History of the Wine Auction

The Jackson Hole Wine Auction benefiting the Grand Teton Music Festival began in 1995, inspired by the vision of then Board President William D. Weiss. In 1962, the Festival started out like many nascent cultural projects in secluded communities, with a small, inspired staff working out of the founder’s home. As the prominence of the Music Festival grew, so did its financial needs, and as such, Weiss created the first annual Jackson Hole Wine Auction. A long time collector of fine wines, Weiss saw the connection between connoisseurs of great music and special wines and realized that a unique wine auction would attract great interest for both the Music Festival and the Town of Jackson. The first event raised in excess of $265,000 and established the Jackson Hole Wine Auction as a major underwriting vehicle for the expanding needs of the Festival. The event was designed to feature the créme de la créme of prominent national chefs and international vintners, and has attracted a who's who of talent since its inception. Today the vision is carried on by chairmen, W.H. Baird Garrett and Ken Fredrickson. With every successive year, the auction continues to grow in prominence and revenue, bringing an epicurean focus to this very special town at the foot of the Teton Mountain Range. 

Every two years, the Jackson Hole Wine Auction presents a multi-day extravaganza of food and wine, where chefs and vintners from around the world gather to present their unique creations at a variety of events. The weekend begins with pairs of guest chefs and vintners designing multi-course menus that feature their talents at intimate dinner parties in some of Jackson Hole’s most beautiful homes. On the following day, join us for exclusive tastings and educational seminars as well as the local’s favorite “Taste of Jackson Hole.” Our esteemed featured chefs and vintners again showcase their expertise at a gala dinner and auction for more than 600 guests on the final night.  Alternate years have featured single day celebrations that are unique in format such as vertical vintage tastings with a keynote winery such as Chateau Montelena, Grace Family Vineyard or Shafer Vineyards, combined with very limited, exclusive auction offerings. The most recent multi-day event in June of 2008 raised over $875,000 to benefit the community and educational outreach programs of the Grand Teton Music Festival.