By Carolyn Christian
2026 marked an exciting and successful year for the OCWS Wine Auction, highlighted by the addition of our first-ever Online Wine Auction, which expanded participation and created even more opportunities for members to engage, bid and win.
I am incredibly proud of this year’s auction committee and the many volunteers whose dedication and teamwork made both the Online and In-Person Auctions a tremendous success. From launch to final checkout, the events ran smoothly and reflected the strength and commitment of our OCWS community.
This year’s auction featured an impressive:
- 1,013 Silent Auction Lots (including 168 sold through the Online Auction)
- 101 Verbal (Live) Auction Lots
- 51 Wine & Food Experience Lots (including 14 sold through the Online Auction)
These numbers reflect the continued growth and enthusiasm surrounding this important OCWS fundraiser. While final revenue figures are still being confirmed, participation across both auction formats was outstanding.
Special Thanks to Our Donors
We extend our sincere appreciation to the generous donors who contributed to this year’s auction. We had an overwhelming response to our request for donations this year!
Wineries:
AXR Napa Valley
Austin Hope Winery
Clementine Carter Wines
David Coffaro Winery
DeFalco Family Wines & Foods
Denner Vineyards
Dragonette Cellars
Dutcher Crossing Winery
Emercy Wines
Frisby Winery
HALL Wines
Jeff Runquist Wines
Lange Twins Family Winery
Larkmead Vineyards
Michael David Winery
Saint K Wines
Silver Oak
Stolpman Vineyards
Tobin James Cellars
Turley Wine Cellars
Venge Vineyards
WALT Wines
Wine Guy & Wine Gal Family Winery
Zotovich Vineyards
Members:
Carolyn & Damian Christian
Ellen Flynn & Tony Wieczorek
Greg Risling
Kelly Haggard
Laurie Kjar-Reiss & Roger Reiss
Mike & Cathy MacKenzie
Sue & Jim England
Dave & Tami Stancil
Tricia Shelton & Chris Ouellette
Businesses:
Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy
Falling Bright Wine Merchants
Hands On Wellness Center
Hi-Time Wine Cellars
Ortiz Fire Protection
Shelton Fire Protection
South Coast Repertory
Yorba Linda Country Club
Recognizing Our Wine Auction Committee
Hundreds of volunteer hours go into producing our second-largest fundraiser of the year. I would like to recognize the incredible efforts of our committee—affectionately known as the “Wine Auction Warriors”—for their outstanding work:
- Adrienne Amico – Verbal Auction
- Dino Amico – Wine Ops – Security
- Carolyn Christian – Event Chair, Facilities
- Damian Christian – Wine Ops – Auction Floor, Workers
- Kevin Coy – Advisor, Cataloguing
- Sue England – Volunteers
- Ellen Flynn – VIP Experience
- Scott Green – Computers
- Shannon Jestin – Check-in
- John Kienstra – Computers/Data Entry
- Laurie Kjar-Reiss – Check-in
- Don Mayer – Wine Ops – Warehouse
- Mary Ann Mayer- Verbal Auction, Checkout
- Cathy Painter – Event Food and Wine
- Lee Painter – Wine Ops – Verification
- Rochelle Randel – Administration, Checkout
- Bill Redding – Advisor, Cataloguing
- Janet Riordan – VIP Experience, Checkout
- Tricia Shelton – Special Winery Experience Auction
- Daniel Vlahovic – Wine Ops – Verification
A special thank you to those who worked behind the scenes to prepare and execute the event. From cataloging and organizing thousands of bottles to coordinating logistics across both auction formats, your efforts were essential to our success.
Top Bidders Recognition
We also recognize and thank our top bidders, whose enthusiasm and generosity helped drive the success of this year’s auction:
Will Holsinger & Lynelle Hustrulid
Kathy & William Schymick
Robert Maloney & Joey DeLeon
Nicole Tormey
Laurie Kjar-Reiss & Roger Reiss
Eberhard & Mary Anne Neutz
Kim & Steven Rizzuto
Mike & Cathy MacKenzie
Dorothy Pemberton
Louis & Shelley Cohen
Powered by Volunteers
The auction simply would not be possible without the support of our dedicated volunteers. From set up and check-in to verification and checkout, your time and effort ensured a seamless experience for all attendees. Your contribution truly makes a difference.
A Community Effort
This event remains a cornerstone of OCWS, supporting our educational programs, the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition and our Scholarship Program. We are especially grateful to our members whose participation and enthusiasm continue to make this event so meaningful.
To everyone who attended, bid, volunteered and supported the auction—thank you. We hope you enjoy the incredible wines and experiences you secured, many at exceptional value.
We look forward to building on this momentum and seeing you again next year for another exciting auction!