26 August 2022
//MEDIA RELEASE//
With more than 400 guests, around 4000 plates of food and matching wines and over 100 live and silent auction items, iconic fundraising event Vintners’ Brunch celebrated 25 years in style, raising $405,000 for Harbour Hospice.
Held on Sunday 21 August at Pullman Auckland, Vintners’ Brunch saw some of the charity’s most passionate and loyal supporters come together to enjoy great food and good company, and to make a difference by raising money for Harbour Hospice.
Right now, one in three people who die in our community receive hospice care and that demand is growing. Proceeds from this event will enable Harbour Hospice to reach even more locals who need their care, with selected auction items benefiting its North Shore redevelopment project, set to be completed next year.
More than 20 of Auckland’s most popular restaurants and wineries brought their best to the table, with each food and wine match competing for the title of ‘food & wine match of the year.’ The winning match, voted by the guests, was Moxie Restaurant of Birkenhead and Waiheke Island’s Te Motu Winery with a Classic Beef Wellington with Paris mash, sauce paired with ‘Te Motu’ 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
Alongside the steady flow of culinary delights, which were enjoyed over the course of an afternoon, were live and silent auctions which included a seven-night stay for four at Terrace Downs High Country Resort, seven nights in Fiji and a dinner date at your place with sought-after Kiwi chef Des Harris, which raised an incredible $16,000.
Harbour Hospice Chief Executive, Jan Nichols, says she is deeply humbled by the support of everyone involved, especially the restaurants and wineries. “Despite the huge challenges they faced with Covid-19, they still chose to support us, donating countless hours to make this event possible,” Nichols says.
“A huge number of individuals, groups and local businesses also stuck by us, and without them Vintners’ simply could not happen. Special mention to Vic Williams, Babich Wines, and Coopers Creek who have been with us from the very beginning – an astonishing 25 years! We can’t thank them enough for their loyalty and generosity.”
The event was co-hosted by broadcaster Pippa Wetzell and wine expert Vic Williams, however it was guest speaker Mickey Smith who held the room with her incredibly moving speech sharing the true impact hospice care has on its patients and their families.
“We could not support families like Mickey’s and offer the range of services that we do, free of charge, without the generosity of our community and through special events like this one.
“We look forward to doing it all again next year,” Nichols says.
