Biographies

Shaun Hornby, Auctioneer

Shaun Hornby, owner/operator of Hornby's Furniture Restoration in Lakeport and vocalist and guitarist of the popular band LC Diamonds, will be the evening's auctioneer. Hornby is an experienced and dynamic auctioneer, having conducted auctions in England and in Lake County. Born and raised in Cheshire, England, Hornby moved to Lake County in 1999 with his wife Janice and daughter Faith. His wife owns and operates Skin Fitness in Lakeport, while his daughter was crowned Miss Teen Lake County in 2010.

Stephanie Green, Auctioneer

Stephanie Green of Kelseyville will assist with auctioneering and provide wine information at the annual Lake County Wine Auction. Green, of Kelseyville, is a certified sommelier through the Court of Masters Sommeliers who owns and operates Focused on Wine, a wine bar and tasting room in downtown Kelseyville. She is a wine educator, a private wine consultant, and noted cellar master of wines, on both the domestic and international wine scene.

Bill Brunetti, Honorary Chair

Bill Brunetti, Lakeport businessman and property manager, is the honorary chair for this year's Wine Auction. In 1983, Brunetti moved to Lakeport from the Bay Area with his wife Patty and their two children to open Bruno's Foods. Buying, selling and displaying wine, especially Lake County wines, became one of his passions. He sold Bruno's Foods in 2006. He considers himself semi-retired, but is involved in his current passion of growing grapes and making wine at his homestead winery, Quattro Fratelli . Active in community nonprofits and organizations, Brunetti is chair of the Industry Relations Committee for the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

Mike Thompson, Special Guest

Mike Thompson has represented Lake County in Congress since 1998. Prior to serving in Congress, he represented Lake County in the California State Senate. He is the co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wine Caucus, which consists of over 215 U.S. Senate and House members. He is also a member and former co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of moderate Democrats. Mike currently serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mike has been an active supporter of the Lake County Wine Alliance and the annual Wine Auction since its inception, believing that the wine industry is a major contributor to the Lake County economy, providing employment, protecting agricultural lands, and adding to the recognition that enjoying wine in moderation is part of a healthy lifestyle. He believes that the Wine Auction benefits many worthy charitable organizations while also bringing attention to Lake County as a premium wine region that grows grapes for wineries all over California as well as producing its own outstanding wines.

Mike and his wife Janet, a family nurse practitioner, own a small vineyard in Lake County. They are the parents of two sons, a firefighter and a deputy sheriff, and grandparents of four children.

Barney Fetzer, Cuvee Winemaker

Barney Fetzer, vineyard manager and winemaker for Ceago Vinegarden, is honored to be chosen as this year's cuvee winemaker for the Lake County Wine Auction. He is proud to be a third generation grape grower and winemaker, following in the tradition of his grandfather, Bernard Fetzer, and father, Jim Fetzer. Barney moved to Lake County in 2001 when Ceago planted its first vineyards on the northshore of Clear Lake. He quickly noticed the quality of fruit and the elegance that comes in making wines from grapes grown in the area. Barney and the entire Ceago team look forward to continue producing estate grown wines that display the terroir of their property in Lake County.

Barney will use donations of Cabernet Sauvignon from Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery, Six Sigma Ranch & Winery, Steele Wines, and Wildhurst Vineyards to craft the 2008 cuvee. The 2010 Sauvignon Blanc cuvee will be composed of donations from Ceago Vinegarden, Langtry Estate & Vineyards, Shed Horn Cellars, Six Sigma Ranch & Winery, Steele Wines, Tulip Hill Winery, and Vigilance Winery.