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37th Annual l’Eté du Vin to Honor GAJA, Legendary Italian Wine Producer

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 18, 2016) – The Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce the 37th Annual l’Eté du Vin, “Generations of Greatness” will take place from July 28-July 30, 2016. This year’s auction will honor legendary Italian Wine Estate, GAJA, represented by special guest of honor, Gaia Gaja. l’Eté du Vin is chaired by Kimberly Cooper, Marjorie Feltus-Hawkins and Pam Taylor.

GAJA is recognized as one of the greatest and most venerated winemaking estates in Europe. As one of the earliest independent bottlers of fine wine in Italy, GAJA has been instrumental in raising the perception and value of Italian wine across the globe. Fifth-generation owner, Gaia Gaja, will come to Nashville to share her family’s story and wines. The daughter of Angelo Gaia, recognized by Wine Spectator as the “Italian Colossus,” Gaia entered the family business in 2008 and serves as the winery’s top ambassador.

“When talking about the best wine in Italy, it does not get better than GAJA,” says Holly Whaley, President/CEO of Nashville Wine Auction. “We are honored to recognize this legendary Italian estate and introduce the charming Gaia Gaja to our wine community.”

Tickets are anticipated to sell out very quickly. This year’s schedule of events is as follows.

  • Grand Cru Evening, Thursday, June 22, 2016 at the home of Sharon and Bill Piper – $250 per person
  • Vintners’ Tasting, Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Richland Country Club – $150 per person
  • Patrons’ Dinner, Friday, July 29, 2016 at The Hermitage Hotel – $1,000 per person
  • 37th Annual l’Eté du Vin, Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel – $325 per person

The Grand Cru Evening will kick off l’Eté du Vin with a cocktail party at the home of Sharon and Bill Piper. Country music superstar, Kix Brooks, will be honored as the 2016 Norman M. Lipman Award recipient by Robert S. Lipman. Guests in attendance will have the first opportunity to preview the upcoming l’Eté du Vin Auction and meet representatives from the organization’s six cancer fighting beneficiaries.

The festivities with Gaia Gaja will begin at the Vintners’ Tasting, chaired by Elise and Harvey Crouch. Upon arrival at Richland Country Club, guests will be able to interact with Gaia, as she guides the audience through a structured, seated tasting of the extraordinary wines of GAJA.

The Patrons’ Dinner celebrates the marriage of GAJA’s fine wines with cuisine prepared by some of the country’s best chefs. Patrons will enter the majestic Hermitage Hotel and enjoy a Champagne Reception in the lobby before being seated in the ballroom for a spectacular meal prepared by Chefs Michael Hudman and Andrew Ticer and Chef Cory Untch of Capitol Grille. Chefs Hudman and Ticer, of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in Memphis, TN, have garnered national acclaim as finalists for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2015 and 2016 and are in the process of opening their fifth restaurant later this year. Chef Cory Untch recently moved to Nashville after more than 10 years with Relais & Château properties. Most recently, he served as executive chef at The Inn at Dos Brisas.

At l’Eté du Vin guests will experience the thrill of the wine community coming together to support the country’s longest running charity wine auction at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Attendees will indulge in a gourmet dinner and bid on fine wines, unique dinners and tastings, one-of-a-kind trips and luxury items in the Silent and Live Auctions. Fritz Hatton of Zachy’s will return as auctioneer for the fourth year in a row.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $20 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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Kix Brooks to receive Norman M. Lipman Award for “Leadership and Community Involvement”

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KIX BROOKS TO RECEIVE NORMAN M. LIPMAN AWARD
Country Music Star and Wine Entrepreneur lauded for ‘Leadership and Community Involvement’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 3, 2016) – The Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce that Kix Brooks, one-half of the best-selling dueo in country music history, Brooks & Dunn, will receive the Norman M. Lipman Award for his “Leadership and Community Involvement.” The Norman M. Lipman Award was established in 1991 by Nashville Wine Auction and the Lipman family upon the death of Norman Lipman. The award honors and acknowledges individuals who demonstrate character, achievement and spirit as outstanding as the man for whom the award is named. Kix Brooks has achieved worldwide success as a country music star, but has also been an instrumental part of Nashville’s wine community through his generosity and entrepreneurship.

On Leadership, Kix Brooks had both the passion and vision to develop a beautiful winery in Arrington, TN, where wine lovers could gather and taste wines made on the property in a picturesque setting. As a longtime lover of wine, Kix’s entrepreneurial spirit allowed him to make this vision a reality. Kip Summers, Arrington Vineyard’s winemaker notes that Kix is “not one to sit by and wait for others to do something – he rolls up his sleeves and gets it done.” Whether he is on stage during l’Ete du Vin leading donors to raise their paddles, offering his home as a venue for Nashville Wine Auction events or donating from his personal cellar, Kix has been instrumental in helping raise funds to fight cancer.

On Community Involvement, Kix celebrates the ethos of genuine engagement with organizations for which he is a part. As someone whose family has been affected by cancer, Kix’s commitment to fighting the disease remains steadfast. Kix serves on many boards – including the Monroe Carell Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and Operation Finally Home – because of his interest in improving the community in which he lives.  In 2014, Kix was the inaugural recipient of the Country Music Association’s Humanitarian Award – a testament to his spirit of giving back.

“We are honored to present the Norman M. Lipman Award to Kix Brooks,” said Chase Cole, Chairman of the Board of Nashville Wine Auction. “Kix’s ‘Leadership and Community Involvement’ have helped Nashville Wine Auction support our beneficiaries so we can fight – and hopefully find a cure for cancer. Thank you, Kix, for all you have done for Nashville Wine Auction.”

ABOUT NORMAN LIPMAN: Norman Lipman is remembered by many as a generous humanitarian and a national leader of the wine and spirits industry.  He was a founder and zealous supporter of l’Eté du Vin, the country’s oldest charity wine auction. Lipman left a legacy of success, and Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $20 million in support of its charitable beneficiaries and the fight against cancer since 1980.

Though his triumphs are unforgettable, Lipman always identified, celebrated and fostered the achievement of others. The award is presented annually in Lipman’s memory and in recognition of individuals who have embraced the humanitarian qualities of wisdom, courage, optimism, commitment and integrity in their personal and professional lives. To continue his tradition of encouragement, nominators are asked to name a person they feel is especially worthy of recognition for his or her positive personal attributes.

ABOUT KIX BROOKS: After selling over 30 million albums, scoring 23-chart topping hits and 80 major industry awards, Country music superstar Kix Brooks is one-half the best-selling duo in country music history, Brooks & Dunn. The solo touring/recording artist simultaneously explores entrepreneurial paths with lead acting and film producer credits, three CMA “National Broadcast Personality of The Year” awards for American Country Countdown, hosting his Kickin It with Kix radio show and the release of his first-ever cookbook.Brooks & Dunn will continue their residency as part of Reba, Brooks & Dunn Together In Vegas beginning May 3 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which has seen 18 consecutive sellouts. For more information, visit www.kixbrooks.com.

ABOUT THE NORMAN M. LIPMAN AWARD: The public commemoration of the Norman Lipman Award is a specially commissioned sculpture, Man of Love and Wisdom, by Tennessee artist Terry Williams. The twelve-foot, steel sculpture features a figure striding forward to offer assistance with his hand stretched out in compassion.  An owl, the ancient symbol of divine perception and wisdom, rests on his shoulder. It is on permanent loan to Saint Thomas West Hospital in Nashville where Norman Lipman received treatment and comfort during his final illness. The sculpture is housed in a private atrium where the families of cancer patients can retire for peace and reflection.

Past recipients have included leading figures from the wine and spirits industry, as well as private individuals noted for their love of wine and their respect for those who produce it, such as Robert Mondavi, Marvin L. Shanken, Jim Clendenen and Billy Ray Hearn. Last year’s recipient was David Morgan. Each recipient of the Norman M. Lipman Award receives a steel replica of the owl from Man of Love and Wisdom, as a unique recognition of his or her achievement.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Mens’ Event. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised over $20 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes: American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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Champagne and Chardonnay Raises $68,000!

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 20, 2014) – The Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce that Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies raised $68,000 to fight cancer in Middle Tennessee. The elegant ladies-only cocktail party was hosted on November 13 at the home of Sylvia Roberts, which is featured in the hit ABC television series, Nashville.

Champagne and Chardonnay, co-chaired by Amy Atkinson and Carol Hudler, increased its fundraising totals from 2013 by $11,000 and attendance was the highest ever, with 350 guests. “The night was truly ‘sparkling’ as all these beautiful ladies came out to celebrate,” said Atkinson. “Carol and I are so grateful to our Host Committee, which worked tirelessly to ensure not only that we had a memorable evening, but also were able to raise so much money to fight cancer.”

After being greeted with glasses of Champagne at the doorway, ladies entered to fabulous furs in the hall and found Judith Ripka Jewelry and Tory Burch handbags in the den. The living room showcased the Sparkling Silent Auction which featured sixty lots of fine wines, art and luxury items. G Catering & Events provided exceptional hors d’oeuvres including Black and Blue Tarts (Black Angus Beef, Blue Cheese, Black Currant Caviar), Wild Mushroom and Parmesan Risotto Cakes, Stuffed Strawberry (Apricot, Thyme, Goat Cheese, Aged Balsamic Drizzle) and an impressive cheese display.

“This was our most successful Champagne and Chardonnay to date,” said Holly Whaley, President/CEO of the Nashville Wine Auction. “Our amazing and supportive ladies enjoyed everything from the gorgeous wines of Pol Roger and Domaine Faiveley to the exceptional food by G Catering, all in Sylvia’s beautiful home.”

During the program, Susan Hosbach, President/CEO of PearlPoint Cancer Support shared poignant testimonies of cancer survivors who have been benefitted from programs that are funded through grants from Nashville Wine Auction. The biggest sale of the night was a 7-night trip for four to Antigua at the Verandah Resort & Spa, which sold for $5,100!

