Community Corner
Mountain View VC Spends $800,000 at Wine Auction
Gary Reischel enjoys the wine and the experience of the annual Napa Valley Vintners.
Sold! For $800,000!
That's what Gary Reischel, a Mountain View venture capitalist, bid to taste every vintage of Harlan Estate wines from the 1990 vintage through the 2009 vintage. The package for eight people also included two nights in four rooms at the Meadowood Napa Valley.
But Reischel, the founder of Qiming Venture Partners, wasn't the only enthusiastic bidder. The Napa Valley Vintners' 33rd annual Auction Napa Valley raised $16.9 million for healthcare and youth education nonprofits in Napa County breaking the previous record of $10.5 million raised in 2005 by more than 60 percent, according to event organizers.
Reischel told San Francisco Magazine that in addition to the wine—it's about the experience. He comes to the annual charity event for the people and the fundraising.
Reischel sure does love his wines. In 2000, he made the "Top Ten" list of bidders at the same wine auction.
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