...the St. Helena Rotary and the Trinchero Family sponsered the 16th anual winter ball this year with the theme "Come to Morocco". It was fun. The auction lots were interesting. David Abreu's lot intitled "Macho Magnums" went for $160,000. The collection was pretty impressive. It included Abreu Madrona Ranch, Blankiet Paradise Hills, Bond Melbury, Bressler, Bryant, Colgin Cariad, Colgin Herb Lamb, Foley Claret, Phelps Insignia, Peter Michael Les Pavots, Pride, S. Eagle, and many others. In all there were 26 lots. The apetizer food stations were serving gorgonzola and goat cheese on flat bread, grilled tiger prawns with roasted pepper safron aioli, grilled marinated chicken spicy cashew cilantro hummus and paella with shrimp and chicken. The dinner was good. We had a watercress salad with Mandarin oranges, toasted pine nuts, Kalamata olives, Feta cheese, oil & vinaigrette. The main course was Spring lamb marinated in Charmoula, pomegranate demi glace over Semolina cous cous with slivered almonds & Medjool dates. The vegies were eggplant, ginger yam & artichoke heart tagine. For dessert we were served Bosc pears poached in black muscat on philo dough with apricot honey drizzle. The wines on the table were an Eagle & Rose cab, Frogs Leap Chard and Gold. My favorite was the Gold. It is a S. blanc from Australia but made by Jason Woodbridge. We really enjoyed the open bar sponsored by our partner in "Port Crime" Charbay. We drank Martinis and Cosmos with infused vodkas. Everything was decorated Morocan. There were stilt walkers, belly dancers. Bo and Heidi Barret were dressed to the 9's in Morocan atire. It was a fun evening that raised alot of money for the Boys and Girls Club of St. Helena and Calistoga, the Boy Scouts, Gir Scouts, and some other important programs.