Saint Thomas Health served as the Presenting Sponsor for Champagne and Chardonnay for the fourth year. Supporting Sponsors included Mark B. Whaley, DDS Aesthetic and General Dentistry and Curcio Dermatology. Pol Roger and Domaine Faiveley wines were donated by Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction is the oldest charity wine auction in the country. It has raised over $19 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2014 list of beneficiaries includes: American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, Gilda’s Club Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Saint Thomas Cancer Network, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Williamson Medical Center Foundation.

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Spotlight: GAJA

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Few wineries evoke excellence and artistry the way the Gaja (GUY-yah) family name does. To utter these two simple syllables is to call forth one of the greatest and most venerated traditions in European winemaking. To mention this family and its wines is to summon an icon and touchstone of Italian viticulture.

The GAJA legacy began in 1859 and is now in its fifth generation as a family-owned winery. With each generation, GAJA has reshaped and redefined the vocabulary of Italian winemaking and the world’s perception of Italian wine.

GAJA was among the earliest independent bottlers of fine wine in Italy. In the second half of the 19th century, a time when most Italian wine was bottled and sold by large estates and cooperatives, the family bottled its own wines from locally grown grapes to serve at the restaurant it ran in the hilltop village of Barbaresco. From its earliest days, GAJA pursued quality over quantity through practices like careful fruit selection and a focus on handcrafted wine.

In the 1960s, the Gaja family looked to expand its land holdings and began to acquire vineyards in some of the top growing sites surrounding Barbaresco. This part of Piedmont, along with the neighboring Barolo zone, is the heart of the Langhe hills, a place that combines the best aspects of Italian and French wine culture, and it was during the tenure of the founder’s grandson and great-grandson that the GAJA winery began to seriously promote their home region of Barbaresco as one of the world’s great appellations.

While generations of wine lovers around the world have reveled in the Gaja family’s contribution to the renown of Barbaresco, within the family itself a place of honor is reserved for their beloved matriarch, Clotilde Rey (grandmother to Angelo Gaja), the second-generation of Gaja to lead the winery into the 20th century.

Two wines have been named for her: Sorì Tildìn, the second wine to be bottled as a vineyard-designated Barbaresco (1970), which refers to Clotilde Rey’s nickname, Tildìn; and Gaia & Rey, the winery’s groundbreaking Chardonnay, named for Angelo Gaja’s daughter, Gaia Gaja (born in 1979, the same year Chardonnay was first planted by GAJA) and Rey, Clotilde’s maiden name.

More recently, as the 21st century dawned on a globe ever thirsty for fine wine, GAJA again challenged the conventions of Italian wine and reclassified its renowned single-vineyard bottlings. Reviving an old Piedmontese winemaking tradition, GAJA began in 1996 to blend small amounts of Barbera with Nebbiolo for its crus Sorì San Lorenzo, Sorì Tildìn, Costa Russi, Conteisa and Sperss—wines consistently ranked among the world’s finest. By choosing to remove “Barbaresco” and “Barolo” from their labels with the 2000 vintage, and instead turning attention to the specific vineyard sites behind each bottle, GAJA redefined the notion of greatness in Piedmontese winemaking.

Today, GAJA maintains a commitment to innovation and experimentation—in areas like vineyard management and clonal selection, in particular—providing continuing proof that behind the family’s legacy is a restless drive for the absolute best in quality.

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Spotlight: Château Margaux

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Nashville Wine Auction was honored to have Château Margaux as the featured winery for the 35th Anniversary of l’Eté du Vin. The following tells the story of this famed, first growth Bordeaux estate.

 


BIRTH OF THE ESTATE
It’s difficult to summarise in a few lines, the long and passionate history of the estate, it could be entitled “Once upon a time Château Margaux”.

Known since the XII century, it was called “La Mothe de Margaux” (the Margaux mound) and, at that time, it didn’t have any vines. The old name didn’t happen by chance; in a flat region like the Médoc, the slightest “mound” was easily distinguished and the greatest wines are always produced on sloping land that ensures good drainage.

In 1152, Aquitaine fell to the advance of England until 1453 and so Bordeaux wines benefited from this new market. Bordeaux “claret” was adopted as a table wine by Richard the Lion Heart, King of England in the XII century.

The successive owners of “La Mothe de Margaux” were, of course, important lords but we had to wait for the arrival of the Lestonnac family to set up the estate as we know it today. Pierre de Lestonnac succeeded, in the ten years from 1572 to 1582, in completely restructuring the property as well as the vineyard and anticipated the general evolution of the Médoc that had started to abandon cereal growing in favour of vines.

At the end of the XVII century, Château Margaux occupied 265 hectares, land that wouldn’t be divided again. A third of the estate was dedicated to vines, which is still the case today.

England and Holland drank “claret”, a pale wine that didn’t age well. Château Margaux became the epitome for the art of wine-making and the hierarchy between the different Bordeaux growths was already being drawn up.

Château Margaux was born.

BERLON
Through the generations and through the centuries, the skillfulness of one and the innovations of others, progressively made Château Margaux into a wine of excellence; we only have to remember the progress made by Steward Berlon at the very beginning of the XVIII century.

Berlon was the first to vinify the red grapes and the white grapes separately. At that time, the vine stocks were mixed in the vineyard. He demanded that the grapes should not be harvested at dawn “because the grapes were covered in dew and that, if they were harvested in the morning, their colour was diluted and paled with excess humidity”. The beginnings of modern vinification were appearing.

Berlon equally understood the importance of the soil. He already knew the best plots. The influence of the terroir was emerging…..

The permanence of these viticulture sites is only equalled by the genius of men, owners, managers, winegrowers and cellar masters who have known how to foresee and emphasise the exceptional nature of the terroirs.

THE GOLDEN CENTURY
In 1705, the London Gazette advertised the first auction of great Bordeaux growths: 230 barrels of “Margose” ! The 1771 vintage was the first “claret” to appear in a Christie’s catalogue.

The English Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, is an example of the predilection of the English elite for these Bordeaux first growths; he bought four casks of Margaux per quarter that he practically never paid for!

The renown of the “first growths” crossed the Atlantic and Thomas Jefferson, United States Ambassador to France, depicted the hierarchy that already reigned among the best Bordeaux wines, with Château Margau (sic!) in first place. He placed an order for Margaux 1784 on which he wrote “There couldn’t be a better Bordeaux bottle”.

The beginning of the XVIII century marked the expansion of the Great Bordeaux wines and their still informal classifications. That wouldn’t have been possible without the pre-existence, then the permanence, of the notion of a growth, that is to say, a terroir, its wine, its château. Joseph de Fumel, owner in the middle of the XVIII century, planted the “varieties of choice” on the best plots. He realised that only the gravelly areas that are found in the Médoc and in the greatest crus could produce quality wines. The French revolution put an end to this golden Bordeaux century. Elie du Barry, Count of Hargicourt and lord of Margaux, was taken to the scaffold during the Jacobin terror.

Château Margaux – its vines, its woods, its hawthorn forests, its meadows and its mills – was sold at auction by the revolutionaries as a national possession. Laure de Fumel, the last descendant of the Lestonnac, the Pontac, and the Aulède families, all related to one another and who had all looked after Château Margaux so well for three centuries, proceeded to buy back the estate from citizen “Miqueau” who had left it to dilapidate completely, even letting the orange trees freeze!

The years of the revolution got the better of her courage and her passion for her land and she put it up for auction in 1801.

THE MARQUIS DE LA COLONILLA
Bertrand Douat, Marquis de la Colonilla, acquired the estate and judged the manor house not to be worthy of the renown of his vineyard. In its place, he built the property that we so appreciate today.

Bertrand Douat was a Basque who returned from Spain with a considerable fortune and title. He had been, amongst other things, a ship owner and an authorised Spanish government agent for the negotiation of an exchange agreement with Russia! He was more than fifty when he returned to France; he lived in Paris rather than Bordeaux. In reality he wasn’t really interested in the Château Margaux vineyard and, for him, it was only a means of consolidating his rise in society.

It was in 1810, when La Colonilla was already seventy years old, that the work on the château and the farm buildings that we admire today, started. La Colonilla died in 1816 without having ever lived in his château.

La Colonilla, wasn’t the only owner of Château Margaux, both a stranger to Bordeaux and the vineyard, to leave so deep an imprint.

THE “VERSAILLES OF THE MÉDOC”
For the building of the château, La Colonilla approached Louis Combes, a fashionable Bordeaux architect. At Margaux, Combes realised his work of art. Often nicknamed the “Versailles of the Médoc” the château is a rare example of the neo-palladian style in France.

But Margaux isn’t just a refined, aristocratic, dwelling-house, it’s primarily, and especially, a farm. The genius of Combes was to be able to create a true small city of viticulture arranging, on both sides of the château, the buildings necessary for the production of one of the best wines in the world.

On one side, the tradesmen’s yard, with its houses and workshops, where the trades of plumber and mechanics are notably practiced ; the distance from Bordeaux made this necessary. At the beginning of the XVIII century, it was a good day’s journey.

On the other side, the cellars, the vat room and the cooperage. The large cellar, with its majestic perspectives and its tall white columns, evokes the spectacular image of a wine cathedral.

This is a complex that, progressively, visitors from all over the world are discovering when they arrive through the long avenue of one hundred-year-old plane trees that mark the entrance to the estate. It is one of superb and unique coherence.

ALEXANDRE AGUADO
La Colonilla’s children weren’t interested in the estate and they sold it to Alexandre Aguado. Alexandre Aguado was the first banker to acquire a great Bordeaux château. His fortune was already immense and Château Margaux didn’t represent to him a chance to increase his fortune but rather an elegant property in which to live.

Aguado quite quickly abandoned his financial activities to become, amongst other things, the sponsor of Rossini, who would compose a zarzuela (a song) entitled…. “Château Margaux”!He died rather young – in 1836 – having bequeathed his magnificent collection of Italian and Spanish pictures to the Louvre Museum. His essential legacy is the Napoleon III decoration, characteristic of this period, of which the main elements would remain in condition until the sale of the estate by the Ginestets to André Mentzelopoulos.

THE OFFICIAL CLASSIFICATION
Empereur Napoléon III paid an important service to the great red wines of the Médoc by organising in Paris, in 1855, the Second Universal Exhibition. It was an occasion for him to glorify French products, among which were the prestigious Médoc wines.

