Harris (owner of Calzada Ridge), and Brooks Firestone (owner of Curtis Winery)—decided to stage a benefit for the church. Their brainstorms, which naturally swirled around wine, resulted in launching the first-ever Cellar Classic: An Auction of Rare and Fine Wines, slated for Sunday, Aug. 1.
“We wanted to do something different and unusual to help the church in these difficult times,” said event co-chair Steve Pepe, “because it does serve as a community center for Los Olivos and the surrounding areas. And we said, ‘Why don’t we do a wine auction, and start pulling some of the older stuff out of our cellars?’”
All long-time collectors, they brought out some extraordinary wines for Cellar Classics, which features both live and silent auctions. Dozens of other community members have also come forth with liquid treasures from their own wine cellars.
“There have been at least 50 donations,” Pepe revealed, “and interestingly, they’ve mostly come from non-parishioners. They tell me it’s because of all the community stuff the church does.
“One fellow donated an outstanding case of 1988 Pichon Lalande [a celebrated Bordeaux],” he continued, “and said, ‘I’m not religious, but I read about what you guys do and thought this would be a good place for my wine and a good organization to support.’
“I’ve been amazed,” Pepe admitted. “People have been calling us, instead of us chasing them down. The purpose is to aid St. Mark’s, because it’s a community center, and I think the donations are a recognition of that. People are voting with their cellars, you might say.”
The live auction, which will be called by John Glines of Los Alamos, includes 30 lots, none of them from local wineries. With the exception of a few, such as a 1993 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, from Napa, and a vertical of six Cabernet Sauvignons from Washington State’s Quilceda Creek, most of the wines hail from France or Italy.
The most expensive single bottle up for grabs is a 1947 Chateau Pétrus, one of the most famous Merlot-based wines in the world. Wine guru Robert Parker awarded the Pomerol beauty—estimated to have another 17 years of aging potential—a perfect 100 points for its amazing fragrance, richness, and extracted fruit.
“The second most expensive is the 1947 Chateau Cheval Blanc,” Pepe said, “which on everybody’s list would be one of the top three wines of the 20th century. Both Parker and Michael Broadbent rave about what an extraordinary, unusual wine it is.”
Between bids, Cellar Classics guests can fortify themselves by nibbling on passed hors d’oeuvres, such as seared ahi tuna, beef tenderloin, cheese, and cucumber-melon soup. In addition, there will be live entertainment and a number of local wineries on hand to keep glasses filled.
A silent auction featuring both local and imported wines, wine-related gifts, and vacation packages will remain underway throughout the event. Bid on a wine country picnic by J. Woeste and Café Quackenbush, an alfresco luncheon with Global Gardens, or a pizza party for 12 at Clos Pepe Vineyards, among other tempting lots.
Over the years, organizers have staged many wine auctions in the Santa Ynez Valley, but Cellar Classics is the first to feature rare and imported wines. Convivial fun for a community cause, the event will not only help St. Mark’s support the Valley’s vibrant collective spirit, it also promises to be a memorable party.
K. Reka Badger’s always ready to help a community cause. She can be reached at rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 5, 2010.