Loews Vanderbilt underwent a western transformation for the 33rd annual l’Eté du Vin Gone Country wine auction, a night for Nashville’s wine community to raise glasses and raise paddles in the fight against cancer.

The festivities kicked off with a sold out Vintners’ Tasting featuring wines from Cakebread Cellars, Château Lynch-Bages and Arrington Vineyards. Sommelier Jamie Pollack of Zachys Wine Auction moderated the panel, which included the winemakers themselves, Dennis Cakebread, Jean-Charles Cazes and Kip Summers. Loews executive chef Joe Deguira prepared an assortment of food pairings, including chilled duck breast, petite tomato basil cheddar biscuits, and a trio of cheeses, for guests to nibble on while they sipped and sampled eight varieties of wine.

Following the tasting, guests returned to the bustling lobby where the reception and silent auction were already underway. Marked off by small segments of split-rail fencing and adorned with a collection of bejeweled cowboy hats, the silent auction’s offerings ranged from spa packages to an “eat and greet” with the Zac Brown Band to, of course, plenty of wines. Event volunteers were easily identifiable by their silver sheriff badges, accented with colored ribbons in honor of cancer survivors, patients and victims.

As the silent auction came to a close, revelers were wrangled into the Symphony Ballroom through an entrance flanked by hay bales and horse saddles, adding rustic charm to the elegant three course dinner. Guests were encouraged to bring their own cellar favorites to complement the culinary options. Paddles were waving high throughout the evening as a variety of exclusive wines, dinners, tastings, luxury items and unique getaways were auctioned.

During the after party, guests lined up to have souvenir pictures taken at the Country Corral Photo Booth and sample sweets from a dessert buffet, stocked with tasty treats from Las Paletas and Nothing Bundt Cakes, ending the night on a sweet note for all.

—Nancy Floyd, Photographs by Michael W. Bunch