He wanted the wines to be presented in the form of a classification. A blind tasting was organised in Paris which led to this official classification of 1855. It divided about sixty Médoc growths, and a property in the Graves, into five quality levels.

Four growths were classified “Premier Grand Cru Classé”; only Margaux was marked twenty out of twenty. This classification, which maintains its validity today, confirmed the qualitative hierarchy illustrated by the great price differences that had been practiced on the world market for a long time. In the XVIII century, the “first growths” were already being sold at twice the price of the “second growths”. Moreover, the 1855 classification succeeded over other more informal classification attempts like that of Thomas Jefferson in the XVIII century. Under the Second Empire, there’s little to say other than Bordeaux experienced a truly golden age, thanks to the building of a railway to Paris, but also thanks to the rapid expansion of commerce, facilitated by the agreements of free exchange inspired by the liberal ideas of the Emperor. It’s certain that Napoléon III had a lot to do with the upturn of Bordeaux viticulture.

COUNT PILLET-WILL
In 1879, Emily Macdonnel, Scottish lady in waiting to Empress Eugenie and wife of Aguado’s son, sold the château to Count Pillet-Will. It was a difficult period for the Médoc, which was almost simultaneously struck by a great world recession and the incidence of cryptogamic soil diseases.

The joys and unhappiness of the XIX century contrast with the permanence of the vineyard that had been remarkably well-maintained by successive managers. However, a devastating calamity for the vines was appearing in the form of fungus, powdery mildew and later mildew. Powdery mildew is controlled by the use of sulphur and mildew by the spraying of copper sulphate, the famous “Bordeaux mixture”. Phylloxera, an insect that came from the United States, was a more terrible scourge and its propagation was unstoppable. It would have to wait for the solution of grafting the French varietals on to resistant American plants in order to save the Bordeaux vineyards.

The production of Château Margaux resumed when new treatments were found and replanting undertaken. The remarkable 1893 vintage was so abundant that they had to stop the harvest for six days because they didn’t have enough vats! Its production overtook that of the legendary 1870, the greatest year before the phylloxera.

Nevertheless, the young vines in the replantations weren’t able to produce grapes of optimal quality and part of the production was sold as “second wine”: that would be named the Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux in 1908.

In 1896, Count Pillet-Will found someone he could trust in the person of Pierre Moreau who would play an essential rôle at the property by managing it and bringing together all the future shareholders in Château Margaux.

He nominated Marcellus Grangerou for the position of cellar master who would be succeeded by his son Marcel and his grandson, Jean.

Pierre Moreau’s most important innovation was the obligation to bottle the wine at the château, adopted in 1924, and was a real guarantee of authenticity for the buyers.

THE GINESTET FAMILY
Fernand Ginestet and his son Pierre came on the scene. Fernand had made his fortune in wine trading. It was one of his friends, the Mayor of Saigon, and a wine importer who sent him the funds necessary to buy the estate. The Ginestet family acquired the whole property in about 1950.

Fernand and Pierre patiently reorganised the vineyard. Pierre’s son, Bernard, looked after their trading business and developed one of the most respected wine trade establishments in Bordeaux.

But the recession of the 1970s and the disastrous unsaleable vintages of 1972, 1973 and 1974 placed Pierre and Bernard in a desperate situation; nevertheless, they wanted to honour their commitments.

Their only negotiable asset was Château Margaux that they resigned themselves to selling. It took two years for Pierre and Bernard Ginestet to sell Château Margaux and when André Mentzelopoulos bought the property in 1977, the wine world was astounded. Whatever next? A Greek in the Médoc ?

ANDRÉ MENTZELOPOULOS : “A HELLENE IN THE MÉDOC”
It was in 1977 that André Mentzelopoulos bought the property. The ionic columns that adorn the peristyle of the château reminded him of his native Greece and enabled him to grasp, thanks to his formidable intellectual acuity, the great volume of work required to bring Margaux back to first place, the only place that it was worthy of.

The exceptional life of this man is like a novel ! He was born in 1915 in Patras in the Peloponnese of a father who was a hotelier and who was adamant his children spoke several foreign languages so that they could realise the dream of so many Greeks; to go abroad and make their fortunes!

André would fulfill his father’s expectations. After studying literature in Grenoble he went to the Far East, to Burma, China, India, and finally in Pakistan where he made his fortune importing and exporting cereals.

On his return to Europe, he married a French woman and, in 1958, he acquired the Félix Potin company, founded in 1844, that owned eighty local grocery stores. With this company, André created a modern distribution enterprise with 1600 points of sale located in prestigious buildings in Paris.

This man, his accent still melodious – he spoke six languages – and who liked to quote Winston Churchill, fell in love with his Château Margaux.

In 1977, André Mentzelopoulos was a pioneer. Bordeaux wines were just emerging from a serious economic and qualitative crisis; investors weren’t interested in classified growths and owners couldn’t afford to develop their land.

André Mentzelopoulos was proactive and invested heavily without any hope of immediate return in a subdued market. This was a number of years before the new Bordeaux golden age at the end of the XX century.

He took spectacular action, be it in the vineyard, the cellars or the château. He put in place the drainage, the replantation… Under the passionate supervision of Emile Peynaud, renowned oenologist, he reintroduced the Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux by considerably increasingthe selection, and he redefined the Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux. He introduced ageing in new barrels and he planned the construction of the first large underground cellar in the region, a technical achievement. The château, registered as an historic monument since 1946, was restored under the supervision of the inspectors from France Historic Monuments and was patiently decorated by the celebrated Henri Samuel who created the XVIII French rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In this way, André Mentzelopoulos orchestrated the reconstruction of the architectural and viticultural heritage of Château Margaux with the objective of enabling the terroir to once again demonstrate its fabulous qualities.

The 1978 vintage was immediately recognised as exceptional, proof of the efficiency and quantity of André Mentzelopoulos’s work.

He died in 1980, too early and too quickly to enjoy the renaissance of his Château Margaux ; no other owner had played such a profound role in such a short time in the albeit age-old history of Château Margaux.

CORINNE MENTZELOPOULOS: IN HER FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
The wine world that was so alarmed by the arrival of a “Hellene in the Médoc”, redoubled its concerns on the death of André Mentzelopoulos. This paradox is explained in reality by the fact that André Mentzelopoulos had convinced even the most pessimistic doubters by his energy and clear vision that, put into the service of his passion for Château Margaux, had, with almost spectacular speed, re-established the quality of the wine and the reputation of the estate.

His daughter, Corinne Mentzelopoulos, was immediately ready for the challenge. On the death of her father she was already established in the family group as management controller at Primistères, the company that manages the Félix Potin company. Surrounded by the team that her father had chosen, she followed the investment defined by the latter, so that Margaux was ready to take up another challenge, that of the extraordinary explosion in worldwide demand for Bordeaux wines from 1982. The Americans were the first to get enthusiastic for the classified first growths, quickly joined by the more traditional connoisseurs in Great Britain and Germany, followed by the Japanese, enthusiasts in Hong Kong or Singapore, the Russians, the Chinese, the Indians, the Brazilians….

The wines of Bordeaux, even though they’ve been appreciated for centuries, had never known such success; enthusiasts from all over the world came to visit, taste, compare and comment.

Bordeaux has been blessed with a succession of great vintages with the true pinnacle of success being the 2009 and the 2010. At the same time, the Félix Potin company was transformed, the stores and the property were given up, and the group – from now on Exor – became the majority shareholder in Perrier at the time the world market leader for mineral water. So, Corinne Mentzelopoulos decided to find support in the development of a group which it seemed unwise to manage alone. At the beginning of the 1990s, Corinne Mentzelopoulos found an associate in the Agnelli family, then directed by Gianni Agnelli, the president of Fiat. This association lasted about ten years and, in 2003, when the Agnelli Group decided to dispose of the Château Margaux shares, Corinne Mentzelopoulos bought them immediately thereby becoming the only shareholder in the estate.

TODAY
At the beginning of the XXI century, Bordeaux wines are experiencing unprecedented success. The whole world seems to have their eyes riveted on Bordeaux, where the demand for these great wines never stops growing. This prosperity, as well as the rapid expansion of other regions in the world, has placed Château Margaux in a more competitive climate, and also allowed the underlining of its unique position: that of a First Growth classified in 1855, enjoying a terroir that has been shaped by the passing centuries.

But there is no room for it to rest on its laurels – it would be tedious to enumerate all the investments carried out in the property since 1977. It’s about being at the top of its inheritance, but never ceasing to question in order to improve and perfect that which can still be done, in acknowledgement of the heritage of Château Margaux.

The commercialisation, in 2013, of a third wine in order to improve further the quality of our first and second wines, the numerous trials that have been carried out over the last ten years, by our Research and Development department, in particular the observation of the response of the vines and the wine to biodynamics, and the establishment of an authentication system for our bottles are all examples of recent progress, worthy of the history of Château Margaux whilst ceaselessly progressing so as never to disappoint the enthusiasts of the whole world.

 

Source: Château Margaux Website

 

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Nashville Wine Auction Presents The Men’s Event

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mensevent_mainimage-124NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 13, 2016) – Nashville Wine Auction is excited to announce that The Men’s Event will be held on Thursday, October 6 at 6:30 pm at Prima.

“Last year we introduced The Men’s Event to allow men to drink amazing wine, enjoy a delicious meal and help raise funds for our beneficiaries,” said Holly Hearn Whaley, President/CEO of Nashville Wine Auction. “As The Men’s Event enters its second year, we are taking over the main floor at Prima to allow even more gentlemen to join us.”

Under the leadership of Co-Chairs Harvey Crouch and Jim Lewis, The Men’s Event celebrates the convivial gathering of gentlemen with two things that men love: a big steak and lots of red wine! The evening will start with a cocktail reception at Prima before guests sit down to a five course dinner with wine pairings, prepared by Prima Executive Chef Salvador Avila.

The event will be held in the spirit of the late Billy Ray Hearn, a loyal patron of Nashville Wine Auction who oftentimes gathered “the boys” for gastronomic feasts featuring some of the world’s best wine and food.

