Cité du Vin and Sotheby’s host new online charity auction
Sotheby’s France has teamed up with the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux to host a new online charity auction offering 64 unique lots that have been donated by some of he world’s leading wine estates.
The auction, the proceeds of which will go to the Foundation for Wine Culture and Civilisations, comprises wines sourced from renowned cellars and vineyards in Bordeaux and beyond, and well as exclusive wine experiences. Around 90% of the lots offers some kind of experience, from tours of participating estates to exclusive tastings, and gourmet dinners with the owners.
The highlight of the sale is a lot celebrating the 170 years since the 1855 classification, which comprises one bottle of wine from the 2016 vintage from each of the 88 crus classés that make up the 1855 Grand Cru Classé Council. With an estimate of €10,000–20,000, the ‘1855-2025 Collection Cité du Vin – In the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson’ the lot includes a three-day stay at one of the 1855 Classification properties for two couples, including private tours and tastings of Château Cos d’Estournel, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château de Malle and Château d’Yquem, gourmet lunches and dinners with the owners of Château Batailley, Château Pontet-Canet and Château Giscours. Their name will also be engraves on plaque in the Cité du Vin auditorium.
Other lots include a double magnum (3L) of Château Le Pin 2018, accompanied by a private tour, tasting and exclusive lunch for four people (estimate: €15,000–30,000); a magnum (1.5L) of Château d’Yquem 2005, accompanied by a private tour of the estate and lunch for six (estimate €3,000–6,000); a Jeroboam (5L) of Château Beychevelle 2015 in its original wooden case, along with a private tour with tasting, a winemaker’s dinner, and one night at the Château for six people (estimate: €3,000–6,000); a Jeroboam (3L) of Cuvée William Deutz 1998 “Berceau 7″, accompanied by a private tour of Maison Deutz and lunch for four people (estimate: €4,000–8,000).
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Other estates donating wine and experience include Opus One (comprising a magnum of Opus One 2019, along with a guided tour of the estate and gourmet dinner for six people); Torres (comprising a bottle of Mas La Plana 2007, a VIP tour of Priorat and lunch, plus and one night in a 5-star hotel in Barcelona); and Bodega Garzón in Uruguary, which includes a vertical tasting of three magnums (1.5L) of Balasto from the 2016, 2018 and 2020 vintages and a tour of the winery.
Géraldine Thomas, director of development, sponsorship and partnerships at the Cité du Vin said the donors have “demonstrated their commitment to the cause… through the quality and originality of their lots.”
“The support of future buyers will enable us to continue our mission and to devise cultural activities that celebrate the diversity of wine heritage,” she said.
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