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Manhattan Wine Auction Opens Spots for Deluxe Dining Options

Apr 08, 2021 08:58AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
The annual Manhattan Wine Auction, benefiting the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF), has opened spots for a variety of luxurious in-home dining experiences on June 12. 

This year's wine auction - like last year's - will be virtual. However, wine auction organizers have scaled up this year's offerings to include, among other options, In-Home Culinary and Wine Experiences created by acclaimed local chefs, and paired with hand-selected wines.

Those In-Home Culinary and Wine Experiences are available for purchase now.

"We wanted to embrace the traditions of the Wine Auction in a more robust way, since it seemed inevitable we would be virtual once again this year," said Hilary Mahan, executive director of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation. "Over the past month we have been working on perfecting the options and were thrilled that many of our local restaurants were up for the partnership and came up with the amazing menus for our in-home Culinary and Wine Experiences. Several of our winery partners also agreed to support the experiences and the end result is phenomenal." 

The Culinary and Wine Experiences are multi-course meals that serve 12 people. Participants may choose from "Estate" or "Vineyard" options, offering varying levels of recognition in publications and social media. Prices range from $6,000 to $14,000 for the packages, depending on the restaurant and the Estate or Vineyard option chosen. Couples may share the costs and purchase separately, with the per-couple cost at 1/6th of the total cost listed.

The meals are designed to be served at home, and are available for delivery or pickup.

In the next several weeks, the wine auction will announce an expanded selection of virtual tastings with 8 wineries, distilleries and breweries; as well as an opportunity raffle. The popular Live and Silent Auctions will return as well.

"Perhaps most compelling is our Paddle Raise this year - the MBEF Board is dedicating it to restore MBEF grants to before the budget cuts of 2019-20," said Mahan. "At that time, the majority of MBEF programs, like elementary science specialists, music, and even counseling, were reduced significantly so that funding could shift to cover classroom teachers due to an MBUSD budget deficit. It was important to do so at that time, but now it’s time to bring these back to fully embrace the MBEF mission to provide all students with enrichment opportunities that challenge and engage exceptional learning."

Tickets for the virtual tastings will go on sale on May 1. The silent auction will go online on June 5; and the live auction will go online on June 10.

The virtual tastings and the Culinary and Wine Experiences will begin at 5:00 p.m. on June 12. The livestream show and paddle raise will begin at 7:00 p.m. that night.

Manhattan Wine Auction Is a Local Tradition


MBEF is a community-driven fundraising organization that supports state funding for programs to promote innovation and academic excellence in the public schools of Manhattan Beach. MBEF's support has provided a foundation of excellence and a multi-million-dollar commitment to maintain reasonable class sizes, rigorous academics, and a breadth of educational experiences from kindergarten through high school. For the 2020/21 school year, MBEF increased its support by over 15%, providing $7.5 million in programs and educators across the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.

The Manhattan Wine Auction, now in its 27th year, has built its reputation on being the largest charity wine auction in Southern California, offering the best in wine and culinary delights in a festive atmosphere. Typically, nearly 2,000 residents from the South Bay and beyond attend the renowned event, including parents and supporters of Manhattan Beach public schools, business, community and civic leaders, and food and wine enthusiasts.

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