We are pleased that so many of our supporters were able to join us for our annual Wine Auction Dinner and Barn Dance on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at the Barn at Groton Place.

The Wine Auction is our largest and most important fundraiser and friendraiser of the year. And, thanks to our most generous supporters who donated their time, energy and resources, we raised more than $300,000 to advance local conservation efforts. A special appeal held at the end of the auction raised nearly $11,000 – enough money to buy our stewardship director a truck to maintain easements and preserves and conduct educational programming.

Thanks to the creativity and inspiration of our 2014 Wine Auction Chairs and their Committee, this year’s event was the most fun yet! It was definitely not your traditional Wine Auction. After enjoying a delicious family-style dinner prepared by Sterling Affair, guests lined the dance floor with their partners to do-si-do to live country music. A professional caller was there too who guided guests flawlessly through each and every step!

The live and silent auctions were filled with exclusive trips, special wines and other specialty items – all donated by our supporters. The silent auction featured premium wines from local cellars, gift certificates to restaurants, things to do outside like kayaking and mountain biking, fresh foods like locally grown apples, organic turkeys from Three Chicks Farm, Bee Haven Beer tasting and award-winning cheese from Spring Brook Farm. Insiders also had access to bidding on exclusive trips such as an elite golf excursion to New Zealand with stays at the luxurious resorts of the Robertson Family; a week to ski and shop in Sun Valley, Idaho; a private trip to experience the treasures of Mount Desert Island in Maine; a journey through the ancient world of the Andes in the Sacred Valley of Peru; and a rich, cultural adventure in Budapest, Hungary.

Generous burlap goody bags were ready for guests as they made their way home. Contents included a one year membership to WineGlass, a new app created by Roddy and Alec Lindsay that allows you to research restaurant menus for the best tasting wine values, local apples from Richter’s Orchard in East Northport and large containers of Horman’s Original Half Sour Pickles from Glen Cove.

The Land Alliance is extraordinarily appreciative of the efforts made by Kristina and Harry Davison, Terry and Bob Lindsay and Amy and Hartley Rogers to step up and serve so ably and generously as our Wine Auction Chairs. Many thanks to Julie and Luis Rinaldini who so graciously invited the Land Alliance to host the event at their beautiful Groton Place again this year. We are also grateful to Joanna Wreidt for sharing her graphic design skills to create such beautiful posters and effective PowerPoint presentation. And last but certainly not least we thank our volunteers for working so hard to make this event a success. We couldn’t have done it without you.

And, most of all, we are forever grateful for the support of our community!