Press Updates
Announcing the 40th Anniversary of Winesong
May 1, 2025
CELEBRATING A FOUR DECADE LEGACY
40 Years of Premier Wines, Creative Cuisine, Local Musicians, World Class Auction Lots and the Most Stunning Backdrop
Winesong introduces the next generation of participating artists with the announcement of the 2025 Artist of the Year – Ryan Grossman
September 5th & 6th, 2025
Fort Bragg, CA – May 1, 2025 – Winesong Charity Auction & Grand Tasting celebrates its 40th year as Mendocino County’s premier wine and food event and charitable auction. Having established itself among guests as a family reunion, visitors from across the nation and even from other countries make the annual jaunt to the Mendocino coast for a weekend of revelry, revelation and reunion.
The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens provides a lush backdrop for Winesong which is produced by the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation. With wine and food purveyors spanning garden paths, and musicians tucked here and there, the experience of Winesong is unparalleled. Included during the tasting is a silent auction and as the Grand Tasting winds down, the Live Auction ramps up with a seated lunch underneath a marquee at the event lawn in the Gardens.
A Pinot Noir Celebration – the Unofficial Beginning to Winesong Weekend
Winesong weekend kicks off with a Pinot Noir Celebration featuring premier Pinot Noir producers from Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma Counties, as well as other esteemed wineries in Pinot producing regions. Little River Inn hosts this delightful event featuring 30+ wineries and passed trays of paired hors d’oeuvres, while live music and fabulous views add to the ambiance.
The Grand Tasting is a Grand Time in the Gardens
Meander the winding garden paths lined with flora and fauna as you sip wine, beer, even mocktails, and sample cuisine made locally from chefs, caterers and confectioners. If you find a spring in your step while sashaying from table to table, don’t be surprised as local musicians fill the air with their grooves. Wander to the beloved Dahlia Gardens, long considered the main stage of the Grand Tasting, or head to the bluffs for a serene setting while you savor your libation. Back on the event lawn, make sure to stop into the Silent Auction tent to see what treasures can be had – wine collections, original art, overnight getaways and more! All you need to do is have your bidder paddle at the ready!
The Live Auction – Winesong’s Heart and Soul
Winesong has become a beloved event both within the community and around the country to those who know! The centerpiece of this legacy event is the Live Auction, where guests vie for exciting auction lots including international getaways, rare and collectible wines, experiences around the country and the Artist of the Year’s original piece, among other incredible offerings. Auctioneer DawnMarie Kotsonis expertly shares information about each lot, compelling bidding wars in the best possible way. As part of the Live Auction, guests are treated to a catered sit-down lunch, served by community volunteers.
Introducing the Next Generation with the Artist of the Year
Winesong has been the fortunate recipient of local artisans’ contributions to the auctions. Our carefully selected Artists of the Year have always delighted guests with their original works for the Live Auction. This year, we are delighted to welcome a new local artist into the Winesong family as our 2025 Artist of the Year – Ryan Grossman. Ryan is both a muralist and fine artist, having received his degree at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. His work vacillates between realism and surrealism, evoking emotions. Ryan has created three murals as part of the Fort Bragg Alleyway Art Project, including the mural on one of the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation’s buildings. Stay tuned for more information about Ryan and his artwork for Winesong’s 40th Anniversary.
Winesong Weekend Schedule of Events
Friday, September 5th
1:00 – 4:00 PM: A Pinot Noir Celebration – Little River Inn
Saturday, September 6th
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Winesong Grand Tasting – Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
2:00 – 5:00 PM: Live Auction – Event Lawn, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
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About the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation
Established in 1985, the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation (MCHF) fundraised for over three decades to purchase much needed equipment for the district hospital. Ambulances, cardiac care equipment, hospital beds and much more were funded directly through Winesong. In transitioning to the Mendocino Coast Healthcare
Foundation in 2019, MCHF was able to expand their fundraising designees to include Mendocino Coast Clinics, nursing students who received scholarships, and local volunteer firefighters to name a few. This expansion helps more health and wellness organizations to fund equipment, programs and projects that are vital to the communities they serve.
Media contact:
Terry Ramos
Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation
707-964-4671
www.mchfoundation.org
Jamie Peters
Winesong Charity Auction & Grand Tasting
707-472-7500
www.winesong.org
Open Letter to the Mendocino Coast Community
April 5, 2024
At the end of January, the Board of Directors of the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation announced that our organization experienced a cash flow deficit, which forced us to temporarily suspend some of the Foundation’s functions and implement cost-cutting measures. Unfortunately, this also required us to make a difficult decision – lay off our hardworking staff. In the aftermath of the announcements, we have promised to keep you, our community, informed on the progress we are making and, on our plans to continue the work that MCHF has done for many years.
A financial analysis showed that while we were and still are experiencing a cash flow deficit, the Foundation remains financially sound due to its asset holdings. We are in the process of selling some of these assets to generate operating cash. We also are expecting to receive payment in the next 6-8 weeks of a USDA grant that was awarded last year in the amount of $199,000.
Since our announcement, two important questions that the community has been asking are:
- How does this affect the healthcare scholarship program?
- What will happen with Winesong this year?
First, we remain committed to our very successful scholarship program, and we continue to meet our obligations to students, paying out over $70,000 in scholarships and awards this year already. We are taking this opportunity to review the program and make a few minor restructuring amendments before resuming accepting applications for new scholarships.
Our hallmark fundraising event, Winesong, remains a cherished celebration of our community’s commitment to healthcare on the coast. The Board realizes that last year’s efforts to try something new did not meet expectations from our community, our vendors, nor ourselves. It also contributed to the financial status we found ourselves in at the end of the year. This September, Winesong will be a smaller event. The Board made the decision that this year should be a transition year to get back on track and back to our roots. Next year, we are looking forward to being back at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens for our 40th Anniversary of Winesong. As for this year, we’re excited to announce that Winesong will be held at Little River Inn, affectionately dubbed Winesong South, due to their generous support throughout the years. This will enable us to regroup and focus while simultaneously planning for a larger, traditional Winesong in 2025. Tickets will be available soon and we invite you to take part in this transitional year.
The Board wishes to express our regret for this unfortunate situation. We are immensely grateful for the support and understanding that have been overwhelmingly received from our community. We remain committed to our mission to help meet the healthcare needs of our coastal community now and well into the future.
Sincerely,
Terry Ramos, President
On behalf of the Board of Directors Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation
About Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation
Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation (MCHFoundation), located in Fort Bragg, is a non-profit with a mission to support the health and wellness of the Mendocino Coast communities. MCHFoundation provides a path for community investment in the health and wellness of our coastal region.
If you are interested in learning more or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit MCHFoundation.org or contact our team at [email protected] or (707) 961-4688.
Please note MCHFoundation’s new address: 130 N. Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437