Bascom Brushstrokes Inspired by the South Pacific

One of the more talked-about live auction items up for bid at this weekend's Collective Spirits wine festival is a painting by Ian Greathead. Greathead is donating a 30x40˝ representational work of wine bottles from featured vintners at Collective Spirits 2010 in a setting of The Bascom and its campus.

Born in New Zealand where he was surrounded by lush-green rolling hills and pounding waves of the ocean, Greathead was inspired from an early age to create art. However, he first explored the world, living London, traveling throughout Europe and finally settling in Atlanta. A self-taught artist, Greathead worked as a freelance artist creating illustrations for Fortune 500 companies before devoting his time to his first love – oil painting.

His depiction of chosen moments in time, from listening to music around the piano while enjoying a glass of wine, to relaxing near the warm glow of a candle reflected in glass, create a reflective mood and invite you to share their intimacy. To lose yourself in an Ian Greathead canvas is to find a rare sense of peacefulness and quiet joy.

Greathead is represented locally by Summit One Gallery.

Estimated value: $4,800

Dozens of auction items up for bid at next weekend's Collective Spirits

Oenophiles, wine collectors and enthusiasts of both the art of fine wine and of fine art are heading to Highlands next weekend, May 21-22, for Collective Spirits, the fourth annual wine festival staged by and benefiting The Bascom.

Orchestrated by Harriet and Dick Boger, Collective Spirits chairs, the weekend will be uncorked with a “Stock Your Cellars” Wine Tasting Party at The Bascom on Friday evening, May 21. Saturday’s daytime programs of symposiums with intriguing themes such as “Calling All the Wine Ladies” and “Discover Your Palate,” will be led by wine specialists and chefs. And the weekend’s chef d’oeuvre, “Chateau Bascom,” the Gala Wine Dinner and Auction on Saturday evening, May 22, pairs an elaborate formal dinner, created by Epting Event of Athens, with exceptional domestic and international vintages. Silent and live auctions promise an alluring array of rare and large-format wines and wine-related travel experiences.

The 21 live auction items that will be auctioned off Saturday night, May 22, include
*A 1997 Silver Oak Cellars (Alexander Valley) Cabernet Sauvignon six-litre bottle;
*An authentic Greek feast for ten people prepared and presented by Gail and Paul Jones at their home;
*A VIP package for two with three nights accommodations at the unique Santa Fe Hotel while enjoying the 20th Annual Santa Fe Wine Festival;
*Classic wing shooting with a truly authentic plantation quail hunt;
*A wine lover’s trip of a lifetime to Napa Valley;
*One bottle 2002 Grace Family Blank Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 litre) and one bottle 2007 Grace Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 litre);
*A 30x40-inch original oil on canvas by Ian Greathead commissioned especially for Collective Spirits;
*A 12-day land/sea Asian adventure for two;
*And more!

The Super Silent Auction items up for bid Friday or Saturday nights include a one-night stay for two at Fiddlehead Cottage; two magnums (1.5-liter) of Shafer Vineyards 2001 Merlot Napa Valley; four seats for the wine and cheese course at The Atlanta Wine School; one magnum Philip Togni Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1998; and many more.

Additionally, a fabulous Champagne and Ice Raffle awaits all on Friday and Saturday evenings. Buy a glass of champagne and pick your lucky number from a grid. A ladies 2.00ct total weight diamond neckpiece is the star of this very special raffle. This 14-carat white gold necklace is custom designed, containing black and white brilliant cut diamonds, and donated by Drake’s Diamond Gallery of Highlands. Near the end of the live auction on Saturday night, a lucky winner’s number will be drawn from the proverbial hat. You will be notified if you win and are not present at the drawing. Estimated Value: $3,950.

Visit www.collectivespirits.com for a full listing of the items up for bid.

The $295 Combo Ticket includes all Friday and Saturday events. The “Stock Your Cellars” Friday evening reservation is $100, while a ticket for the “Chateau Bascom” gala dinner is $225.

