Santa Monica Wine Auction 2026 Rules

Silent Auction

All items in the Silent Auction are available for bids via GiveSmart's electronic bidding system. Persons desiring to bid must do so by registering to bid with credit card. That will give them bidding access in GiveSmart, allowing their bid amount for each item sought to be captured. Each increase in bid must meet or exceed the minimum increase figure assigned to each item.

Pick-Up Information 

All items will be available for pick-up at the Santa Monica Education Foundation office (1717 4th Street, Ste. 132, Santa Monica 90401) starting Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 9:30am-4:30pm. Pick-ups can be scheduled for two weeks following the close of the auction, until May 11th. Please call 310-396-4557 before arriving to pick-up. Parking is not available at the Ed Foundation office. Please pull to the right in the driveway by the fire lane and call the office. Items will be brought to your car. You will need to show ID for pick up. No items will be shipped. All items not picked up within 60 days of the event date (April 26, 2026) shall be resold or donated back to the Santa Monica Education Foundation. By bidding, the bidder agrees to be bound by these conditions of purchase.

Silent and Live Auction 

All Sales are Final. No refunds or exchanges will be made. All payments must be made by the end of the event, April 26, 2026 for LIVE Auction Items (unless a staff member was told at the event that you would be paying by check or ACH) and by 11:59pm on April 27, 2026 for silent auction items. All items under $1000 will automatically be charged to the card on file, unless prior instructions have been given to SMEF.

The Santa Monica Education Foundation does not warrant and expressly denies responsibility for, and in no event shall be responsible or liable for, the accuracy of the description of items offered, or the correctness of the catalog, including, but not limited to: the origin, rarity, age, rating, genuineness, quantity,  aging potential, present and future quality or condition of the wines or other lots described. All statements by seller are merely statements of opinion and are not to be relied upon by prospective purchasers as warranties or representations of fact. Given the charitable goal of this event, bidders agree that they will honor their bids, notwithstanding any discrepancies between the descriptions herein and the actual lots. All wine and other items are sold "AS IS." All trip, dining and activity packages are sold as described. Substitutions of destinations, itineraries, facilities, accommodation, dates or associated activities are not available through seller and requests for same will not be accepted. Auction service items must be used prior to the expiration date listed on the certificate, or, if no expiration date is explicitly stated, within one year of this auction, unless otherwise agreed to by the item donor. Seller does not make any representation or warranty regarding, and is not responsible for, the quality or usability of any items sold. No refunds will be given for items that cannot be redeemed. By their purchase, the buyer waives any claim for liability against the Santa Monica Education Foundation or their agents, none of which are responsible for any injury or damage that may result from use of the property or services sold.

Live Auction 

No bid shall be valid unless acknowledged by the auctioneer. In the case of two or more persons bidding simultaneously, the auctioneer will determine who made the final bid. The auctioneer will declare the lot "SOLD" and the highest acknowledged bidder shall be deemed to have purchased the lot and thereupon assumes full risk and responsibility thereof. The person making the final bid will immediately pay the full purchase price. All sales are final and there will be no exchanges or refunds. Please read the auction item description carefully and note any restrictions. Should a dispute arise between bidders, or should the auctioneer doubt the validity of any bid, the auctioneer shall have the absolute right to resolve the dispute, re-offer, resell or withdraw the lot in question. Seller's sole responsibility for non-delivery shall be limited to refunding the purchase price. By bidding, the bidder agrees to be bound by these conditions of purchase.