Charlie Palmer, Clay Mauritson host 14th annual Project Zin to benefit Down syndrome awareness

Winemaker Clay Mauritson and celebrity chef Charlie Palmer co-hosted the 14th annual Project Zin fundraiser on Aug. 17 in Windsor to raise money for Down syndrome awareness.

The food and wine event, held at Bricoleur Vineyards, collected over $400,000 for Danville-based Down syndrome Connection of the Bay Area, according a news release from organizers.

This year’s sold-out gathering was attended by 300 people who sipped Zinfandels from 21 wineries and ate dishes from local restaurants. An auction, led by Golden State Warriors’ in-arena host Franco Finn, raised $250,000 and a silent auction raised $75,000, according to the release.

General admission tickets were $200 a person. VIP tickets, which included early admission, were $350 a person.

Mauritson, founder of Mauritson Wines in the Dry Creek Valley, started the event in 2010 after his oldest son, Brady, was diagnosed with Down syndrome, according to the Project Zin website.

Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources and creating awareness for Down syndrome