For details or tickets, visit www.collectivespirits.com or call (828) 526-4949.

Wilmington Trust is the presenting sponsor of Collective Spirits. Silver sponsors are AirTran, Bank of New York-Mellon, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies/Lanigan Insurance Group and Hennessy Automotive Companies. Bronze sponsors include Franklin Ford, Harry Norman Realtors-Pat Allen and Bert Mobley, Highlands' Newspaper, The Laurel magazine, Moss Robertson Cadillac, Wines Down South and WNC magazine.

More 130 wines to tantalize the taste buds

More 130 wines will tantalize the taste buds at next weekend's Collective Spirits wine festival, a multi-day event to raise money for The Bascom, nonprofit center for the visual arts in Highlands.

From the smoothest Bordeaux to the most fragrant chardonnay, organizers are promising something for everybody -- and at every price point. Both rare and large-format wines will be teamed with some more affordable selections.

Distributors at the Friday night, May 21, "Stock Your Cellars" Wine Tasting Party include Mutual, Dionysus, Arcadian Winery, Southern Slopes, Persimmon Creek, Skyland, Empire, Country Vintner, Tiger Mountain, Tryon and Grapevine, and all wines will be paired with delectable fare from the Highlands-Cashiers area's best chefs. Guests include Janet Viader and Pam Starr from Napa Valley wineries Viader and Crocker and Starr, as well as Joe Davis from Arcadian Winery.

On Saturday night, May 22, enjoy first-class wines with a seated dinner from Epting Events at the "Chateau Bascom" Wine Gala and Auction.

And for the true wine aficionado (or wine-curious), don't miss the Saturday daytime wine symposiums featuring Michael Bryan, Joe Davis, Carson Demmond, Yves Durand, Mary Ann Hardman, Caroline Hoogenboom, Johannes Klapdohr and Janet Viader.

Wilmington Trust is the presenting sponsor of Collective Spirits. Silver sponsors are AirTran, Bank of New York-Mellon, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies/Lanigan Insurance Group and Hennessy Automotive Companies. Bronze sponsors include Franklin Ford, Harry Norman Realtors-Pat Allen and Bert Mobley, Highlands' Newspaper, The Laurel magazine, Moss Robertson Cadillac, Wines Down South and WNC magazine.

Tickets are still available. Call (828) 526-4949 or purchase online through May 17 at www.collectivespirits.com.

Amazing Acheson... one of the "Thursday four"

We can't wait for the Thursday evening private wine dinners for sponsors and benefactors of Collective Spirits.

Hugh Acheson, chef/partner of Five & Ten, the National, Gosford Wine and Empire State South (opening June 2010), will provide a feast for the dinner at the Fisher home (teamed with wine by Viader).

All about Hugh: Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, he started cooking at a young age and decided to make it his career after taking a very long time to realize that academics weren’t his thing. At age 15, he began working in restaurants after school and learning as much as possible. Today, Acheson's experience includes working under Chef Rob MacDonald where he learned stylized French cuisine, wine and etiquette at the renowned Henri Burger restaurant in Ottawa, and in San Francisco as the chef de cuisine with Chef Mike Fennelly at Mecca, and later as opening sous-chef with famed Chef Gary Danko at his namesake restaurant, where he found a love of the simple, pure and disciplined.

Taking these experiences, Hugh developed a style of his own forging together the beauty of the South with the flavors of Europe, and opening the critically acclaimed Athens, GA restaurant Five & Ten in March of 2000. The eclectic menu at Five & Ten includes seasonal delicacies such as home-grown Georgia 'pecan truffles' as well as comfort-inspired new Southern classics like ‘Frogmore Stew’ – Acheson’s take on a low-country boil.

Since opening Five & Ten, Hugh has gone on to open Gosford Wine with sommelier Ben Giacchino and The National with fellow chef Peter Dale. Adding to his list of dining establishments, Hugh will open an Atlanta based restaurant, named Empire State South in the summer of 2010.

