John Shafer, owner of Shafer Vineyards in Napa Valley, will be the Chairman for the 2009 Lehigh Valley Wine Auction and Gala being held on November 13 & 14, 2009.  The event will include an evening with John Shafer at Saucon Valley Country Club on November 13 and a wine auction and gala at the State Theatre of Easton on November 14. This event will benefit the Children’s Home of Easton and the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society.

John Shafer is a renowned winemaker. His flagship wine is his "Hillside Select" Cabernet Sauvignon, which is made from grapes he planted on the family estate that surrounds their winery. This wine has received accolades from every major wine publication over the past 15 vintages.  Wine and Spirits has named Shafer “among the top 25 vineyards in the world.”

Shafer’s last appearance in the Lehigh Valley was 25 years ago.  “I am looking forward to returning to the Lehigh Valley to benefit two worthy organizations,” stated Shafer.   “This will be a great weekend for collectors and wine enthusiast.”

On November 13th, the gala offers an up-scale wine tasting and dinner featuring Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2007, Shafer Merlot 2006, Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 and Shafer Firebreak 2006.  The highlight will be a live auction for a ten year vertical of Shafer Vineyard’s Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon in magnums from 1996-2005. Tickets for the Friday night event are $300 per person and include entry to Saturday’s gala.

On November 14th, the gala features both live and silent auction of over 250 wines and donations from local retailers, restaurants and travel agencies.  Tickets for Saturday are $75.00 per person.

To purchase tickets or for more information, please call Maria Saba at 610-258-2831 x 153.or visit our website at www.lehighvalleywinegala.com for a complete listing of items available and gala information.

This event benefits both the Children’s Home of Easton and the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society. The Children’s Home , established in 1885, is a home for children, birth to adulthood,  who have been removed from their families due to neglect, abuse, abandonment or truancy. The Children’s Home provides opportunity, self-reliance, compassion and a friendly nurturing home to over 85 children in their care.

The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, founded in 1906, is dedicated to preserving the history of Northampton County. NCHGS is in the process of building a state of the art museum, the Sigal Museum, on Northampton Street in Easton. This building will expose the public to the history of Northampton County through books, photographs, diaries, ledgers and so many other items in their collections dating back to the 1700’s.

This prestigious event unites two of the area’s oldest and most respected organizations together for an incredible evening.