The menu for the night will feature the following courses after welcome cocktails:

1st Course – Lamb Tartare, Preserved Meyer Lemon Dressing, Charred Carrots, Sweet Potato Chips paired with Reynolds Family “Los Carneros” Pinot Noir 2012

2nd Course – Cured Magret Duck Breast, Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Blue Cheese, Breadcrumb, Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad paired with Casa Piena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

3rd Course – Braised Beef Cheeks, Pumpkin Risotto, Fried Pumpkin Seeds paired with Peacock Family Vineyard Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

4th Course – Dry Aged Bear Creek Ribeye on a String, Charred Green Beans, Black Walnuts, Smoked Onion Jus paired with Harumph /Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

5th Course – Pumpkin Pie

 

Guests are also encouraged to bring selections from their cellar to pair alongside dinner and share with friends. Guests have four options to purchase tickets which include individual tickets at $250 per person ($200 is tax-deductible), a table for four at $1,000 per table ($800 is tax-deductible), a table for six at $1,500 per table ($1,200 is tax deductible) or a table for eight at $2,000 per table ($1,600 is tax-deductible). Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.NashvilleWineAuction.com or calling the Nashville Wine Auction office at (615) 329-1760.

Sponsors for The Men’s Event include Prima, Delta Dental, Tennessee Wine and Spirits, Reynolds Family Winery, Peacock Vineyards, Casa Piena and Harumph.

HOST COMMITTEE: Tom Baldwin, Chase Cole, Harvey Crouch, Lindsey Cooper, Jeff Drummonds, Michael Gold, Jason Hickok, Brandon Jenkins, Brian Junghans, Jim Lewis, Brad Morley, David Osborn, Jason Pharris, Gary Rzucidlo, Bill Sites, Chas Welch.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $20 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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Nashville Wine Auction Presents Champagne and Chardonnay

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1u6a3621NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 13, 2016) – The Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce that Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies will be hosted on October 6, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm at the home of Lucy McCullough.

Named Nashville’s “Best Women’s Party” by Nfocus Magazine for the past two years, Champagne and Chardonnay is an exclusive cocktail party where ladies will enjoy a beautiful evening with their girlfriends, while raising money to fund the fight against cancer. Co-Chaired by Pam Cherry and Debbie Laffey, Champagne and Chardonnay will feature a Sparkling Silent Auction filled with fine wines, unique dinners and tastings, special trips and luxury items.

“We are honored to bring together strong and passionate women who love exceptional wine and have a strong commitment to raise funds to fight cancer,” said Holly Whaley, President/CEO of the Nashville Wine Auction. “Having been named as ‘Nashville’s Best Women’s Party” two years in a row, we are excited to produce another memorable event this year!”

The extraordinary wines for the evening are generously donated by The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills. Guests will enjoy a premier selection of Champagne and Chardonnay alongside passed hors d’oeuvres. In addition, ladies may peruse a collection of clothing and jewelry from 12th South boutique, Emerson Grace, as well as pieces from Helen’s Pop Art. With such a large variety of offerings at Champagne and Chardonnay, tickets will sell out quickly!

Women interested in making a reservation may call the Nashville Wine Auction office at 615.329.1760 or visit www.NashvilleWineAuction.com. Tickets are $125 per person and include wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres.

Sponsors for Champagne and Chardonnay include Saint Thomas Center for Breast Health, Mark B. Whaley DDS, Scripps Howard Foundation, Wine Shoppe at Green Hills, Emerson Grace, Helen’s Pop Art, ImageQuest and myEmma.

HOST COMMITTEE: Laura Ashby, Atkins, Stephanie Baldwin, Julie Barnes, Brenda Bernards, Abbay Blakenship, Barbara Browning, Barbara Burns, Melanie Cansler, Maureen Cleator, Mitsy Clendenin, Melissa Clough, Pamela Cmelak, Eleanor Cobb, Kimberly Cooper, Elise Crouch, Denise Cummins, Kelley Dantoulis, Rose Davis, Lisa Dean, Beth DeBauche, Lisa Dozier, Ann Eaden, Lisa Faricy, Kelly Ford, Mary Carol Friddell, Jodi Gillman, Rose Grindstaff, Lori Guardino, Robin Haney, Susan Harris, Marjorie Feltus Hawkins, Cynthia Himelfarb, Anita Hogin, Beth Huff, Barbara Jenkins, Caroline Jenkins, Kristen Junghans, Shawna Keller, Melinda Kelsey, Teresa Kingery, Virginia Kweller, Kimberly Lewis, Carolyn Linder, Lisa Maki, Lucy McCullough, Keri McInnis, Beth Moore, Tara Mullaney, Sandy Obodzinski, Emmy Phillips, Sharon Piper, Jeri Porter, Cheryl Read, Jessica Rogers, Dawn Rudolph, Ame Satterwhite, Kyle Schults, Deborah Sherman, Marsha Simoneaux, Lara Stevison, Pam Taylor, Lynne Teckman, Connie Thompson, Laura Waldrop, Stacey Way, Mandy Welch, Holly Whaley, Carolyn Yates

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $20 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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Contact:  Vivek Surti, Director of Public Relations
Vivek@NashvilleWineAuction.com or 615-329-1760

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37th Annual l’Eté du Vin Raises Record Breaking $930,000 To Support Local Cancer Charities!

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jim_8402The Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce the 37th Annual l’Eté du Vin, “Generations of Greatness” which took place from July 28-July 30, 2016 with Special Guest of Honor, Gaia Gaja, raised a record breaking $930,000 to fund the fight against cancer. The co-chairs – the self proclaimed “Three Cheers” – for l’Eté du Vin this year were Kimberly Cooper, Marjorie Feltus-Hawkins and Pam Taylor.

“This year’s l’Eté du Vin was our best ever,” exclaimed Holly Whaley, President/CEO of Nashville Wine Auction. “Gaia Gaja captivated our wine community with the stories of her family’s winery and the delicious wines of GAJA. Having such a venerable guest of honor in combination with a deep auction geared towards wine collectors, our bidders raised their paddles high and often, which resulted in our most successful l’Eté du Vin to date!”

The total attendance for the four l’Eté du Vin events was 695 people. There were more than 100 volunteers that helped with the planning and production of l’Eté du Vin throughout the course of the weekend.

The Grand Cru Evening kicked off l’Eté du Vin with a cocktail party at the home of Sharon and Bill Piper. Robert Lipman presented the Norman M. Lipman Award to Country Music Superstar Kix Brooks for his “Leadership and Community Involvement.” Guests filled the lovely home to preview the upcoming auction and to meet representatives from the organization’s six cancer fighting beneficiaries, alongside hors d’oeuvres prepared by G Catering and select wines from Lipman Brothers.

On July 28, 2016, Gaia Gaja arrived in Nashville for the Vintners’ Tasting chaired by Elise and Harvey Crouch at Richland Country Club. Gaia, along with moderators Tom Black and Steve Taylor, guests through a tasting of GAJA’s portfolio of wines, including Rossj-Bass 2014, Vistamare 2014, Brunello di Montalcino 2011, Barbaresco 2012, DaGromis 2011, Darmagi 2010 and Magari 2014. Gaia took the guests on a journey from their family home in Barbaresco to their newer estates and winemaking techniques in Tuscany. Guests at the Vintners’ Tasting had a special opportunity to make a donation to Nashville Wine Auction and purchase a special 4-pack of GAJA wines to take home.

On the following night, guests gathered at The Hermitage Hotel for the Patrons’ Dinner. After indulging in the elegant hors d’oeuvres and a champagne reception with Alfred Gratien in the lobby, patrons sat down for dinner in the ballroom. A five course dinner was prepared by Chefs Michael Hudman and Andrew Ticer of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen and Chefs Cory Untch and Ryan McCord of The Capitol Grille. Gaia presented wines throughout the night including Gaia & Rey 2006 and 2010, both in magnum and a collection of aged GAJA wines from the cellar of Tom Black – Sperss 1990, Sori Tildin 1995, Pieve Santa Restituta Rennina 1990, Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille 1990 and Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille 2006. Gaia spoke to her enthusiasm for drinking the 1990 Rennina, a wine she tried for the first time since it was from an estate her family bought in 1993.

At l’Eté du Vin, chaired by Kimberly Cooper, Marjorie Feltus-Hawkins and Pam Taylor, on Saturday, July 30, guests entered Loews Vanderbilt Hotel to see more than 160 Silent Auction Lots and sample wines from GAJA including Vistamare 2014, Rossj-Bass 2014, Promise 2013 and Sito Moresco 2013. The new ballroom was transformed to showcase the colors of GAJA, with black and white harlequin draping around the room. As guests sat down for a spectacular three-course meal in the ballroom, members of Nashville’s wine community came up to the stage to each toast the GAJA family’s five Generations of Greatness.

Auctioneer Fritz Hatton returned to Nashville and captivated the audience with his enthusiasm to begin the Live Auction . The lively room raised their paddles through 56 Live Auction lots to raise money to fight cancer. Top lots from the night included:

  • Vintage 2000: A Monumental Tasting of Bordeaux is the single highest grossing lot ever at l’Eté du Vin, reaching over $100,000. This special tasting for 36 pours was sold for $3,000 a pour, with shared pours priced at an additional $250. The spectacular lineup of wines for this tasting were generously donated by Pam and Steve Taylor and feature 32 wines from the 2000 vintage in Bordeaux including legendary estates Château Margaux, Château Lafite-Rotschild, Château Latour, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Mouton Rotschild, Château Haut-Brion and many more! The dinner will take place on October 22, 2016 at The Hermitage Hotel.
  • Dinner with Little Big Town and Tom Black sold for $40,000 at the Patrons’ Dinner. Lucky winners will be able to have dinner at the home of Tom Black alongside Grammy award winning country band Little Big Town for what will surely be a memorable evening.
  • Touring Italy’s Best Wine Regions sold for $58,000. What’s better than living La Dolce Vita for an eight day luxury trip in Italy’s best wine regions? Lucky bidders will tour Piedmont, Barbaresco, Barolo, Portofino, and Tuscany and visit the best wineries in the region – including GAJA, Ornellaia, Sassicaia and more with luxury accommodations and transportation.
  • Super Tuscan Showdown Ornellaia vs. Sassicaia sold for $24,000. Any lover of Super Tuscan wines knows that these two powerhouses always make a memorable dining experience. 14 lucky bidders secured their space to have a comparative vertical tasting of these wines from 2001 through 2012 alongside the cuisine of Chef Hal Holden-Bache of Lockeland Table.
  • Wine Spectator #1 Wines of The Year Dinner sold for $20,000. When dinner consists of a collection of Wine Spectator’s #1 Wines of the Year with one of Nashville’s finest chefs, Deb Paquette, winning bidders are in for a treat!
  • Game of Rhônes: Wine is Coming sold for $39,000. This luxury 8-day trip for four will allow lovers of the Rhône Valley to explore Côte-Rotie, Hermitage, Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape while enjoying Michelin-starred cuisine, truffle hunts and luxury accomodations for a one of a kind trip!
  • Raise Your Paddle resulted in $41,250 of straight donations to Nashville Wine Auction. Country Music Star Big Kenny and Big Machine Records Executive Scott Borchetta paid Auctioneer Fritz Hatton $10,000 to come up on stage and made an emphatic and emotional appeal to attendees to raise as much money as possible to fight cancer. Big Kenny and Scott were soon joined by next year’s l’Eté du Vin chairs, Loren Chumley and Michael Sontag, who told a very personal story about cancer. The passionate appeal resulted in the largest paddle raise ever!

