If the name of the Kaleidoscope Gala’s featured winemaker, Nebil “Bilo” Zarif, sounds familiar, it’s because he lived in Denver in the years he was married to billionaire Marvin Davis’ daughter, Nancy.
The two had divorced by the time the Davis family traded the Mile High City for Los Angeles in 1985; she is now married to entrepreneur Ken Rickel.
was born in Turkey and developed an interest in fine wines as a young man studying in Paris. Starting in 1994, he developed two wineries in the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo areas before acquiring and producing the award-winning wines served at Kaleidoscope.
“I love Denver,” Zarif told the 299 guests attending this weekend-long event held at the Ritz-Carlton. “I graduated from the University of Denver and my kids were born here.”
Beth Bowlen Wallace, director of special projects for the Denver Broncos, and HealthONE president/CEO Sylvia Young chaired this benefit for the . Unique because it involves an overnight stay at the Ritz, Kaleidoscope began with a champagne reception and silent auction and ended with Sunday brunch that could be enjoyed either in one’s room or in Elway’s restaurant.
Saturday night’s five-course dinner with Summerland wine pairings was designed for the occasion by the hotel’s executive chef, Ruben Garcia.
Dr. Reginald Washington, chief medical officer at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, and his wife, Faye, joined the foundation’s executive director, Luanne Williams, in helping the chairwomen welcome such guests as Denver Mayor Michael Hancock; Maureen Tarrant, president/CEO of Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, with hubby John Fitzgerald; chief Mike Long and his wife, Karen; Melissa and Dr. Jon Brandon; Bill and Taryn Edwards; Helenn Franzgrote; Brady and Cindy Kellogg; Amy Harmon; Ryan and Patty Ramey; Ellen and Dr. Marc Sarti; Quinn Washington and Molly Fortune; Alvin and Danielle LaCabe; Margie and Dr. Manning Mauldin; and Bob and Virginia Heykoop.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
Online: More pictures from this event denverpost.com/seengallery
Bubbles and song
The internationally acclaimed husband-and-wife duo, Cynthia Clayton and Hector Vasquez, headlined Opera Colorado’s 2015 Champagne Gala. Pictures from the black-tie dinner-dance can be seen by visiting denverpost.com/seengallery