Acheson's fresh approach to Southern food has earned him a great deal of recognition including Food & Wine’s Best New Chef (2002), the AJC Restaurant of the Year (2007), a four time James Beard nominee for Best Chef Southeast (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) and a 2007 Rising Star from StarChefs.com. Chef Mario Batali chose Hugh as one of the 100 contemporary chefs in Phaidon Press' Coco: 10 World Leading Master Choose 100 Contemporary Chefs.

Hugh is an active supporter of the Southern Foodways Alliance, Slow Food USA and Goergia Organics. He served of the board of Community Connection, participated in Project's Safe annual fundraiser Dancing with the Stars, and has helped raise thousands of dollars for Athens Land Trust, St. Mary's Hospital and Project Safe.

In addition to running two restaurants, a wine shop, and opening a new restaurant Hugh is writing a cookbook titled A New Turn in the South: The Cuisine of Hugh Acheson. This book is to be published by Clarkson Potter in the fall 0f 2011.

But that is to everyone outside of Athens. To Athens he is a guy who owns those restaurants, has one eyebrow, a wife far better looking than he is and two young children who are the apple of his eye.

Special private wine dinners a huge perk for wine fest benefactors

Imagine yourself sipping a glass of Burgundy from Pignatielo as you gander at the stars from the LeCraw home, or enjoy gloriously prepared food and fine wine as you experience the best of the Fisher estate, the Jones' Frog Pond Farm or the Butler home. These are just some of the very special perks this year that can be enjoyed only by benefactors and corporate sponsors of the Collective Spirits wine festival.

Benefactors will have the opportunity to attend one of four private wine dinners on Thursday, May 20, at 6 p.m., when select Highlanders will open their homes and private wine cellars for a variety of wine dinners. Local and regional chefs will prepare cuisine paired with wines from some of the leading vineyards.

This will be an evening to remember for all lovers of good food and fine wine. The vintners will be there personally to interact with the guests, educating, entertaining and creating a beautiful environment.

Venues are as follows:

The Fisher home: Enjoy this private wine dinner at Cathy and Bob Fisher's mountain manor. Wine by Viader, and cuisine by Chef Hugh Acheson of Five & Ten. Weather-permitting, guests can enjoy the patio with fireplace, or the indoor hunting lodge dining room.

Jones Frog Pond Farm: This beautiful home owned by Paula and Barry Jones, of The Summer House, features a magnificent organic garden that was showcased as the site of the 2009 Mountains in Bloom Patrons Party. Wine by Anderson Conn Valley, and cuisine by Chef Anthony Gray, High Cotton.

The LeCraw home: This mountaintop home in Highlands Country Club includes a telescope and planetarium that guests can enjoy weather-permitting. Burgundy wines from Pignatielo, Asheville, and cuisine by Chef Louis Osteen, Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant.

The Butler home: Guests will love this beautiful Highlands home owned by Harry and Beckie Butler, Georgetown, S.C. Wines by Silver Oak and cuisine by Chef Todd Ginsberg of Bocado.

Benefactors select from the above venues, with priority given to upper-level benefactor and sponsors. Limited seating is available at each venue; first-come, first-served

To become a benefactor and attend the private wine dinners and other signature Collective Spirits events, visit www.collectivespirits.com or call (828) 526-4949. Benefactor tickets start at $1,500/couple. All proceeds benefit exhibition and education programs of The Bascom, nonprofit center for the visual arts.

Wilmington Trust is the presenting sponsor of Collective Spirits. Silver sponsors are AirTran, Bank of New York-Mellon, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies/Lanigan Insurance Group and Hennessy Automotive Companies. Bronze sponsors include Franklin Ford, Harry Norman Realtors-Pat Allen and Bert Mobley, Highlands' Newspaper, The Laurel magazine, Moss Robertson Cadillac, Wines Down South and WNC magazine.