Nashville Wine Auction will now look forward to two events in the fall – Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $20 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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Contact:  Vivek Surti, Director of Public Relations
Vivek@NashvilleWineAuction.com or 615-329-1760

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Vintage 2000: A Monumental Tasting of Bordeaux

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wineauction_sm-1459A tasting of 32 of Bordeaux’s best wines from the 2000 vintage. This special, one-of-a-kind tasting raised over $100,000 for Nashville Wine Auction beneficiaries and to date, is the largest single lot ever sold at l’Ete du Vin. Wines were generously donated from the cellar of Pam and Steve Taylor.

Moderators: Tom Black and David Morgan Wine Service led by Dan Hutchinson.
Menu:  Chef Andrew Little, Josephine

A vintage such as 2000 in Bordeaux comes along once in a lifetime. Not only is the year an icon for a new millennium, it is a vintage that produces scores of outstanding wine in France’s premium wine region. Robert Parker called 2000 “a phenomenal year that might turn out to be one of the greatest vintages that Bordeaux has ever produced.”

There are many different characteristics of a Bordeaux wine that makes each vintage shine. One year, you might have a wine that has perfectly rounded tannins. Another year might bring intense fruit flavors. Then another vintage might find the perfect balance between fruit, wood, and alcohol. But rarely will you find a Bordeaux wine that encompasses ALL of the characteristics that have always distinguished great Bordeaux.

Many experts said that this vintage would need 15 years of bottle age to become truly perfect. Well, folks, the time came to crack open these Bordeaux beauties.

Still fresh and vibrant like young wines yet with layers of diverse aromas and flavors, from bright red fruits to decadent game and earth, these “modern classics” envelop the rich complexity of character that only develops in a great wine from a great vintage with decades of bottle age. And they are electrifying to drink.

This Monumental Bordeaux Tasting included 32 wines:

Château Angélus
Château Ausone
Château Brane-Cantenac
Château Calon-Ségur
Château Canon
Château Certan De May
Château Cheval Blanc
Château Clos L’Église
Château La Conseillante
Château Cos D’Estournel
Château l’Evangile
Château Figeac
Château Gruaud Larose
Château Haut-Brion
Château Lafite Rothschild
Château Latour
Château Léoville Barton
Château Léoville Las Cases
Château Lynch Bages
Château Magdelaine
Château Margaux
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Château Monbousquet
Château Montrose
Château Mouton Rothschild
Château Palmer
Château Pavie
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
Château Pichon-Longueville
Comtesse de Lalande
Château Rauzan-Ségla
Château Talbot
Vieux Château Certan

Event  Photos

 

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PAIRINGS: NASHVILLE’S ULTIMATE WINE AND FOOD WEEKEND TO TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 23-25, 2017

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 17, 2016) – Nashville Wine Auction is excited to announce that Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend will take place on February 23-25, 2017. Pairings celebrates the notion that exceptional wine elevates delicious food and that delicious food can elevate an exceptional wine. This year’s Pairings will feature a partnership of chefs from Nashville and Chicago, IL.

“We can’t wait to kick off the 2017 year with Pairings,” said Holly Whaley, President/CEO of Nashville Wine Auction. “For anyone who loves great food and great wine, this is an event you don’t want to miss! We are thrilled to offer Nashvillians the opportunity to meet winemakers from the West Coast, as well as some of the country’s best chefs from Nashville and Chicago, all to help fund the fight against cancer. This will truly be a special weekend for food and wine lovers.”

Pairings will begin with Private Vintner Dinners on Thursday, February 23. Attendees will choose from 15 intimate dinners featuring winemakers throughout Nashville. These special dinners will allow attendees an opportunity to meet celebrated winemakers, taste their mouthwatering creations and enjoy a multi-course meal from outstanding local chefs.

On Friday, February 24, it’s time to get Wined Up, named Nashville’s “primo tasting event” by Nfocus Magazine. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste extraordinary wine from 29 featured wineries representing California, Oregon and Washington, while tasting delicious bites from City Winery and visiting chefs from Chicago. The Silent Auction will feature 125 lots of fine wines and luxury items.

Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend will culminate on Saturday, February 25, with Pairings’ Gourmet Dinner and Live Auction. Local Nashville chefs will team up with chefs from Chicago to create a six course menu that perfectly pairs with special wines from featured vintners. Throughout dinner, Auctioneer Charles Antin from Zachy’s will return to host the exciting Live Auction, which will offer guests the ability to bid on fine wines, unique dinners and tastings, one-of-a-kind trips and luxury items.

To make reservations, please visit http://www.nashvillewineauction.com/pairings or call 615-329-1760.

PARTICIPATING WINERIES: Arrington Vineyards, Azur Wines, Blackbird Vineyards, Bougetz Cellars, Cardinale, Crocker & Starr Wines, Darious, Desparada Wines, D.R. Stephens Estate, Dunn Vineyards, Fantesca Estate & Winery, Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards, Foundry Vineyards, Gamble Family Vineyards, Giornata, Harumph Wines, Herman Story Wines, J. Bookwalter, Kokomo Winery, Ledge Vineyards, Northstar, Peacock Vineyards, Phifer Pavitt Winery, Priest Ranch Wines, Rarecat Wines, Redmon Wines, Retro Cellars, The Spire Collection, Taylor Family Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards.

2017 SPONSORS: Saint Thomas Health, City Winery, Brindiamo Group, LLC, Tennessee Oncology, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Scripps-Howard Foundation.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event: Honoring the Life and Spirit of Billy Ray Hearn. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $21 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION ANNOUNCES FULL THREE DAY SCHEDULE FOR PAIRINGS: NASHVILLE’S ULTIMATE WINE AND FOOD WEEKEND

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 17, 2017) – Nashville Wine Auction is excited to announce the full schedule for Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, which will take place on February 23-25, 2017. Pairings celebrates the notion that exceptional wine elevates delicious food and that delicious food can elevate an exceptional wine.

“We can’t wait to kick off the 2017 year with Pairings,” said Holly Whaley, President/CEO of Nashville Wine Auction. “For anyone who loves great food and great wine, this is an event you don’t want to miss! We are thrilled to offer Nashvillians the opportunity to meet winemakers from the West Coast, as well as some of the country’s best chefs from Nashville and Chicago, all to help fund the fight against cancer. This will truly be a special weekend for food and wine lovers.”

The information below details the full three day schedule for Pairings.

PAIRINGS, Gourmet Dinner and Live Auction
DATE: Saturday, February 25, 2017
TIME: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
PLACE: City Winery, 609 Lafayette Street, Nashville
PRICE: $250 per person ($200 is tax deductible) or $2,500 per table, 10 seats included ($2,000 tax deductible)

CO-CHAIRS: Denise Cummins & Jeff Hopmayer, Stephanie & Tom Baldwin

Nashville chefs will team up with Chicago chefs to create a six course menu that pairs perfectly with special wines from outstanding California vintners. This year’s participating chefs and wineries include:

  • Reception Pairing – Chef Jason Zygmont, Treehouse, Nashville with Zonin Prosecco
  • First Pairing – Chef Dale Levitski, Fin & Pearl, Nashville with Phifer Pavitt Date Night Sauvignon Blanc 2015
  • Second Pairing – Chef Charles Welch, Honey’s Chicago with Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc 2014
  • Third Pairing – Chef Greg Biggers, Café des Architectes, Chicago with Cardinale Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
  • Fourth Pairing – Chef Erick Williams, mk The Restaurant, Chicago with R. Stephens Moose Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
  • Fifth Pairing – Chef Tony Galzin, Nicky’s Coal Fired, Nashville with Gamble Family Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2013

Throughout dinner, Auctioneer CK Swett from Zachy’s will host the exciting Live Auction, which will offer guests the ability to bid on fine wines, unique dinners and tastings, one-of-a-kind trips and luxury items.

WINED UP! Walk-Around Wine and Food Tasting and Silent Auction
DATE: Friday, February 24, 2017
TIME: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
PLACE: City Winery, 609 Lafayette Street, Nashville
PRICE: $125 per person ($100 is tax deductible)

CO-CHAIRS: Denise Cummins & Jeff Hopmayer, Stephanie & Tom Baldwin

Wined Up!, named Nashville’s “primo tasting event” by Nfocus Magazine will offer attendees the opportunity to taste extraordinary wine from 29 featured wineries representing California, Oregon and Washington, while tasting delicious bites from Chef Garrett Pittler of City Winery, Chef Greg Biggers of Café des Architectes, Chef Charles Welch  of Honey’s and Chef Erick Williams of mk The Restaurant. The Silent Auction will feature 125 lots of fine wines and luxury items.

