LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It was high bidding in High Valley as the Lake County Wine Alliance held its annual charity auction Saturday, Sept. 15, at Brassfield Winery.

More than 300 local people and friends of Lake County from all over the country came to support to some of the county’s most deserving charities and organizations.

While it will be several weeks before the precise figures are known, preliminary indications are that the event will be judged a huge success.

The high bid for the evening was $4,500 for John Clarke’s painting of Brassfield, which served as this year’s poster.

Then, under the skillful guidance of auctioneers Shaun Hornby and Stephanie Green, five more items sold for $4,000 or more each.

Honorary Chairman and Venue Host Jerry Brassfield welcomed the attendees with a reminder that, “If you are here tonight, you have been blessed and you can make a positive impact on this community.”

People seemed to take Brassfield’s words to heart.

A couple who traveled from Florida for the event said they did so because they liked the “low keyed country atmosphere” of Lake County. Like others who attended, visitors to the area sampled food from 25 local purveyors and wines from 25 local wineries.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the county’s five area high schools and 15 other charities and community organizations.

Representatives from the organizations will receive their checks at a special reception Dec. 3 at the Saw Shop Bistro in Kelseyville.