High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction

Each year, we invite old and new friends to savor wine and food all while supporting our beloved High Museum of Art. For over thirty years, the High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction has brought the best wineries to Atlanta to share their wonderful wines with our Benefactors. Our mission to support the High along with our love for exceptional wine is the perfect reason to join us this coming March to “party with a purpose.”

Since 1993, our generous Benefactors and long-time vintner friends have helped the Wine Auction raise $37 million to support the High Museum of Art and we are counting on our community to pull together once more to continue our time-honored tradition. Becoming a Benefactor is the only way to ensure you will be part of this fantastic event. The Wine Auction’s exclusive events consistently sell out so becoming a Benefactor ensures you have access to all the top wineries and standout chefs we invite every year. Your support allows the High Museum to continue serving diverse audiences and engaging the community with world-class exhibitions and dynamic programs.

Elizabeth first attended the High Museum Wine Auction in 2004 at Lenox Square and is thrilled to co-chair the 2026 event at its exciting new home: Pullman Yards.

A leader in Atlanta’s interior design community, she has supported decorative arts and lauded the accomplishments of local creatives in print for 20 years. A 23-year media veteran, Elizabeth is the CEO of Buckhead Crown Media, which publishes beloved monthly magazine Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles and executes three celebrated regional events each year: the Southeastern Designer Showhouse, Home for the Holidays Designer Showhouse, and Atlanta Tour of Kitchens.

Elizabeth’s husband, John, ignited a shared passion for Burgundy and Bordeaux, though recent trips to Napa and Sonoma have given California’s Pinots and ultramarines a seat at their table.

Outside the office, Elizabeth enjoys volunteer work centered around her family. She is currently Vice President, Membership, of Young Men’s Service League–North Atlanta; Parent Support Group Co-Chair at The Lovett School; and a member of the National Society of Washington Family Descendants, Colonial Dames, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Along with her husband and their four active sons, she enjoys being their biggest cheerleader, playing pickleball, and traveling and experiencing new adventures together.

Erica A. Thomas is the founder of the Eating With Erica lifestyle brand and the Eating With Erica Supper Club, a private members-only dining community redefining how women connect, network, and experience hospitality. With more than a decade in the culinary and lifestyle space, she has partnered with Michelin-starred restaurants, award-winning chefs, and James Beard Award–winning talent. Through the Supper Club, she creates economic impact for chefs and restaurants while amplifying diverse culinary voices.

Erica curates intimate, high-touch dining experiences that bring together CEOs, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and leaders in Atlanta, West Palm Beach, and beyond. With over 48 luxury dining activations in under two years, her events foster community, conversation, and connection.

Her lifestyle brand has collaborated with national partners including Woodford Reserve, Angel’s Envy, Walmart, Lexus, Draper James, and Target. As a leading voice in modern entertaining, her work has been featured in Wine Spectator, TIME, Southern Living, and Martha Stewart. She has served as a monthly FOX 5 contributor for seven years and has appeared on The Today Show and Good Morning America.

Committed to service, Erica has supported several nonprofits. She served as 2025 Auction Chair for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and is a Corps board member of the Atlanta Ballet. She also supports Odyssey at Westminster, No Kid Hungry, Feeding America, and Gift Biz.

When not hosting, she enjoys family time, farmers’ market visits, and sharing Cabernet and pizza with her husband, Desmond, and their children, Maverick and Sydney.

For more than five decades, ZD Wines has stood as a pillar of Napa Valley winemaking, defined by a dedication to family, innovation, and a pursuit of “zero defects” in every bottle. Founded in 1969, ZD is named for the initials of the founding partners Gino Zepponi and Norman deLeuze, as well as the engineering term “Zero Defects”. Today, the deLeuze family owns and operates the winery, with second- and third-generation members continuing the legacy. Their certified organic vineyards in both Rutherford and Carneros speak to the family’s deep commitment to sustainable farming, biodiversity, and renewable energy — values that have shaped ZD’s identity since its earliest days. 

Over the years, ZD Wines has produced world-class Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc, continuously recognized for their quality, consistency, and style. The winery also pushes the boundaries of expression with projects such as Abacus, their solera-style, multi-vintage Reserve Cabernet blend. Beyond the cellar, ZD is known for philanthropy and community-building, raising over $1 million to support causes ranging from non-toxic cancer research to youth development. 

Visitors to ZD’s Rutherford hospitality center experience more than extraordinary wine — the winery offers sweeping views of the valley floor, contemporary tasting spaces designed for connection, and an atmosphere infused with the warmth of a truly family-driven enterprise. It is this spirit that has guided their enduring 34-year relationship with the High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction, making ZD one of the longest-standing and most beloved participants in our history. 

This year, we are proud to honor ZD Wines — not only for their benchmark wines, but for their unwavering loyalty to this event and the Atlanta community. Accepting this recognition on behalf of the deLeuze family is Teresa D’Aurizio, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and an integral part of ZD’s story for over 25 years. Teresa joined ZD in 1998 and has become a steward of the brand, leading a dynamic team and representing the winery across the country with her signature warmth, humor, and unmatched hospitality. Guided by her personal motto, “Have ZD Wines, Will Travel,” Teresa embodies the very spirit of ZD — one rooted in passion, friendship, and a belief that great wine brings people together. 

ZD Wines has been part of the Wine Auction for over 30 years, making them a beloved member of our extended family. We are proud to celebrate their leadership, legacy, and extraordinary contributions to the world of wine — and to this event we all hold dear. 

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Explore our Corporate Benefits Booklet. Please contact MacKenzie Truitt, Assistant Director of Corporate Giving, at MacKenzie.Truitt@high.org for more information.