Press RoomPress ReleasesNation’s Leading Wine Auction Supporting the Arts Celebrates 28 Years

Nation's Leading Wine Auction Supporting the Arts Celebrates 28 Years

December 5, 2019

ATLANTA, Dec. 5, 2019 – The international wine community is invited to “open the bottle and start something” at the 28th annual High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction, held March 18–21, 2020. More than 200 wineries and restaurants will come together to support the largest wine auction event in the United States benefiting the arts, boasting more than $32 million raised over the last 27 years.  

The Auction is the High’s largest fundraising event, and it provides significant funding for the Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs. The Paddle Raise, celebrating 15 years in 2020, benefits the Museum’s Art Access program and has raised more than $1.6 million since its inception. These funds provide classroom resources to teachers and subsidized museum visits for more than 125,000 students of all ages each year.

“The Museum’s continued connection to our community and the diverse programming we offer our visitors would not be possible without the outstanding support we receive through the Wine Auction,” said Rand Suffolk, Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr., Director of the High. “I am excited to celebrate another year of this remarkable event and recognize the extraordinary generosity of our donors.”

“The Wine Auction gets bigger and better every year with more vintners and wine connoisseurs joining us to enjoy an exceptional experience,” said Steven Hargrove, Associate Director, Wine Auction and Special Events. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to Atlanta for this year’s events.”

The 2020 Wine Auction is co-chaired by Aarati Alexander and Burch Hanson, who have participated in the event for nearly 20 years combined.

The Special Guest of Honor for this year’s Wine Auction is Dr. Madaiah Revana, owner of the Revana Wine Portfolio. Revana’s experience with agriculture began on his family’s farm outside of Bangalore, India, and has grown into a passion for wine. This appreciation has allowed him to travel the world to seek out exceptional vineyards and distinctive wines. Revana now owns three wineries in the United States and internationally: Revana Winery in Napa Valley, Calif.; Alexana Winery in Willamette Valley, Ore.; and Corazon Del Sol in Mendoza, Argentina.

The 2020 Special Guest Chef is Vivian Howard, owner of Chef & the Farmer, Boiler Room and Benny’s Big Time in North Carolina as well as owner of Handy & Hot bakery delivery service and author of “Deep Run Roots” cookbook. Howard was recognized as the South’s Best Chef of 2019 by Southern Living.

The four days of Wine Auction events kick off on Wednesday, March 18, and end on Saturday, March 21. The week culminates with events in the Tents at Atlantic Station. Festivities include:

  • Dine Around Dinners – March 18: Renowned Atlanta restaurants offer exclusive reservations for multicourse, prix-fixe menus combining the talents of top Atlanta chefs and revered winemakers.
  • Ladies Luncheon – March 18: The Ladies Luncheon shines a spotlight on the work of female winemakers, vintners and chefs for an afternoon of incredible food and wine at the award-winning restaurant Bacchanalia.
  • Gents Lunch – March 18: This event offers a chance to enjoy a multicourse meal with fellow wine enthusiasts and experiences tailored for the gentlemen of Wine Auction week.
  • Winemaker Dinners – March 19: Guests are welcomed into Atlanta’s finest private homes as local and national chefs prepare courses perfectly complemented by wines from the world’s top producers for a dining experience like no other.
  • High Revelry – March 19: This intimate food and wine festival showcases pours from more than a dozen wineries along with tasty treats from some of Atlanta’s best restaurants. Music, art and more add to the evening’s fun.
  • Tasting Seminar – March 20: Learn to sip like a pro with interactive demonstrations and tastings from winemakers as they open their bottles and share their wine wisdom.
  • Uncorked! – March 20: Special Guest Chef Vivian Howard pulls out all the stops for this seated gourmet dinner celebrating the craft and artistry of winemaking. Guests at each table are joined by a renowned winemaker to pour their best work with each dish. After–dinner entertainment features Bogey and the Viceroy to end the evening.
  • Vintners’ Reception and Live Auction – March 21: More than 1,000 guests join dozens of winemakers and Atlanta’s top restaurants during the Vintners’ Reception for an afternoon of the best wine and hors d’oeuvres the city’s dining scene can offer. The afternoon’s live and silent auctions send bidders home with one-of-a-kind wines, world-class trips and once-in-a-lifetime experiences to wrap up the week’s events.

For more information, visit www.highmuseumwine.org.

The Wine Auction is pleased to announce the following corporate sponsors: Presenting Sponsor Delta Air Lines, Grand Cru Sponsor Kelly and Rod Westmoreland – Merrill Private Wealth Management, Uncorked! Sponsor JLL, Imperial Sponsor Wells Fargo and Champagne Sponsor Champagne Palmer & Co.

High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction
Founded in 1993, the High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction is the largest fundraising event for the High Museum of Art. The Wine Auction is the top charity fundraising event in Atlanta and the number one charity wine auction benefiting the arts. Proceeds generated by the Auction, which have amounted to more than $32 million over the last 27 years, provide a significant source of funding for the Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs. Proceeds help to make possible special exhibitions and partnerships. The Auction also provides funds for dynamic youth education programs, which draw more than 65,000 schoolchildren to the High each year. For more information, visit www.highmuseumwine.org.

About the High Museum of Art
Located in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, the High Museum of Art connects with audiences from across the Southeast and around the world through its distinguished collection, dynamic schedule of special exhibitions and engaging community-focused programs. Housed within facilities designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architects Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, the High features a collection of more than 17,000 works of art, including an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American fine and decorative arts; major holdings of photography and folk and self-taught work, especially that of artists from the American South; burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculpture, new media and design; a growing collection of African art, with work dating from pre-history through the present; and significant holdings of European paintings and works on paper. The High is dedicated to reflecting the diversity of its communities and offering a variety of exhibitions and educational programs that engage visitors with the world of art, the lives of artists and the creative process. For more information about the High, visit www.high.org.

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Media contact:

Marci Tate Davis
Manager of Public Relations
marci.davis@high.org
404-733-4585