TASTE OF HOPE UNCORKS A NEW FUNDRAISING RECORD

City of Hope's 14th annual Taste of Hope fundraiser took place 9/15 at Tribeca Three Sixty in Manhattan, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit's supportive-care programs.

Taste of Hope founder and iHeart Media EVP, Global Music Marketing, Alissa Pollack hosted the lavish affair, which brought out nearly 500 guests from every major label and broadcast group, including BMI, Republic and Capitol. Pollack estimates that the event raised more than $400k, making it a record year.

Unfortunately for Alissa, we obtained some photos from the evening, and now she has to wade through our terrible jokes. And so do you.

Republic CEO Monte Lipman, Pollack, Republic SVP Promotion Lucas Romeo and Republic promo topper Gary Spangler agreed that Syrah means never having to say you're sorry.

After "tasting" several bottles of Grenache, Tommy Nappi, Audacy SVP Tim Clarke, Sarah Larkin, Pollack, Audacy COO Susan Larkin and Audacy SVP of Programming Michael Martin seriously upped their spins.

iHeart programming guru Tom Poleman, artist Jax, iHeart's Marissa Morris, Pollack and Jax’s parents (in back) felt that the Chateauneuf-du-Pape had strong tasting notes of "Hey Buddy."

Capitol Music Group promo ruler Greg Marella and Pollack found that the more you drink Valpolicella, the harder it is to say "Valpolicella."

Pollack, Premiere Networks President Julie Talbott and Big Machine Label Group overlord Scott Borchetta were of the opinion that Zinfandel is like driving a race car really fast but in wine form.

By this point, CNN's Poppy Harlow, Pollack and Futuri SVP, Content and Special Projects, Zena Burns felt that "Merlot" was a misnomer, and they preferred to call it "Mer-high."

Palmese Entertainment founder and promotion legend Richard Palmese, Pollack and Lana Palmese longed for us to be removed from rotation.

Robert Kennedy, Pollack, Big Machine's Clay Hunnicutt and iHeart President Hip Hop/R&B Programming Strategy Doc Wynter concurred that the Zweigelt had real "stationality."

Brooklyn Bowl's Peter Shapiro and Pollack were surprised to find that in addition to the giddiness, the prosecco gave them the feeling that they were being photobombed by Kid Kelly.

Greg Thompson, Pollack and 300 Entertainment's Kevin Liles swore up and down that the more Gewürztraminer you consume, the more umlauts it has.

Pollack, Sandi Spika Borchetta and John Varvatos found that the "leather" note in the Cabernet Franc was not nearly as piquant as the one in John's jacket.