The nation’s longest-running charity wine auction returns as “A Celebration of Wine & Benefit for the Arts”
Ketchum, ID — May 1, 2024 — Sun Valley Museum of Art (SVMoA) announces the 43rd Annual Sun Valley Wine Auction – three event-filled days for connoisseurs of art and lovers of fine wine and food to come together in support of art and arts education in Sun Valley, Idaho, on June 26-28, 2024. The longest-running charity wine auction in the country, the Sun Valley Wine Auction will bring together more than 30 wineries and a dozen chefs to participate in eight Vintner Dinners, multiple talks and tastings, a Gala and Auction, and the River Ranch Wine Walk.
Since its inception in 1981, the Sun Valley Wine Auction has been integral in supporting the Sun Valley Museum of Art and its arts programming in the Wood River Valley and Central Idaho. The Auction’s Paddle Raise for the Arts guarantees that 100% of Blaine County students participate in SVMoA’s arts education programs. These generous donations underwrite free and reduced-cost arts education programming, provide scholarships for students and educators to pursue arts education, and enable SVMoA to serve more than 4,000 K-12 students annually.
“Every year, our extended community gathers to support Sun Valley Museum of Art’s incredible year-round arts and educational programming in the Wood River Valley,” said Jennifer Wells Green, Executive Director of Sun Valley Museum of Art. “This historic event, now in its fourth decade, is a tradition that reminds us of the unmatched generosity of our community and supporters.”
The 2024 Wine Auction chair is Ron Greenspan, who has served as a member of SVMoA’s Board of Directors for six years and been a benefactor of the Museum for over a decade. In addition to supporting the arts in the Wood River Valley community, Ron and his wife, Susan, are consummate oenophiles and collectors of wine who enjoy traveling the country in search of new varietals and wine regions.
“Each year I look forward to reconnecting with friends, many of whom I met for the first time during past years’ Wine Auctions,” said Greenspan. “To those of you attending your first Wine Auction, we extend a special welcome. I trust you will leave with a coterie of new friends who you will revisit year after year.”
“As much as we enjoy these magical three days, we must recognize the worthy cause this Wine Auction supports,” said Greenspan. “Art offers a way to understand our complex world, and foster connection and community. Sun Valley Museum of Art makes this possible for everyone through provocative exhibitions, educational programs at all local schools, adult classes, inspiring speaker events and art scholarships. This vital work is only made possible by your generous participation and support of the Wine Auction.”
Sun Valley Museum of Art is thrilled to announce a partnership with Christie’s for this year’s Wine Auction festivities. Guest Auctioneer Tash Perrin, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s Americas, will lead the Gala’s Charity Auction and Paddle Up and is one of the leading auctioneers specializing in art and charity events globally. An 18-year veteran of the auction block from New York City to Sao Paolo (and now Idaho), she has fielded some of the most famous bids in auction history for things ranging from Sir Elton John’s platform boots to an authentic T. rex skeleton named “Stan,” one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever discovered.
“The partnership with Christie’s at this year’s event is a testament to the legacy of both the auction and the tradition of Sun Valley as a hub for the arts,” said Eliza Young, Wine Auction Manager, SVMoA. “The underlying mission of SVMoA to support the arts and expand access to the arts for all has drawn talents from across the country! We look forward to this year’s new partners, new chefs and new vintners.”
The Sun Valley Wine Auction events include:
- Vintner Dinners – Wednesday, June 26: Held at beautiful private residences throughout the Wood River Valley as well as the Sun Valley Culinary Institute, eight vintner dnners will kick off the festivities. Two vintners will host each dinner, where every dish will be paired with carefully selected wines. Noteworthy chefs this year include James Beard Award Winners Jonathon Sawyer and Courtney Burns; Houston’s favorite chef, Austin Simmons; Food Network star Britt Rescigno; and local Sun Valley culinary masters Scott, Anne, and Lyndsey Mason; Rodrigo Herrera; Sean Temple; Ivan Redus and Sarena Stern. Two vintners will host each dinner, pairing every dish with a carefully selected wine.
- Vintners & Visionaries – Wednesday, June 26: Hosted by Lyndsay and Christopher Lyle, the evening will include wine tastings by distinguished vintners Domaine Della, Hale Mary, and Sandar and Hem. Chef Erik Johnson of Saltbrush Restaurant in Boise will prepare a bountiful spread of wood-fired farm-to-table fare for guests to enjoy as they mingle in the forested Adams Gulch estate. All proceeds from the event will support SVMoA’s arts education programming.
- Talks & Tastings – Thursday, June 27: This year, restaurant and wine bar partners across the Wood River Valley will host wine tastings and art talks throughout the week. Events include intimate wine tastings, talks about the art market and educational lectures.
