Sotheby's & the Cité du Vin - join forces for online charity auction

2024-02-13

benefitting the Foundation for wine culture and civilisations

Sixty-lot sale offering an exceptional selection of ex-cellar wines and unique experiences, featuring generous donations from wineries around the world, including some of Bordeaux's greatest Châteaux to raise funds in support of the Foundation’s mission to protect, celebrate and share wine’s heritage.

Nick Pegna - Global Head of Wine & Spirits - Sotheby’s

“We are delighted to be partnering once again with the iconic Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, to offer an array of extraordinary vinous experiences and exceptional bottles sourced directly from world renowned wineries which have never left their cellars. Generous donations from the participating winemakers have made it possible to bring together an impressive range of lots, from private tours and tastings, exclusive dinners, and rarely-offered stays at the châteaux, to a selection of wines in different formats, with a particular emphasis on larger bottles. This auction is a true celebration of wine culture, providing a unique opportunity to acquire wines of outstanding provenance and the special privilege of meeting the people who make them. We hope that, in turn, wine lovers will generously support the sale and secure their trip of a lifetime, all in aid of the Foundation for wine culture and civilisations.”

Building on the success of their first collaboration in 2019, Sotheby's Wine and the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux are teaming up for a second online charity auction. From 12 to 26 February, wine enthusiasts will have an opportunity to bid on wines sourced directly from prestigious estates as well as unique wine experiences, including visits, tastings, dinners and overnight stays at wineries in Bordeaux and beyond, both within France and around the world. Together, the 60 lots carry an estimate in the region of €200,000.

Ever since it opened in 2016, the Cité du Vin has brought a renewed energy to Bordeaux. Praised for its highly innovative immersive approach, both educational and entertaining, and housed in astonishing architecture, the museum has played a key role in drawing the world's attention to the cultures and civilisations of wine across the centuries and continents. The auction will raise funds to support the Foundation for wine culture and civilisations in its mission to protect and share the heritage of wine with the widest possible audience, through the creation and development of cultural activities within the Cité du Vin. Each estate featured in the auction has generously donated their lots to the Foundation, which in turn is offering them for sale.

Sylvie Cazes - President of the Foundation for wine culture and civilisations - Cité du Vin

“The city of Bordeaux has undergone a complete transformation in recent years and now welcomes a large number of visitors. The city has always been open to people from different backgrounds, and today we are thrilled to be able to offer them, thanks to the Cité du Vin, the opportunity to discover the cultural heritage of the world's great vineyards.”

Géraldine Thomas - Director of Sponsorship - Partnerships and Development - Cité du Vin

“We are delighted to have once again been able to count on the support of our generous donors to offer a selection of extraordinary lots that are sure to delight all wine lovers. To give just a taste, we have an extremely rare lot from Château Le Pin comprising two double magnums of the 2011 and 2015 vintages, plus lunch at the château with the owners, and a lot from Château Cheval Blanc comprising an imperial of the 2008 vintage, a tasting tour and lunch. There will also be prized lots from Château Latour and from Tenuta dell'Ornellaia in Tuscany. We are also delighted with this renewed collaboration with Sotheby's, whose expertise and reputation will enable us to bring this sale to an international audience.”

Photo: © ANAKA / Cité du Vin / XTU-architects