Auction to benefit high school
Written by Julie Ryan | | news@toledofreepress.comThe third annual Knight of the Vine, a benefit for St. Francis de Sales High School, will take place March 10 at Real Seafood Company.
Tom McHugh, executive vice president and general manager of Hiedelberg Distributing Company, said he has helped with the event since it began in 2007.
“For any wine lover or food lover, it’s a must,” he said.
Eric Arsenault, wine and spirits director for Mainstreet Ventures, said the event began when Michael Gibbons, president of Ann Arbor’s Mainstreet Ventures Inc., discussed with Rev. Ron Olszewski, president of St. Francis, how to benefit the school’s scholarship program. Knight of the Vine was created, and the event’s proceeds benefit the school’s endowment fund.
Arsenault has been organizing the auction lots for Knight of the Vine since December and said they toned down the auction this year to focus on fine wines and wine-related items.
Guests can bid on several trips including a Livermore Valley Golf and Wine Getaway, a week in Paris with Champagne Tours and an Amador Wine Vacation hosted by Terra d’Oro Winery.
“We garner specific lots of rare wines to be auctioned off,” McHugh said. “They are coming from all around the world. We have fabulous brunellos from Italy, some great French bordeaux and we have some cult classics from Napa Valley.”
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at Real Seafood Company. Mainstreet Ventures Executive Chef Simon Pesusich created a four-course meal, including pan- roasted Maine scallops and grilled filet medallions.
The auction will follow immediately at Real Seafood Co. with WTOL-11’s Jerry Anderson as auctioneer.
Arsenault said they plan to conclude the event at 9 p.m.
Each year the event has raised about $100,000, Arsenault said, an amount they hope to raise this year for St. Francis.
Tickets are $100 per person. Call (734) 668-6062 or e-mail dmcleod@msventures.net for information and reservations.
