VANCOUVER, BC (January 30, 2018) — The Vancouver International Wine Festival is pleased to announce auction highlights of this year’s Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction. The auction is held during the Bacchanalia Gala on February 24, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and features hundreds of different wines from around the world. The Gala Committee, chaired by Stephanie Hungerford, is thrilled to announce that this year’s Bacchanalia, the 30th anniversary, has now sold all 450 seats.
Auction Chairs Mark Hicken and Blair Curtis and their team have assembled an impressive collection of unique and celebrated wines. Highlights of the live auction include the celebrated 1983 Domaine de la Romanée Conti “La Tâche”, valued at $8,000, an eleven-bottle collection of Gruaud Larose and Osoyoos Larose verticals, and a rare vertical from cult winery Harlan Estate. The live and silent auctions include famed French wines from Bordeaux Premier Cru properties and Burgundy Grand Crus, as well as an incredible assembly of wines from Spain and Portugal, the festival’s 2018 theme countries.
The Bacchanalia Gala wine auction is the province’s premier opportunity for wine collectors to obtain rare and older vintage wines. The auction is a charitable fundraising event; since 2013, the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction has helped raise nearly $1 million for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society.
AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
1983 DOMAINE DE LA ROMANÉE CONTI “LA TÂCHE”– Estimated Value: $8,000
The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is the most celebrated and legendary wine producer in the world. At the top of the hierarchy of the great wines produced here sits the monopole, Romanée-Conti itself. Second in line — and often only a shade behind in quality — Is La Tâche, a small grand cru vineyard in the village of Vosne-Romanée, at the heart of Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits. The single wine made from the La Tâche vines is full-bodied and structured, and is one of the most expensive and sought-after wines in the world.
HARLAN ESTATE VERTICAL (five bottles) – Estimated Value: $9,000
A five-year vertical of Harlan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet including vintages from 1996 through 2000 inclusive. Founded in 1984, Harlan Estate is a winegrowing estate in the western hills of Oakville, California — in the heart of Napa Valley — and has been described as the “ultimate cult winery.” The flagship Harlan Estate is one of the most sought-after Californian wines on the market. Robert Parker states that “these wines possess all the elements of greatness — individuality, power combined with elegance, extraordinary complexity, remarkable aging potential and compelling richness without ponderousness.”
1964 MUSIGNY ESTATE DE VOGUE – Estimated Value: $4,000
Le Musigny is a revered Grand Cru vineyard site right at the heart of Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits wine district in the parish of Chambolle-Musigny. The vineyard has long played an important part in local life – so much so that, in 1882, its name was appended to that of the village, which was originally just Chambolle. The vineyard was officially classified as a Grand Cru in 1936. Musigny’s hallmark is its amazing balance between power and finesse.
GRUAUD LAROSE / OSOYOOS LAROSE VERTICALS (11 bottles) – Estimated Value: $3,500
This package includes a five-bottle vertical of Osoyoos Larose, with the first five vintages produced by the winery: 2001 – 2005 inclusive. Osoyoos Larose was formed through an inspired partnership in 1998 to create a world-class Canadian wine from classic Bordeaux varietals. Also included is a six-bottle vertical from Château Gruaud Larose in France, featuring the following vintages: 1975, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1995. Since its creation in 1725, Château Gruaud Larose has been headed by four families. Each generation has witnessed the blossoming of genuine artist winemakers, embracing the winery tradition while moving towards more modern techniques and viticultural innovation.
WALK-ON ROLE – BARD ON THE BEACH 2018 – Estimated Value: Priceless!
The Bacchanalia is a fundraiser for Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, so it’s not surprising that there are several amazing packages featuring Bard tickets and events. One lucky bidder will earn a walk-on role during the first scene of a performance of As You Like It during the 2018 season. Artistic Director Christopher Gaze will walk the temporary cast member through every step – from costume fitting to entrance. And to celebrate this stage debut, the package also includes ten play tickets and picnics from Emelle’s Catering to guarantee a friendly audience.
In addition to this wine lover’s dream auction, Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction offers the most spectacular wine and food pairing experience in Vancouver, with 10 outstanding wines from around the world matched with a five-course dinner imaginatively created by Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s executive chef, Cameron Ballendine. Bacchanalia is emceed by Global BC anchor Chris Gailus.
Bacchanalia Gala also offers a raffle with a one-in-200 chance to win two business class tickets anywhere Delta Air Lines flies, a value of $36,440 USD (~$44,600 CAD). Tickets are only $100 and available by phone at 604.739.0559 during Bard on the Beach office hours, or, if any remain, onsite at gala. You do not need to attend gala to win. All proceeds go to Bard on the Beach.
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ABOUT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL
Canada’s premier wine show marks its 40th edition of pairing wine, food and the performing arts from February 24 to March 4, 2018. The festival features Wines from Spain and Portugal and showcases 173 wineries from 15 countries (including 38 wineries from Spain and 20 from Portugal) pouring 1,450+ wines at 51 events to a projected 25,000 admissions. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction opens the festival on Saturday, February 24 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and is sponsored by Nicola Wealth Management. The Trade Days Conference goes Wednesday, February 28 to Friday, March 2. The festival has been named the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York’s BizBash for five years running.
The festival is produced by the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and festival partners; and raise funds for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Since inception in 1979, the festival has raised $9 million for the performing arts. Major sponsors are Delta Air Lines and the Vancouver Sun; major industry partners are the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, BC Liquor Stores, Import Vintners & Spirits Association, and Tourism Vancouver. The festival is made possible through the gracious support of our participating countries’ consulates and embassies.
ABOUT BARD ON THE BEACH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Celebrating its 29th season in 2018, Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. It is presented on the waterfront in Kitsilano’s Vanier Park, adjacent to Vancouver’s downtown core. Bard on the Beach offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas and popular special events in two performance tents every June through September. In 2017, attendance was over 100,000 and more than 1.6 million patrons have experienced Bard since its inception. Next year’s festival dates are June 6 to September 22, 2018, and the lineup includes As You Like It, Macbeth, Timon of Athens and a new Bard-commissioned adaptation of the Greek classic Lysistrata.
Bard also offers a range of education programs, including Young Shakespeareans Workshops for 8 to 18 year-olds at its Vanier Park site during the summer, and Riotous Youth for 19 to 24-year-olds. During the school term, Bard also offers workshops for educators and youth in schools and community centres throughout BC’s Lower Mainland, as well as at its administrative home, the BMO Theatre Centre (162 West 1st Avenue). Full details and education program information are at bardonthebeach.org.
