Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, the Foundation strongly considered cancelling the 2020 Vintner Dinner & Wine Auction. This annual event serves as the main fundraiser to support the important educational mission of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. But, thanks to the encouragement of our key supporters, members, and especially the generous winemakers involved year after year, it was decided to proceed with the Foundation’s first-ever virtual Vintner Dinner & Wine Auction: AT HOME EDITION.

The 75-minute virtual event streamed to registered guests on Thursday, November 12, 2020, and was hosted by Tanji Patton, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist and Host & Producer of Goodtaste with Tanji. The program, created and produced by Mark Burns, included commentary from featured vintners & winemakers, messages from our two Texas gourmet chefs, updates from the leadership of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University and the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, as well as an online auction of a wide variety of fine wines and one-of-a-kind Bush family memorabilia.

For the first time ever, Foundation friends and supporters were able to join from their own homes to support the continued legacy of President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush. The success of the 2020 Vintner Dinner & Wine Auction was thanks to the participants around the country who rallied to the cause, the event sponsors and partners, as well as co-chairs Doro and Bobby Koch.