It may have been the aroma of wine being poured from 15 high-end wineries. Perhaps it was the classic cars on display courtesy of Club Auto Sport. Or maybe it was simply the crowd’s jubilation at the opportunity to mingle with their favorite Sharks athletes. Whatever it was, Sharks fans once again exhibited their overwhelming generosity at the Sharks Foundation’s annual “Sampling with the Sharks” wine tasting fundraiser presented by Citrix.

By the conclusion of the evening, over $75,000 had been raised for the Sharks Foundation, which will be redistributed back into our local community to help youth and families in need.

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Click here to see photos from the event

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Event partner Joseph George Fines Wines secured wineries from throughout Northern California to pour for the nearly 300 attendees, including the entire Sharks roster of players, coaches and broadcasters.

Sipping on fine wine, nibbling on appetizers courtesy of Le Papillon and placing bids on exclusive Sharks merchandise and experiences, attendees enjoyed a one-of-a-kind fundraising event.

The evening, which was generously sponsored by Citrix, concluded in spectacular fashion, with two enthusiastic groups purchasing a “Culinary and Wine Tasting” experience with Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray for $15,000 each, bringing in $30,000 for the Sharks Foundation in a matter of minutes.

This year, the Sharks Foundation will be donating a portion of the proceeds from “Sampling with the Sharks” to the Rotary Club’s PlayGarden Project. The PlayGarden, slated to open in San Jose in 2014, will provide a place where children with special needs and their families can play together.

The Sharks Foundation would like to thank the following organizations for supporting this year’s event: Citrix, Joseph George Fine Wines, Le Papillon, International Culinary Center, Silver Oak Cellars, Duckhorn Vineyards, Far Niente, Miner Family Vineyards, Penfolds/Etude, McIntyre Vineyards, Kathryn Kennedy, Pride Mountain Vineyards, La Sirena, Solitude, Ridge Vineyards, Amouse Bouche, Mi Sueno and DBI Beverage.