LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The board of directors of the Lake County Wine Alliance invites nonprofit organizations, agencies and programs in Lake County to apply for a share of the proceeds from the 2011 Lake County Wine Auction.

The 12th annual benefit will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Ceago Vinegarden, on Clear Lake’s Northshore.

Applications must be postmarked or submitted online by March 1.

Seventeen nonprofit organizations, including agencies, programs and high schools, received $60,100 from the proceeds of the 2010 wine auction held last September at Ceago.

Awards are made in the fields of the arts, health services and the community.

The Wine Alliance has contributed $831,765 in proceeds to Lake County groups since the inception of the annual charity event in 2000.

Proceeds include ticket sales, donations from sponsorships, live and silent auction income, and sales of special edition, fine art posters by Lake County artist John R. Clarke.

Local wineries, winegrape growers, restaurants, and other businesses are generous supporters through their donations to the live and silent auctions and to the food and beverages served at the gala affair.

Other Lake County and regional businesses provide support through sponsorships.

The charter of the Wine Alliance directs its efforts to foster the arts, benefit health services and support the community, while promoting Lake County as a premier grape growing and fine wine region.

The Wine Alliance is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization of Lake County wineries, winegrape growers, and business and community supporters that annually presents the wine auction as a fundraising charity benefit.

Applications for funding may be obtained from the Wine Alliance Web site, www.winealliance.org, or by contacting Judy Luchsinger, chair of the Beneficiaries committee, at 707-263-3280, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Lake County Wine Alliance may be contacted by phone, 866-279-9463, or by mail to P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451.

Members of the Wine Alliance board are Margaret Walker-Stimmel, president; Marie Beery, vice president; Rob Roumiguiere, treasurer; and Kaj Ahlmann, Judy Luchsinger, Wilda Shock, and Janet Thompson, directors. Honorary chairman of the 2011 event is businessman Bill Brunetti of Lakeport.

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