The Church of the Redeemer’s inaugural wine auction raises $88,000, with more than 600 bids placed and 90% of the donated wine sold. The wine auction, held online from Feb. 26th through Feb. 29th, featured a curated selection of more than 300 top-rated wines donated from its parishioner’s personal collection, Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. The proceeds of the auction will benefit the Church of the Redeemer’s ministries and outreach program. A large portion of the proceeds will help build a much-needed church in the Dominican Republic.  The auction also featured a diverse selection of wine spanning across various price ranges, ensuring there was something to suit every budget and preference. Led by iconic offerings from the renowned California winemaker David Abreu as well as Lokoya, Colgin Cellars and Morlet Family Vineyards, the outstanding results of the auction underscored the quality of the collection offered. The top lot in the sale was the vintage and rare bottle of Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder 2013, which fetched $900. A set of three bottles of ZD Pinot Noir, which normally retails for about $65 per bottle, were auctioned off for $45. A majority of the wine sold were rated 95 or higher, with 100 considered a perfect rating, and are often regarded as among the best in the world. Ratings are a way for wine critics, sommeliers and publications to review quality of wine for consumers. Culverhouse Jr. also recently donated $500,000 to the Church of the Redeemer -- marking the largest non-capital campaign donation in the parish’s 139-year history. “Hugh takes stewardship seriously, and his generosity continues to transform the parish and our community,” said Wilson. The Church of the Redeemer is deeply rooted in Sarasota’s history. It traces its origins to 1885, with Col. J. Hamilton Gillespie as one of its founders, who would later serve as the City of Sarasota’s inaugural mayor. The church has grown to nearly 3,000 members, making it the largest parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida and among the largest in the country. Hugh Culverhouse Jr., serves as CEO of Palmer Ranch Holdings Ltd in Sarasota, leading the 15,000-acre master-planned community for nearly three decades. Beyond his role in business, Culverhouse’s philanthropy has resulted in tens of millions of dollars to various community causes, higher education, mental health, and social welfare initiatives.