1st November, 2013
by
Patrick Schmitt
The Grape Foundation’s inaugural Children’s Charity Auction has raised over £55,000 in a single day, with further pledges expected to total over £70,000.
The auction was described by Hugh Johnson OBE as probably ‘the starriest charity wine line-up ever’, and the lots were exhibited at last week’s London Wine Experience, from French wine writers Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve.
Formed just three months ago by Paul Anthony Gidley and Johanna Wilson, The Grape Foundation was able to amass an impressive collection of rare, signed, and large-format bottles thanks to the outstanding support of some of the world’s finest producers.
‘We have been overwhelmed by the support for The Grape Foundation by so many people across the wine world’ said Wilson ‘it is a real reflection of the industry’s sense of community and compassion’
‘This is just the beginning,’ said Gidley. ‘Now our objectives are understood and our initial goal has been achieved, we are able to move on, with the support of the wine world, to create other outstanding events for the good of underprivileged and unwell children in every winemaking region.’
He continued, ‘The next events in both The United Kingdom and France this Spring will be exciting news indeed and, will certainly be comparable to legendary charitable events such as the ‘Hospices de Beaune’.
The first grant made by The Grape Foundation will be £10,000 to Children With Cancer UK, the charity founded by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1988.
As previously reported by db, The Primum Familiae Vini, an established group of 11 prestigious family-owned producers, contributed their extremely rare Collector’s Case and Passport.
While the beautiful, custom-built case contains 12 of the PFV’s finest wines, including 2000 Pol Roger Cuvée Winston Churchill, 2002 Château Mouton Rothschild, and 2005 Sassicaia, the passport is an even more glittering prize, entitling the lucky winner to visit all of the member estates, dine with each family, and explore together their wines. Both the passport and the case were won by an anonymous bid that far exceeded the reserve price.
The generosity did not stop there. A Prize created by Veuve Clicquot’s cellar master Dominique Demarville comprised a dinner and night at the Champagne brand’s newly-refurbished Hotel du Marc.
A bidder called Thomas Beattie bought the experience for a close friend as a surprise wedding present, but Demarville thought this was so generous, he gave Beattie an identical package too.
A select number of elite bottles from The Grape Foundation’s collection have been held back for events over the next few weeks and for online bidding.
The Grape Foundation has teamed up with www.GrapePip.com and all cuvee’s and vintages will be seen and available there soon.
Lucky bidders may still get their hands on bottles including a magnum of 2002 Penfolds Grange, three magnums of 2010 Château La Fleur-Pétrus, and six bottles of 2009 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Les Beaux Monts.