February 10, 2002
Auctioneer's spiel spells success for fund-raisers
By Erin Becker, The Island Packet

Sit down with wine aficionado David Reynolds and it's possible you'll discuss everything but the fruit of the vine.

He'll tell you the story of how he and his wife, Colleen, have wed twice -- once at a vineyard -- but still aren't legally married because of a mix-up with the paperwork.

Jonathan Dyer/The Island Packet David Reynolds, with his wit and wisdom about wine and fund-raisers, is an ideal auctioneer for next month's Wine Auction and Celebration at the Self Family Arts Center. "My job is much more to entertain an audience and keep people involved," he says.

Or he'll discuss his vast collection of formal vests.

But no matter the subject, this affable Brit likely will captivate his audience. And that's a good thing, especially for Reynolds -- one of the country's top auctioneers.

With an extensive background in the wine industry, Reynolds has created a niche as a fund-raising wine auctioneer. On March 16, he will lend his talents to the Wine Auction Gala at the Self Family Arts Center.

Based in San Francisco, the 48-year-old auctioneer oversees some 50 auction events a year. To date, he's helped raise millions of dollars for charities nationwide.

He's wielded his gavel at some of the most prestigious auctions in the United States, including the Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction, Sun Valley Wine Auction, the Mendocino Wine Affair, the Vintage Dallas Wine Auction, the California Wine Auction and the PONCHO Wine Auction in Seattle.

And now, Reynolds will preside over the black-tie event on Hilton Head Island, which is part of the art center's Wine Auction and Celebration 2002. The gala's theme is "A Walk in the Vineyard" and will include wine tasting, dinner and silent and live auctions.

Now in its seventh year, the Wine Auction and Celebration (March 12-16) benefits the center's education and outreach programs.

Although he's good at what he does, Reynolds will be the first to admit he's more showman than salesman.

"My job is much more to entertain an audience and keep people involved," he said during an interview in the wine cellar at the South Carolina Yacht Club on a recent visit here.

The red vest under Reynold's black tuxedo jacket almost matches the glass of wine in his hand. Surrounded by bottles of wine, he looks every bit the part of a wine connoisseur.

Reynolds, who moved to the United States in 1976, began his career with a three-day crash course reading about wine at the Los Angeles Public Library. Although he hadn't planned on a career in the wine industry, Reynolds said his "aptitude toward drinking wine," combined with his accent, helped him get a job at the Wine Merchant in Beverly Hills.

While there, Reynolds said he tasted some of the world's finest wine and rubbed elbows with celebrities, such as Burgess Meredith, Richard Thomas, Candice Bergen and Alfred Hitchcock.

"I had the greatest time," he said.

Since that first job, Reynolds has worked as a wine retailer, wholesaler, sommelier, radio commentator and has even made his own wine. Those experiences, he said, prepared him for what he does now.

He stumbled into the fund-raising circuit nearly 20 years ago when a friend asked him to help with an event in Sun Valley, Idaho. That event, the Sun Valley Wine Auction, is now one of the top five charity wine events in the country, he said.

As an auctioneer, Reynolds has sold just about everything, including trips, wine, art, jewelry, antiques and horses. But he's also sold some more unusual items, such as two large pizzas for $4,000 and a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts for $2,000.

Why would anyone spend that much money for snack foods?

The reason, Reynolds said, is because people aren't just buying an auction item, they're spending money to benefit people in their community.

"The big rule is that people give money to people and not causes," he said. "What makes an auction a success is the sense of community that's in that room when you're asking for money."

Unlike other auctioneers, Reynolds likes to be involved with an auction long before the big event. He takes stock of the auction items in advance and prepares anecdotes or routines to sell each one. He usually splits the items into three categories -- wines, trips and meals/culinary items.

"One of the things I do is put lots (items for bid) in order," Reynolds said. "A typical one would be a trip to Italy, then follow it up with a gift certificate for an Italian restaurant."

Reynolds said he also sticks to his "NATO" -- not attached to outcome -- theory. While on the auction stage, Reynolds said he doesn't worry about how much people will pay for a particular lot.

"I just go in and do the best job I can do," he said.