Soirée du Vin 2007: A Palo Alto Wine Auction

PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER 6, 2007—The International School of the Peninsula is pleased to sponsor the second annual Soirée du Vin, an event that blends the spirit of Northern California with a French appreciation of fine wine, food and fashion. The theme of this year’s event is “Celebrating Old and New Worlds.” It will take place on Sunday, October 7, 2007, 4:00 p.m., in the gardens of a beautiful historical residence in Palo Alto. Sponsors of the event include Café Primavera; Couture by Azadeh; Joseph George Wines; and Sofinnova Ventures.

The Lots
Here is a sampling of the unique lots that will be offered during the auction:
• The Collector's Cabernet: 1998 Screaming Eagle
• Liquid Gold Vertical: 1991, 1993, 1995 Château d’Yquem Lur-Saluces Sauternes
• Les Grands Bordeaux, 20 Ans Apres: 1966 and 1986 Siran and Margaux magnums
• Ridge Vineyards Exclusive: 2004 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon, signed by Paul Draper

Additionally, the auction will feature a lineup of exclusive “experiential” lots, including:
• The Elegance of Haute Couture: Designer Azadeh Riaz will consult privately with the winner in her San Francisco or Los Gatos design center to design a stunning one-of-a-kind haute couture item.
• A Salute to Franco-American Relations: This sure-to-be memorable experience offers a week-long stay in Paris in a luxury apartment located steps away from the finest boutiques, cafés, and galleries. It includes a VIP tour of the New World Gardens at Blearancourt and the Château de Compiègne.
• Wine Tasting Extravaganza: This special event for a party of up to 20 will convene at the Joseph George Wine Shop for an evening of wine tasting and education with Bert George. Sumptuous “dinner bites” will be served by caterer Joanna Biondi of Café Primavera.
• Elegant Time Keeping: A Vacheron Constantin men’s watch has been donated by Jackson Square Fine Jewels. Geneva-based Vacheron Constantin has a reputation for producing exceptional, collectible timepieces, from its first watch circa 1760 to its extraordinary mechanical watches of today.

The Activities
• Guests will have an opportunity to tour the event venue, a unique historical residence built by famed architect Birge M. Clark. Mr. Clark designed many buildings in Palo Alto and is credited with defining the city’s Early California style. In the gardens, art connoisseurs will enjoy viewing a larger than life sculpture based on the work of Salvador Dali.

• A collection of elegant gowns by fashion designer Azadeh Riaz will be modeled during a dramatic poolside fashion show.

• A fabulous dinner featuring Wagyu (“Kobe”) beef with wine pairings will be served by Café Primavera owner Joanna Biondi, a respected restaurateur known for her creative style which combines Northern California cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian influences.

• Master French Pastry Chef and Chocolatier Pascal Janvier of Fleur de Cocoa will serve an exquisite chocolate dessert.

Invitations
To request an invitation, please contact Camila Valdes at (650) 251-8532 or CamilaValdes@istp.org. To RSVP online, go to www.soireeduvin.org. Admission is $275 per person or $2750 for a table of ten. Corporate sponsorships are available.

About the Sponsor
International School of the Peninsula, located in Palo Alto, California, is an independent Chinese and French bilingual school for nursery through eighth-grade students. The school is dedicated to promoting critical thinking, international awareness and responsible global citizenship. A passionate proponent of the benefits of bilingual education, the school offers a wide array of language classes to the community, including courses in Arabic, Farsi, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Charlotte de Géry Endowment Fund, which provides long-term financial stability for the school.

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