- Riverside Estate Gala & Auction – Thursday, June 27: For Grand Cru, Premier Cru and Petit Cru Package ticket holders only. Hosted by Wine Auction Chair Ron Greenspan and Co-Chairs Carol Swig and Susan Woodward, the main event will take place along the glorious banks of the Big Wood River. The evening’s festivities will begin with a toast hosted by Whispering Angel, followed by an Idaho-centric field-to-table meal by local Sun Valley culinary legend Steve Ludwig and friends.
- Tash Perrin, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s will lead the highly anticipated auction and Paddle Raise. Following the auction, singer-songwriter Jake Maurer and the country musicians of the Jake Maurer Band will close the evening. An icon of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge stage on Broadway in downtown Nashville, where they have performed five nights a week for the past 16 years, Jake and his band will bring their artistry to the SVMoA stage, paying tribute to arts and education in the Wood River Valley. As acclaimed by Jack Hanna of the Outdoor Channel, Jake is “a genuine cowboy with a knack for captivating entertainment.”
- Fourth Annual River Ranch Wine Walk – Friday, June 28: The River Ranch Wine Walk marks the culmination of the week’s events. Guests embark on a journey with a trail map, meandering through the breathtaking backyard gardens of four beautiful riverfront estates and indulging in tastings from the vineyards of Napa, Sonoma, Willamette and Walla Walla. Each residence will present a distinct group of regional vintners with food pairings by Atkinson’s and the Sun Valley Culinary Institute. Live music by local musicians Tibbles & Sword and the sounds of the Big Wood River will carry guests along.
Grand, Premier and Petit Cru Ticket packages for the 43rd annual Sun Valley Wine Auction go on sale Wednesday, April 24, 2024. To register, bid, support and learn more about the Wine Auction and SVMoA’s arts education programming in central Idaho, visit sunvalleywineauction.org.
This year’s participating wineries include: 32 Winds, Canihan Family Winery, Convene by Dan Kosta, Cornell Vineyards, Crocker & Starr, Dakota Shy Winery, Domaine Della, Domaine Serene, Dom Pérignon, Dunn Vineyards, Force Majeur Wines, Grassi Wine Company, Hale Mary, Holocene, Joseph Phelps, Kamen Estate Wines, Kerr Cellars, Klein Costantia, Kobler Estate Winery, Krug, Paradigm Winery, Patel, Peay Vineyards, Phifer Pavitt Wine, Rusack Vineyards, Sandar & Hem Wines, Three Sticks Wines, Tor Wines, Weathereye Vineyard, and ZD Wines.
This year’s Sun Valley Wine Auction sponsors include Riverside Estate Gala & Auction Sponsor Christie’s; River Ranch Wine Walk Sponsor Paola Lenti by Carmen Finegan Architecture & Design; Technology Partner COX Communications; Hotel Partner Limelight Ketchum; Media Partner SVPN; and Community Partners Lyle Pearson, Alpine Lodging, S&C Distributors, North Coast Logistics, Atkinson’s Market, SCOUT, ROOTS, Sun Valley Culinary Institute, Party Animal Vodka and La Gritona Resposada.
For more information on Sun Valley Museum of Art, please visit svmoa.org or call 208.726.9491.
About the Sun Valley Wine Auction
Founded in 1981, the Sun Valley Wine Auction began as an intimate fundraising event for what was then the emerging arts organization that was to become Sun Valley Museum of Art. Over the years, the event has grown to become the oldest and longest-running charity wine auction in the country, and it is vital to arts programming in the Wood River Valley. Since its founding, and consistently ranking in Wine Spectator’s annual Top 10 Charity Wine Auctions, the festival brings together both small and large and always distinguished vintners, celebrity chefs and wine lovers for a celebration of wine, food and friendship, all in support of the arts. Proceeds from the Auction provide a significant source of funding for the Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs. The Wine Auction fuels SVMoA’s free year-round arts education initiatives and programs, reaching 4,000 student participants in the Wood River Valley, and supports SVMoA’s annual Scholarship Program, which has awarded more than $1,100,000 to continued arts education since its inception. Visit svmoa.org for more information and to purchase tickets.
About Sun Valley Museum of Art
Nonprofit Sun Valley Museum of Art (SVMoA) has nurtured curiosity, sparked conversation and engaged the Blaine County community since 1971. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, SVMoA impacts the public with its mission to enrich the community through transformative arts and education experiences. SVMoA’s diverse programming includes visual arts exhibitions, lectures, concerts, classes, performances and multidisciplinary projects. SVMoA enhances K-12 arts education in local schools with student exhibition tours, professional artist residencies, and student and teacher scholarships. To learn more about Sun Valley Museum of Art, explore upcoming events, become a member or get involved, visit svmoa.org.