Participating Wineries include: Arrington Vineyards, Azur Wines, Blackbird Vineyards, Bougetz Cellars, Crocker & Starr Wines, Darious, Desparada Wines, D.R. Stephens Estate, Dunn Vineyards, Fantesca Estate & Winery, Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards, Foundry Vineyards, Gamble Family Vineyards, Giornata, Harumph Wines, Herman Story Wines, J. Bookwalter, Kokomo Winery, Ledge Vineyards, Northstar, Peacock Vineyard, Phifer Pavitt Winery, Rarecat Wines, Redmon Wines, Retro Cellars, Sojourn Cellars, The Spire Collection, Taylor Family Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards.

PRIVATE VINTNER DINNERS

DATE: Thursday, February 23, 2017
TIME: 6:30 pm
PLACE: Various locations throughout Nashville (details below)
PRICE: Various price points (details below)
CO-CHAIRS: Melanie Cansler and Jodi Pfaff Gillman

For Private Vintner Dinners, attendees will choose from 15 intimate dinners throughout Nashville featuring West Coast winemakers. These special dinners will allow attendees an opportunity to meet celebrated winemakers, taste their mouthwatering creations and enjoy a multi-course meal from outstanding chefs.

  • Blackbird Vineyards, represented by Michael Polenske and Kathleen Korb, at Le Sel with Chef Brian Lea and hosted by Laura Lea and Max Goldberg. $200 per person
  • Bougetz Cellars, represented by Joan & Thomas Bougetz, at the home of JJ and George Seiters with Chef Matt Bolus of The 404 Kitchen. $200 per person.
  • Crocker & Starr, represented by Pam Starr, at the home of Vicki and Rick Horne with Chef Kevin Ramquist of The Unicorn Nashville. $200 per person.
  • Darioush, represented by Jodie MacKenzie, at Mangia with Elefante Family Recipes prepared by Chef Nick Pellegrino and hosted by Coni and Dino Elefante. $200 per person.
  • D.R. Stephens, represented by David Robbins, at the home of Kirsten and Brian Junghans with Chef Salvador Avila of Prima. $225 per person.
  • Dunn Vineyards, represented by Mike Dunn, at the home of Elise and Harvey Crouch with Chef Burke Conley of G Catering. $250 per person.
  • Fantesca Estate & Winery, represented by Jeffrey Giel, at Table 3 with Chef Joe Shaw and hosted by Janet Kurtz and Ron Gobbell. $200 per person.
  • Flora Springs, represented by Paul J. Trione, at Kayne Prime with Chef Robert Grace and hosted by Jay Jones and Rob Turner. $175 per person.
  • Gamble Family Vineyards, represented by Tom Gamble and Ashley Brandner, at the home of Rahel Klapheke Sloan and Jim Sloan with Chef Jason Zygmont of Treehouse. $300 per person.
  • Herman Story, represented by Russell & Vailia From, at the home of Loren Chumley and Scott Peterson with Chef Hal Holden-Bache of Lockeland Table. $300 per person.
  • Bookwalter, represented by Gretchen & John Bookwalter, at 360 Bistro with Chef Joe Townsend and hosted by Carrie Kitko and Matt Leavitt. $175 per person.
  • Kokomo Winery, represented by Erik Miller, at the home of Kyle and Wil Shults with Chef Molly Martin of Salt & Vine. $150 per person.
  • Phifer Pavitt, represented by Suzanne Phifer Pavitt, at the home of Marjorie Feltus-Hawkins and David Hawkins with Chef Bryan Lee Weaver of Butcher & Bee. $300 per person.
  • Taylor Family Vineyards, represented by Pat Taylor and Danielle Taylor-Coker, at the home of Jason Hickok with Chef Chris Stallard of Flyte World Dining and Wine Bar. $200 per person.
  • Spire Collection, represented by Ryan Hughes and Ross Anderson, at the home of Amy Marsalis and Keith Simpkins with Chef Andy Hayes of Barcelona Wine Bar. $200 per person.

 

To make reservations, please visit http://www.nashvillewineauction.com/pairings or call 615-329-1760.

2017 SPONSORS: City Winery, Saint Thomas Health, Brindiamo Group, LLC, Tennessee Oncology, Midtown Corkdorks, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Scripps Howard Foundation and Nashville Lifestyles.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: Nashville’s Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event: Honoring the Life and Spirit of Billy Ray Hearn. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $21 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. Beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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PAIRINGS FROM THE HEART: IN MEMORY OF PATRICIA ANDERSON

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The mission of the Nashville Wine Auction is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. It’s a very unique and special mission. Many of our patrons say, “We came for the wine, but we stayed for the cause.”  We come together to have a good time and to share our enthusiasm for wine by buying luxurious trips to wine regions, outrageous wine tastings, culinary experiences and fine bottles of wine. We rely on the generosity of our community to offer these very special indulgences. There’s been no one more generous in this endeavor than Pam and Steve Taylor.

It seems almost every time we gather for an auction (and that’s often), we also share our stories of loved ones who have lost their battle to this disease. We hold great appreciation to our giving community for their heartfelt donations honoring the life of our friend Pat Anderson. Pat has been one of the reasons for the Taylor’s continual and intentional giving to Nashville Wine Auction.

In August 2016, Pam lost her sister, Patricia, to cancer. Patricia Anderson was born in Lufkin, Texas, attended Lufkin High School and followed in her sister’s footsteps to graduate from Texas A&M University in 1982. Her son Cyrus was born in 1990.

 

Pat lived in Houston where she opened the Physical Conditioning Center which focused on Pilates training and the rehabilitation of individuals in need. Promoting good health and the independence of running her business gave Pat many years of satisfaction.

From battling snakes while working with the forestry service, to racing in competitive bike races such as the hh100, Pat loved to compete and to be outdoors. A true Texan, she enjoyed football including the Lufkin Panthers, Texas Aggies, and Houston Texans. Pat was an avid hunter and fisherman, often visiting her family’s property on the Guadalupe River in Cuero, TX. She relished telling people of the joys of hunting in a town known as the turkey capital of the world.

Animals were another great love. There was always a menagerie of dogs, cats, and birds in her home. Much to her mother’s chagrin, she had a knack for discovering abandoned animals along the side of the road and giving them a new home.

Pat discovered she had advanced stage breast cancer in 2008, with doctors telling her she had few years to live. Pat valiantly battled the cancer and over the following eight years maintained a productive and high standard of living while surpassing the expectations of all her doctors. Pat succumbed to the disease in August, at the age of 56.

Pam, Steve and Pat enjoyed special times traveling to France where they could be found on occasion sharing a nice bottle of Champagne.

 

 

 

Auction Donations or cash contributions made in memory of Patricia Anderson by Tuesday, January 31st, will be recognized this year at Pairings. Auction lots with wine donated in Patricia’s memory will be noted with the “Pairings from the Heart” logo in the Pairings auction catalog. All donors will be listed under Auction Donors section of the Pairings auction catalog.

Pam and Steve have invited several of Pat’s friends to attend our Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend and will be presenting the “Raise Your Paddle” Live Auction lot at Pairings on Saturday night. We hope you can join us for Pairings and this special moment set aside to honor the life of Patricia Anderson.

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PAIRINGS: NASHVILLE’S ULTIMATE WINE & FOOD WEEKEND RAISES OVER $370,000

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 9, 2017) – Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce that Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, held from February 23-25, 2017, raised over $370,000 to fulfill the organization’s mission to fund the fight against cancer in Middle Tennessee. As guests celebrated the five year anniversary of Pairings, the amount raised represented a $205,000 increase from 2013’s inaugural event and an increase of $30,000 from 2016. The total amount raised from Pairings over five years is $1,338,594! Pairings was co-chaired by Stephanie & Tom Baldwin and Denise Cummins & Jeff Hopmayer.

As the first large wine and food event in Nashville in 2017, Pairings had its highest ever attendance – a total of 861 guests, which increased from 802 in 2016.

“Being able to build relationships between wine enthusiasts in our community, West Coast wineries, and the fantastic creative culinary talent in Nashville, has been an important step in the development of Pairings,” said Holly Whaley, President/CEO of Nashville Wine Auction. “Having successfully hosted the 5th Annual Pairings, we love seeing both old and new friends coming to Nashville! We are working hard to create the ultimate pairing – enjoyment of wine and generous giving to fund the fight against cancer.”
Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend kicked off on Thursday, February 23 with 15 Private Vintner Dinners, chaired by Melanie Cansler and Jodi Gillman, in restaurants and private homes throughout Nashville. These intimate dinners, which ranged from 12 to 24 people, allowed guests to meet winemakers and winery owners and taste their wines with food pairings from many of Nashville’s best chefs.

On Friday and Saturday nights, events were held at City Winery for the first time. Having the backdrop of City Winery’s winery and event venue set the stage for two successful wine events.

At Wined Up! on Friday, February 24, 28 winemakers from the West Coast came to Nashville to pour their delicious wines. Guests enjoyed not only getting to build relationships with wineries that have come to Nashville for multiple years, such as Herman Story, Kokomo Winery and Taylor Family Vineyards, but also had an opportunity to taste wines from newcomers to Nashville, such as Giornata, Ledge and Willamette Valley Vineyards. Chef Garrett Pittler of City Winery and visiting chefs from Chicago prepared delicious appetizers which paired beautifully with the wines. The Silent Auction featured 120 wine-centric Silent Auction lots, which were separated by the varietal for the first time, allowing wine enthusiasts to have a better experience shopping the auction.

