Berkshire Museum Presents Wine Gala, Auction Celebration

PITTSFIELD — The 2015 edition of the Berkshire Museum’s biennial wine gala and auction celebration will feature three events on Thursday, June 25; Friday, June 26; and Saturday, June 27.

Proceeds from these festive evenings of wine receptions, live and silent auctions, and culinary offerings will benefit the museum’s education programs, which provide more than 16,000 educational experiences for students and teachers from the wider Berkshires region every year. This year’s festivities feature guest of honor John Kolasa, managing director of Château Rauzan-Ségla and Château Canon in Bordeaux, France, and special guest Denis Toner, president of Bâtard et Fils Imports.

The first event will take place on June 25, at 5:30 p.m. at the brand-new Hotel on North in downtown Pittsfield. An evening of wine, food, and fun, it serves as a celebration of all things Burgundy, complemented by the cuisine of the hotel’s Chef Brian Alberg. Toner will make remarks.

On June 26, the second event will feature a dinner at Wheatleigh in Lenox with guest of honor Kolasa. The dinner is a private event for the gala sponsors.

The gala on June 27, starting at 5 p.m. in the second-floor galleries at the museum, will feature a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception serving as the backdrop for the silent auction. At 6:45 p.m., guests will be escorted to the theater for the live auction, followed by the celebratory wine dinner in the Ellen Crane Memorial Room, catered by Chef Peter Platt of Old Inn on the Green, featuring selections provided by the guest of honor.

“The Berkshire Museum Wine Gala and Auction is a marvelous opportunity for collectors and wine enthusiasts to acquire the best wines and enjoy an excellent dinner with good company,” said Van Shields, Berkshire Museum’s executive director. “This year’s three events will certainly be a grand celebration of wine, fine dining, and community, all in support of our valued education programs.”

Sponsorship packages, including tickets to all three events, begin at $2,000. Individual tickets to the June 27 gala for the entire evening, including the celebratory dinner, start at $350. Tickets to the wine and hors d’oeuvres reception plus silent and live auction are $100. Tickets for the wine, food, and fun event at Hotel on North are $75. For more information or to make reservations, call (413) 443-7171, ext. 313, or visit www.berkshiremuseum.org/2015winegala.