After a three-year pause, Wine in the Pines returned on April 26 for an unforgettable evening celebrating the 75th anniversary of Torrey Pines Conservancy. The weather teased us with forecasts of rain and arrived with dramatic gusts of wind just before the skies cleared—sunshine emerging just in time to welcome guests to our beloved Reserve.
Hosting an event in the Reserve is always a special occasion—not only for the wine, bites, and music, but for the chance to gather in community with the rare beauty of Torrey Pines as our backdrop. This year’s celebration reminded us how meaningful it is to come together in support of this cherished landscape.
We are especially grateful to the 30+ docents who made this event possible. From the crew who arrived the day before to haul and stage tables out of storage, to the large group who arrived at noon to begin set-up, to the dedicated volunteers who handled parking, check-in, the auction, and shuttle service throughout the evening—this event simply could not have happened without you. Even our tear-down team amazed us by wrapping up an hour ahead of schedule! A special thank you to Matt Xavier, our Docent President, who skillfully coordinated this volunteer army, and to his wife, who stepped in to handle a particularly annoying last-minute task that kept everything running smoothly on the day of the event.
Your support, stamina, and grace made it all happen, and I am deeply thankful to each of you—not only for your hands-on help, but for taking the time after the event to share valuable feedback. As this was my first time organizing Wine in the Pines, your insights will help us make each future gathering even better.
While the economy in April presented challenges, with some impact on ticket sales and auction participation, the event still delivered a net positive return, a meaningful accomplishment made possible by our community’s generosity and spirit. Feedback from guests was glowing—especially in praise of the food, wine, cake, and the amazing local entertainment.
Reagan Guitar Williams and Johnny Ramos are very talented blues, rock, and rockabilly musicians who got the crowd up and dancing, and they were joined by Thomas Yearsley (The Paladins) and Kid Ramos, both legendary recording artists and touring musicians with local roots.
We also extend sincere thanks to our generous sponsors, including:
San Diego Foundation, Club Torrey Pines, Bright Event Rentals, Beach Colony Apartments, Jet Limo California, Rancho La Puerta, The Lodge at Torrey Pines, Estancia La Jolla, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, Rancho Valencia, Old Globe Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Belly Up Tavern, Chas Dye of La Jolla Walking Tours, Friends of Coast Walk Trail, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Sbicca Del Mar, Calm.com.
And much gratitude to the artists and photographers who participated, including:
Joli Beal, Pat McGeeney, Dot Renshaw, Toni Williams, Grant Pecoff, Nigella Hillgarth, John Durant, and Shawn Bruner.
And finally, thank you to Rick Gulley, our board president, and the incredible members of the planning committee. Your leadership and collaboration made every detail possible.
Here’s to 75 years of protecting and celebrating Torrey Pines—and to many more moments of joy in the Reserve.