Rancho Mirage, Calif., March 18, 2010 – Select Italy was proud to donate a travel package featuring a magnificent Tuscan wine vacation at the exclusive Tenuta di Lilliano for the KCET Desert Cities Wine Auction, the proceeds from which benefit KCET’s Children’s Literacy Programs and Outreach. The live auction took place March 13 at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. Select Italy’s travel package had the distinction of receiving the highest bid ($6,250) of the evening. The winning bidders will receive a week’s stay at the Lilliano, a vast property in the heart of the Chianti, during la vendemmia, the annual grape harvest.

KCET is public media for Southern and Central California. On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of the Golden State. Watched by four million viewers a month in 11 counties, KCET has the largest broadcast reach of any public media television station in the United States. KCET Desert Cities is a regional service of KCET offered exclusively in the Coachella Valley, which includes the cities of Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and others.

Andrea Sertoli, President of Select Italy, attended the event, as did prominent winemakers from distinguished California wineries. “We’re thrilled that Select Italy could provide an auction package for this worthy event, which benefits important children’s educational and literacy programs in Southern California, that showcases an exceptional property in the one of the world’s most justly celebrated wine regions, the Chianti,” said Sertoli. The Chianti region is Tuscany’s largest classified wine region, producing more than eight million cases a year. The luxurious Tenuta de Lilliano is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico.

Other sponsors for the highly-publicized wine auction included the Fairmont Monte Carlo and the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, with additional support from Palm Springs Life Magazine, prestigious California wineries from Santa Barbara to Napa, and Terlato Wines International.

For more information about the KCET Desert Cities Wine Auction, visit KCET’s Website, www.kcet.org. For information about villa bookings in Italy and other products and services available exclusively from Select Italy, visit www.selectitaly.com.

Press contact:
Anthony Grant
Tel. (646) 379-0767
tony@selectitaly.com

About Select Italy

Based in Chicago and New York City with representatives in Italy, Select Italy has been a trusted ambassador of Italian travel expertise since its establishment in 1997 by Italian-born company President, Andrea Sertoli. The ultimate source for travel to Italy, Select Italy offers a wide array of superior Italian products and services, including customized itineraries, state-of-the-art tours and packages, wedding/honeymoon trips, unique culinary classes, a complete pre-departure ticketing service for museums and musical events, private guided services, yacht charters, transportation, hotel reservations, villa bookings and more. Select Italy is committed to creating the perfect vacation and maximizing enjoyment in Italy for its clients by adhering to the highest standards of professionalism. For more information call (800) 877-1755 or visit www.selectitaly.com.