At Pairings on Saturday, February 25, guests gathered to enjoy a six course meal provided by chefs from Nashville and Chicago, paired with California wines. The full menu for the evening featured these perfect wine and food pairings:

Reception Pairing – Chef Garrett Pittler, City Winery, Nashville with Zonin Prosecco
Lobster Thermidor, Cape Cod House-Made Potato Chips and Beef Tartare, Petite Sirah Gastrique, Emulsifed Quail Egg, Baguette
Zonin Prosecco

First Pairing – Chef Matt Farley, Fin & Pearl, Nashville with Suzanne Phifer Pavitt, Phifer Pavitt
Grilled Octopus, Buttermilk White Bean Puree, Celery Olive Tapenade Salad
Phifer Pavitt Date Night Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Second Pairing – Chef Charles Welch, Honey’s, Chicago with Pam Starr, Crocker & Starr
Coffee Cured Rabbit Rillette, Foie Gras Mousse, Blueberry-Black Pepper Compote, Candied Pecans, Tarragon, Brioche
Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc 2014

Third Pairing – Chef Greg Biggers, Café des Architectes, Chicago with Ross Anderson, Cardinale
Pacific Seabass, Smoked Sunchoke, Lardo, Baby Brussels Sprouts
Cardinale 2012
Fourth Pairing – Chef Erick Williams, mk The Restaurant, Chicago with David Robbins, D.R. Stephens Estate
Pekin Duck Confit, Celery Root Puree, Heirloom Carrots, Cocoa Scented Duck Jus, Mint
D.R. Stephens Estate Moose Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Fifth Pairing – Chef Tony Galzin, Nicky’s Coal Fired, Nashville with Tom Gamble, Gamble Family Vineyards
Parmigiano Mascarpone Cheesecake, Pine Nut Crumble, Rosemary Fig Compote
Gamble Family Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2013

Throughout the meal, guests enjoyed a spirited Live Auction with Auctioneer CK Swett. The Live Auction featured some very special wine lots, rare wine dinners and tastings as well as extraordinary wine excursions. Some of the top grossing lots of the night included:

LOT 114: A Sure Thing: Gamble Family Vineyards, Casa Piena, Phifer Pavitt & More sold for $20,000
A four night trip to Napa for four couples while lodging at the luxurious Gamble Family Vineyards Guest House and a fully equipped itinerary of tastings at Gamble Family Vineyards, Casa Piena, Hunnicutt, Handwritten Winery and two special lunches with Harumph and Phifer Pavitt.

LOT 201: Cinema Paradiso! It’s Italian Movie Night at Nicky’s Coal Fired sold for $13,650
It’s sure to be a party when Chefs Tony Galzin, Nicky’s Coal Fired, Matt Bolus, The 404 Kitchen, James Peisker & Chris Carter, Porter Road Butcher and Leigh Omilinksy, Nico Osteria, come together for an Italian feast, inspired by classic Italian movies, such as Goodfellas, Roman Holiday and The Big Night.

LOT 123: Three 9-Liter Bottles of D.R. Stephens Cab sold for $13,000
The highest grossing wine lot in the auction went to a lucky bidder who took home 3 gorgeous 9-Liter bottles of D.R. Stephens Moose Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2005-2007 vintages. That’s 3 cases of wine!

LOT 120:
Seriously Sensational Sonoma Trip for Four Couples sold for $8,500
A four night stay for four couples at the Tertulia Estate Home with VIP tours and tastings at Gundlach Bundschu, Bartholomew Park Winery, Sojourn Cellars, Ledson Winery, Dutton-Goldfield, Kistler Vineyards, Williams Selyem, Banshee Wines and Kokomo Winery.

LOT 107:
Wine Country Nirvana, Cardinale and Gibson Custom sold for $5,000
Lovers of great California cabernet know it doesn’t get much better than a three night stay for four couples at the Lokoya Villa on Spring Mountain, a VIP Tasting with Chris Carpenter, l’Eté du Vin’s Guest of Honor in 2015, tickets to a party with Nashville-based Gibson Custom and two magnums of Cardinale.

LOT 129:
A Tasteful Tour of Italy’s Top Wines with Chef Tandy Wilson sold for $5,000
Nashville’s resident James Beard Award Winning Chef, Tandy Wilson of City House will prepare an elegant menu to pair with Pam and Steve Taylor’s selections from all major winegrowing regions in Italy.

The Auction this year was dedicated In Loving Memory of Patricia Anderson, the sister of Pam Taylor, former Chair of the Nashville Wine Auction Board of Directors, who passed away after battling breast cancer. For the 2017 Raise Your Paddle, Pam and her husband Steve delivered a heartfelt message about the importance of fighting and beating cancer. Their appeal inspired guests to donate $16,250!

With the success of Pairings, Nashville Wine Auction looks forward to hosting The 38th Annual l’Ete du Vin, which will take place July 20-22, 2017.

2017 SPONSORS: City Winery, Brindiamo Group, LLC, Tennessee Oncology, Midtown Corkdorks, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Scripps Howard Foundation and Nashville Lifestyles.
ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event: Honoring the Life and Spirit of Billy Ray Hearn. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $21 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. Beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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38th Annual l’Eté du Vin to Honor Six California Wineries

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Nashville Wine Auction’s signature event to take place June 22 & July 20-22, 2017

NASHVILLE, TENN. – April 13, 2017 – The Nashville Wine Auction announces the 38th Annual l’Eté du Vin themed “California Collectibles” will take place from July 20-22, 2017. This year’s event is headlined by six California wineries: Schramsberg Vineyards, Davies Vineyards, Hirsch Vineyards, PlumpJack Estate Winery, CADE Estate Winery and Odette Estate Winery and will be celebrated with a series of five events.

Tickets for all the following events are available at NashvilleWineAuction.com:

  • Grand Cru Evening, Thursday, June 22, 2017 – $250 per person
  • Vintners’ Tasting, Thursday, July 20, 2017 at Richland Country Club – $175 per person
  • Patrons’ Dinners, Friday, July 21, 2017 at private homes – $1,000 per person
  • 38th Annual l’Eté du Vin, Saturday, July 22, 2017 at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel – $335 per person

The Grand Cru Evening will kick off l’Eté du Vin with a cocktail party at a private home which will be announced next month. Tom Black, noted banking entrepreneur and nationally recognized wine collector, will be honored as the 2017 Norman M. Lipman Award recipient by Robert S. Lipman. The event is the first opportunity to preview some of the top auction lots and learn more about the organization’s eight cancer-fighting beneficiaries.

Vintners’ Tasting, at Richland Country Club, kicks off three continuous days of celebration. From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the honored vintners will present their wines with fun and stimulating conversation.

For a change of pace, this year’s event will feature two Patrons’ Dinners hosted in private homes. One will feature wines from Schramsberg Vineyards, Davies Vineyards and Hirsch Vineyards. The other dinner will feature PlumpJack Estate Winery, CADE Estate Winery and Odette Estate Winery. The chefs and locations for each dinner will be announced in the coming weeks.

Of course, the events culminate with l’Eté du Vin, the country’s longest-running charity wine auction, at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. This one-of-a-kind evening celebrates “everything wine” with wine tastings and a gourmet dinner as well as silent and live auctions for unique trips and luxury items. Fritz Hatton of Zachys will return as auctioneer for the fifth year in a row.

“The Nashville Wine Auction offers its supporters the unbeatable combination of first-class wine experiences while raising millions of dollars to support cancer-fighting organizations in the Middle Tennessee area,” said Nashville Wine Auction CEO Holly Whaley. “Our team is proud to present this nationally recognized wine auction – right here in Nashville – and this year’s l’Ete’ du Vin is certainly a can’t-miss event!”

Sponsors for this year’s l’Ete’ du Vin include: KPMG, Bass Berry & Sims, Beaman Automotive Group, Tennessee Oncology, Audi Nashville, Porsche of Nashville, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, The Rowland-Bradford Group of Raymond James, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Gary Musick Productions, Starling Davis Group of Fridrich & Clark, LLC, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Waller.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event: Honoring the Life and Spirit of Billy Ray Hearn. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $21 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2017 list of beneficiaries includes the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, Gilda’s Club Nashville, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Saint Thomas Cancer Network, and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

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PlumpJack Estate Winery

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Approachable Innovator Collectible

PlumpJack Wineries was inspired by one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters, Sir John “PlumpJack” Falstaff, a down-to-earth, fun-loving, irreverent character, rivaled only by his fierce loyalty to Prince Hal (Henry V), with whom he shares more than a few goblets of sack (wine) with at the local tavern.

With this philosophy in mind and an opportunity to create their own winery, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and composer/philanthropist Gordon Getty acquired a century-old 42-acre vineyard in the Napa Valley. The duo vowed to celebrate the convivial spirit of the namesake at the winery and pay tribute to the world-class vineyard by crafting high-quality wines that honored the land with an inviting and approachable style.

In 2000, PlumpJack Estate Winery would forever change the wine world. The winery introduced their 1997 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville at the Napa Valley Wine Auction by bottling 50% of their flagship wine under a screw cap closure. Industry leaders in the use of alternative closures for luxury wines, PlumpJack Estate Winery made a huge statement that represents their commitment to quality as well as their spirit of approachability. In 2016, PlumpJack Estate Winery earned 100-points from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate on their 2013 PlumpJack Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville marking just the second time in history that a wine under a screw cap closure has received this award.

Today, Winemaker Aaron Miller and his team continue the winemaking heritage at PlumpJack Estate Winery by producing elegant wines that pay tribute to the Oakville estate vineyard and that earn high critical-acclaim.

With wines that reflect both the original vision of conviviality as well as the critic-worthy quality, PlumpJack Winery is an innovator of both style and approachability, not an easy feat in Napa Valley.

Experience wines from PlumpJack Estate Winery at Nashville Wine Auction’s 38th Annual l’Eté du Vin, California Collectibles.  Registration is now open.

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Hirsch Vineyards

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Sonoma Pinot Pioneer Collectible

David Hirsch was a true pioneer of California’s Sonoma Coast. It was a crazy place to grow grapes, with the ocean just a few miles away. In an effort to purchase land before California’s inevitable population influx, Hirsch found a large sheep ranch in Sonoma. Since no one wanted to be there (the area used to be redwood forests, but had since been completely logged), Hirsch purchased a large 400 acre property, and it didn’t cost him much.

Persuaded by a friend to plant grapes, Hirsch’s property soon flourished and became the birth ground of great Pinot Noir on the extreme Sonoma Coast. With minimal interest in winemaking, Hirsch first began selling fruit to cult Pinot producers like Williams Selyem, Flowers and Littorai. It wasn’t until 2002 that David decided that Hirsch would make their own wines, and this was without a doubt a fantastic decision.

The wines from Hirsch Vineyards give the passionate drinker an experience of the clash of opposites meeting in Nature and Life: the edge of the continent washed by the sea; the eviternal grinding of the North American and Pacific plates along the San Andreas Fault; the wet winters and dry summers caused by the ocean and desert climates; the dripping rainforest and parched pastures; the contact and intermingling of cultures: Native American, Mexican, Russian, European; the change in rural economy from logging and ranching to winegrowing.

