La Cité du Vin Benefit Auction and Dinner Raises $300,000 At

4th May 2016
La Cité du Vin Benefit Auction and Dinner
Raises $300,000 At Sotheby’s
Funds Support Naming Of the Thomas Jefferson Auditorium.
Jamie Ritchie of Sotheby’s takes the auction
Prince Robert of Luxembourg speaks before dinner
On 28 April 2016 a benefit auction and dinner hosted by Sotheby’s New York raised over $300,000 for
the American Friends of La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux. These funds will support the naming of the Thomas
Jefferson Auditorium at the exceptional cultural center devoted to showcasing the civilizations and
history of the world of wine. Guests at the prestigious event bid on a range of unique Bordeaux
experiences generously donated by top Châteaux. The “Petrus Experience” which featured an Imperial
(6 liters) of 1995 Petrus and lunch for 2 at the Moueix family home prepared by 3-star chef Michel
Guérard, reached $40,000 after exceptionally keen bidding. Other exceptional results included The
Château Mouton Rothschild experience which fetched $38,000 and the Château d’Yquem Experience
which realized $26,000. The lots offered by Domaine Clarence Dillon sold for a combined value of $
41,000 USD.
George P. Sape, President of the American Friends of La Cité du Vin, commented: “Last week’s auction
at Sotheby’s to benefit the Thomas Jefferson Auditorium at La Cité du Vin was a brilliant evening. It
succeeded in raising more than $300,000 for the support of the auditorium, which is the focus of the
American Friends of La Cité du Vin. The American Friends are the first group outside of France to
support La Cité du Vin. The naming of the auditorium was designed to highlight the importance of the
French-American alliance on many levels, including wine, which Jefferson was instrumental in
introducing to the U.S. during his time as our Ambassador to France. To the American Friends the
auditorium represents the future site of presentations that will highlight all of the different aspects of
wine – cultural, artistic, scientific, and societal – a vision that Jefferson would have appreciated.”
Prince Robert of Luxembourg added: “An extraordinary night celebrating the June 1st impending
opening of La Cité du Vin and thereby the global cultures and civilisations of wine! The generosity of
our lot donors and the enthusiastic bidding of our guests underlined the continued ties between France
and the United States while also underscoring the firm commitment of our American Friends in
honouring a sizeable donation made to ensure the naming of the Thomas Jefferson Auditorium.”
The Board of the American Friends of La Cité du Vin would like to seize this opportunity to thank the
Lot donors for their generous support with their unique offerings:
La Cité du Vin builder patrons and Châteaux: Lynch Bages, Angelus, Pape Clément, Latour, Cheval
Blanc, Pavie, Lafite Rothschild, Haut Bailly, Yquem, Cos d’Estournel, Haut-Brion, Quintus, La
Mission Haut-Brion, Petrus, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux.
Also: Restaurant Le Clarence and the Mayor of Bordeaux – Monsieur Alain Juppé.
About American Friends of La Cité du Vin: The American Friends of La Cité du Vin, the American twin
of the Fondation pour la Culture et les Civilisations du Vin, was launched in the United States and
granted tax approval by the American government on 31 July 2014. It is headed by Robert G. Wilmers
(Chairman), who is also president of M&T Bank Corporation and owner of Château Haut-Bailly, and
George Sape (President), a managing partner at Epstein, Becker and Green and former Grand Master
of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in New York. The mission of the American Friends of La Cité du Vin
is to enhance wine culture, publicise La Cité du Vin in the United States, participate significantly in the
development and realisation of the missions of the Fondation pour la culture et les civilisations du vin
and gather donations from American sponsors. A launching dinner took place on 30 April 2015 at the
United Nations Headquarters in New York, followed by a grand dinner at the French Consulate in New
York on 29 November 2015.
About La Cité du Vin: La Cité du Vin is a cultural facility dedicated to wine as a universal living cultural
heritage. It is operated by the Fondation pour la culture et les civilisations du vin. 450,000 visitors are
expected each year to this site which offers an immersive, sensory permanent tour, ambitious
temporary exhibitions, a cultural programme of events in the auditorium, workshops, a Belvedere set
35 metres above ground, as well as restaurants, shops and wine bars. La Cité du Vin is also a one-of-akind business venue that can host conferences and other corporate events. Meetings, seminars,
workshops or cocktail receptions can be organized in the site’s private modular spaces. La Cité du Vin
will open to the public on 1st June 2016. Individuals and companies can support the cultural programme
of La Cité du Vin by joining the Cercle des Amis and the Cercle des Entreprises Mécènes.
www.laciteduvin.com
Press contacts:
La Cité du Vin: Pauline Versace Tel. +33(0)5 47 50 06 73/ +33(0)7 68 33 39 29
[email protected]
Agence Hémisphère Sud: Corinne Hennequin - Maitena Idiart Tel.
+33(0)5 57 77 59 60 / +33(0)6 37 04 78 65 [email protected]