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Connecticut Classic Wine Auction Benefits Charities
at Hartford’s Polytechnic Club on February 23, 2007

Hartford, Conn. (February 12, 2007): The Connecticut Classic Wine Auction (CCWA) will hold its annual food, wine tasting and wine auction to benefit three charities: Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Interval House and Boundless Playgrounds on February 23, 2007, at 6 p.m. at the Polytechnic Club, One State Street, Hartford, Connecticut. The live auction will feature nearly 100 rare wine lots, gourmet dinners from Connecticut’s finest caterers and restaurants, art and wine-related memorabilia.  The silent auction will feature 30 wines and collectibles with donor values from $200-$500.
 
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (www.ccmckids.org) is a major asset to our state.  They provide a wide spectrum of care to children of all ages. They are a teaching hospital, home of UCONN School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, a doctor's office for nearly 15,000 children, an emergency room, surgical unit, intensive care unit and a neonatal intensive care unit.
 
Interval House (www.intervalhousect.org) provides abused women and children a continuum of services including access to safe shelter and responsive services that help them establish lives free from violence. The continuum includes integrated and specialized services related to counseling, advocacy, outreach, legal and housing support, as well as programs to help build economic self-sufficiency.  The public education and advocacy activities are intended to raise awareness, with a view to eliminating violence against women and children in our society.
 
Boundless Playgrounds (www.boundlessplaygrounds.org) helps communities create state of the art playgrounds where all children, with and without disabilities, can develop essential skills for life as they learn together through play.
 
It is expected that $100,000 will be raised to support the extraordinary programs of the three participating charities.
 
Sponsors include: The Polytechnic Club, BigGourmet.com, dotcom Wine and Spirits, Alphagraphics, Delia, Viking, restaurantsCT.com, Hart-Davis-Hart Wine Auctioneers, and others.
 
A wine reception will be followed by an elegant gastronomic feast featuring dozens of top-rated wines from worldwide producers.  Following dinner, the event auctioneer, Michael Davis, president of Chicago’s Hart-Davis-Hart Wine Co., will preside over a live auction featuring rare older vintages, wine-related travel packages, large format bottles, wine art, kitchen and entertainment equipment, and vertical and horizontal wine collections.
 
Auction highlights include:  Willy's Wine Bar Posters, Solid Case of Harlan, 1992, Château d Y'quem, Ramonet, Drouhin, Château Lafleur 6-liter, Super Tuscans from the 1997 vintage, Château Cos d'Estournel, 1996 en Magnum, Bordeaux from 1982 vintage and dozens of rare large formats.
 
Hart Davis Hart will pour 2005 Chassagne Montrachet, Chenevottes (Bernard Morey), 2000 Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere, 1996 Chambolle-Musigny, Les Amoureuses (Jacques-Frederic Mugnier), 1998 Valpolicella Classico Superiore (Giuseppe Quintarelli) and 1997 Dunn, Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon during the dinner buffet.
 
Participating caterers and chefs are Billy Grant of Grant’s Restaurant/Restaurant Bricco, West Hartford; Leo Bushey, consulting chef; Rick Kerzner of Emily’s Catering, Forestville; Russell Pryzbek of Russell’s Creative Catering, West Hartford; Debra Queen of Jordan Caterers, Cheshire; Francesca Real of City Fare, Inc., Hartford; Rich Lucas of Lucas & Co., Catered Events, Avon; Tuan Tran of Koji Downtown, Hartford; Bryan Hickey of One State Street Catering, Hartford; Kim Terrill of Kim’s Cottage Confections, Durham; Niles Golovin of Bantam Bread Co., Bantam; Gail Case of Collinsville Baking Co., Collinsville; Dan Fortin of Marquee Events & Entertainment, Hartford and Noel Jones of The Polytechnic Club, Hartford.
 
Ticket price is $150 per person. For tickets or to make a tax deductible wine donation, contact Lori Lawlor, Connecticut Classic Wine Auction, at (203) 457-9791 or via e-mail at lori@ccwa2007.org.