In the wines of Hirsch Vineyards you find a natural balance and consistency in the harmonious resolution of these opposites. This complex, unique site produces fruit and wines of unusual acidity and balance with a vintage specific concentration of pinot noir or chardonnay fruit. These are wines to be enjoyed now or laid down for future consumption.

Made with grapes from the Pinot grower in Sonoma, it’s no wonder that the Hirsch Vineyards wines are some of the most sought-after in the area. Everyone wants to get their hands on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made by the man himself.

Experience wines from Hirsch Vineyards at Nashville Wine Auction’s 38th Annual l’Eté du Vin, California Collectibles.  Registration is now open.

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Davies Vineyards

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Passion Project Collectible

With an internationally successful Schramsberg sparkling wines in production, gaining critical acclaim and recognition, the Davies family began to experiment with other varietals in the vineyards surrounding the winery, simply for the love of winemaking. They were especially interested in finding ways to manage heavy tannins and tight structure sometimes characteristic of Diamond Mountain grown fruit.

In 1994, the first red wine grapes were planted on the estate. Most wineries after planting vineyards will take full advantage to harvest their first grapes within 3 or 4 years after planting, but this was not so with Davies Vineyards. They waited 7 years before releasing their first commercial vintage in 2001. They were not producing wine commercially during this time, as it was merely for their own experimentation and knowledge. Throughout the process, they kept tweaking blocks in the vineyard including layout, types of rootstock, clones and varietals.

Focusing on Burgundian and Bordeaux styled wines – preferring these over the much bigger, more showy, fruit forward wines that you often find in the Napa area, this passion project for the Davies family has resulted in a delicate (and highly acclaimed) Old World-style of wine, with subtle tannins. Within the rugged and intrinsically tannic California climate, this is no small feat. This wine is produced in extremely small quantities and their stock sells out almost instantly.

What began as a passion has turned into a highly collectable and sought-after prize.

Experience wines from Davies Vineyards at Nashville Wine Auction’s 38th Annual l’Eté du Vin, California Collectibles.  Registration is now open.

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Schramsberg Vineyards

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International Superstar Collectible

Though recognized for its contemporary cultural, political, and viticultural acclaim, Schramsberg’s history dates back way to the 19th century, in the midst of turbulent Civil War in the United States, when German immigrant Jacob Schram first made his home and started his winery on Diamond Mountain.

The northern Napa Valley was still a thickly forested, rugged terrain, and a difficult place to navigate when Jacob Schram set forth to establish the second winery in the area, one year after Charles Krug had opened up shop just a little ways to the south. This was uncharted territory at that time, and something about the raw, dense, uninterrupted beauty of northern California clearly appealed to men like Jacob Schram. Jacob Schram died in 1905. In the next two decades, phylloxera and prohibition devastated the wine industry in California. The Schramsberg property would pass from one wealthy yet disinterested owner to the next for a series of decades until, finally, in 1965, it was purchased by Jack and Jamie Davies, who would restore the estate and bring it to critical acclaim.

The Davies set out to produce sparkling wine – specifically, “America’s most prestigious, select and admired sparkling wine; chosen for special guests, special gifts, pampering one’s self and expressing one’s taste in unique products.” And boy, did they ever succeed in that goal. Through the decades, this spirit of innovation earned Schramsberg and the Davies worldwide praise and recognition.

Schramsberg has also played a role in world history. The Blanc de Blancs was used for President Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace” with China’s Premier Zhou Enlai. Schramsberg’s sparkling wines have been served at official State functions by every U.S. Presidential administration since.

If there is anything to be said for California sparkling wine, Schramsberg sets the standard and is a shining superstar by all accounts.

Experience wines from Schramsberg Vineyards at Nashville Wine Auction’s 38th Annual l’Eté du Vin, California Collectibles.  Registration is now open.

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Nashville Wine Auction Presents The Men’s Event

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mensevent_mainimage-124NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 13, 2016) – Nashville Wine Auction is excited to announce that The Men’s Event will be held on Thursday, October 6 at 6:30 pm at Prima.

“Last year we introduced The Men’s Event to allow men to drink amazing wine, enjoy a delicious meal and help raise funds for our beneficiaries,” said Holly Hearn Whaley, President/CEO of Nashville Wine Auction. “As The Men’s Event enters its second year, we are taking over the main floor at Prima to allow even more gentlemen to join us.”

Under the leadership of Co-Chairs Harvey Crouch and Jim Lewis, The Men’s Event celebrates the convivial gathering of gentlemen with two things that men love: a big steak and lots of red wine! The evening will start with a cocktail reception at Prima before guests sit down to a five course dinner with wine pairings, prepared by Prima Executive Chef Salvador Avila.

The event will be held in the spirit of the late Billy Ray Hearn, a loyal patron of Nashville Wine Auction who oftentimes gathered “the boys” for gastronomic feasts featuring some of the world’s best wine and food.

The menu for the night will feature the following courses after welcome cocktails:

1st Course – Lamb Tartare, Preserved Meyer Lemon Dressing, Charred Carrots, Sweet Potato Chips paired with Reynolds Family “Los Carneros” Pinot Noir 2012

2nd Course – Cured Magret Duck Breast, Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Blue Cheese, Breadcrumb, Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad paired with Casa Piena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

3rd Course – Braised Beef Cheeks, Pumpkin Risotto, Fried Pumpkin Seeds paired with Peacock Family Vineyard Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

4th Course – Dry Aged Bear Creek Ribeye on a String, Charred Green Beans, Black Walnuts, Smoked Onion Jus paired with Harumph /Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

5th Course – Pumpkin Pie

 

Guests are also encouraged to bring selections from their cellar to pair alongside dinner and share with friends. Guests have four options to purchase tickets which include individual tickets at $250 per person ($200 is tax-deductible), a table for four at $1,000 per table ($800 is tax-deductible), a table for six at $1,500 per table ($1,200 is tax deductible) or a table for eight at $2,000 per table ($1,600 is tax-deductible). Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.NashvilleWineAuction.com or calling the Nashville Wine Auction office at (615) 329-1760.

Sponsors for The Men’s Event include Prima, Delta Dental, Tennessee Wine and Spirits, Reynolds Family Winery, Peacock Vineyards, Casa Piena and Harumph.

HOST COMMITTEE: Tom Baldwin, Chase Cole, Harvey Crouch, Lindsey Cooper, Jeff Drummonds, Michael Gold, Jason Hickok, Brandon Jenkins, Brian Junghans, Jim Lewis, Brad Morley, David Osborn, Jason Pharris, Gary Rzucidlo, Bill Sites, Chas Welch.

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $20 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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Nashville Wine Auction Presents Champagne and Chardonnay

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1u6a3621NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 13, 2016) – The Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce that Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies will be hosted on October 6, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm at the home of Lucy McCullough.

Named Nashville’s “Best Women’s Party” by Nfocus Magazine for the past two years, Champagne and Chardonnay is an exclusive cocktail party where ladies will enjoy a beautiful evening with their girlfriends, while raising money to fund the fight against cancer. Co-Chaired by Pam Cherry and Debbie Laffey, Champagne and Chardonnay will feature a Sparkling Silent Auction filled with fine wines, unique dinners and tastings, special trips and luxury items.

“We are honored to bring together strong and passionate women who love exceptional wine and have a strong commitment to raise funds to fight cancer,” said Holly Whaley, President/CEO of the Nashville Wine Auction. “Having been named as ‘Nashville’s Best Women’s Party” two years in a row, we are excited to produce another memorable event this year!”

The extraordinary wines for the evening are generously donated by The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills. Guests will enjoy a premier selection of Champagne and Chardonnay alongside passed hors d’oeuvres. In addition, ladies may peruse a collection of clothing and jewelry from 12th South boutique, Emerson Grace, as well as pieces from Helen’s Pop Art. With such a large variety of offerings at Champagne and Chardonnay, tickets will sell out quickly!

Women interested in making a reservation may call the Nashville Wine Auction office at 615.329.1760 or visit www.NashvilleWineAuction.com. Tickets are $125 per person and include wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres.

Sponsors for Champagne and Chardonnay include Saint Thomas Center for Breast Health, Mark B. Whaley DDS, Scripps Howard Foundation, Wine Shoppe at Green Hills, Emerson Grace, Helen’s Pop Art, ImageQuest and myEmma.

HOST COMMITTEE: Laura Ashby, Atkins, Stephanie Baldwin, Julie Barnes, Brenda Bernards, Abbay Blakenship, Barbara Browning, Barbara Burns, Melanie Cansler, Maureen Cleator, Mitsy Clendenin, Melissa Clough, Pamela Cmelak, Eleanor Cobb, Kimberly Cooper, Elise Crouch, Denise Cummins, Kelley Dantoulis, Rose Davis, Lisa Dean, Beth DeBauche, Lisa Dozier, Ann Eaden, Lisa Faricy, Kelly Ford, Mary Carol Friddell, Jodi Gillman, Rose Grindstaff, Lori Guardino, Robin Haney, Susan Harris, Marjorie Feltus Hawkins, Cynthia Himelfarb, Anita Hogin, Beth Huff, Barbara Jenkins, Caroline Jenkins, Kristen Junghans, Shawna Keller, Melinda Kelsey, Teresa Kingery, Virginia Kweller, Kimberly Lewis, Carolyn Linder, Lisa Maki, Lucy McCullough, Keri McInnis, Beth Moore, Tara Mullaney, Sandy Obodzinski, Emmy Phillips, Sharon Piper, Jeri Porter, Cheryl Read, Jessica Rogers, Dawn Rudolph, Ame Satterwhite, Kyle Schults, Deborah Sherman, Marsha Simoneaux, Lara Stevison, Pam Taylor, Lynne Teckman, Connie Thompson, Laura Waldrop, Stacey Way, Mandy Welch, Holly Whaley, Carolyn Yates

ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $20 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.

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Contact:  Vivek Surti, Director of Public Relations
Vivek@NashvilleWineAuction.com or 615-329-1760

The post Nashville Wine Auction Presents Champagne and Chardonnay appeared first on Nashville Wine Auction.

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