Unprecedented Evening Sale to Take Place at The Chelsea Piers Lighthouse In New York on April 27, 2022
NEW YORK, February 28, 2022 – The Roots Fund announced today their partnership with Zachys to stage the first-annual auction of wines and experiences donated by world-renowned estates and wineries from Burgundy to Champagne to the Napa Valley. Proceeds from the sale will benefit The Roots Fund, launched in 2020 to address the lack of diversity in the wine industry, specifically amongst BIPOC populations, co-founded by Executive Director Ikimi Dubose-Woodson, Hue Society Founder Tahiirah Habibi, and Master Sommelier and Managing Partner of Lawrence Wine Estates Carlton McCoy, Jr.
The charity auction will showcase rare wines and unique experiences from the most sought-after growers from Burgundy including Dujac, Drouhin, Duroché, de Montille, Thibault Liger-Belair and Comtes Lafon, as well as the most prestigious wineries from the Napa Valley including Heitz Cellars, Inglenook, Silver Oak, and Robert Mondavi, to name a few.
The distinctive wine experiences will include celebrated tours through a range of premier wine regions all around the world from Saint-Tropez and Burgundy in France to Napa, Paso Robles and Lodi in California to South America. Each tour will embrace cellar tastings, top chef dinners, and a chance to meet some of the leading producers around the world. A “Rooted in France” wine experience hosted in Burgundy will feature the top Domaines of the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, while an exclusive Hampton Water Rosé package comes with an autographed guitar from Jon Bon Jovi.
The unprecedented evening sale will take place on Wednesday, April 27 at The Lighthouse in New York, a one-of-a-kind waterfront setting located at Chelsea Piers overlooking the Hudson River. The special event – which is also being held in partnership with Wine Spectator – will feature the soulful sounds of Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter Kenyon Dixon and include a VIP tasting of Heitz Cellar hosted by Estate Director Erik Elliot and Carlton McCoy, Jr, Master Sommelier, and Managing Partner of Lawrence Family Estates. The charity dinner will be in the convivial sharing tradition of Burgundy, so we encourage you to bring your cellar favorites to share with other guests. These distinctive wines will be paired with a specialty curated menu by world-renowned Chef Matthew Tiscornia, Executive Chef at Pier Sixty, Executive Chef Joseph Paire of Fairmont Hotels, Limewood Restaurant and Bar, and Chef/Owner Daniel Eddy from critically acclaimed Winner New York City. Jermaine Stone, owner of Cru Luv media and host of the Wine & Hip Hop Show, will preside over the evening’s proceedings.
To contribute a rare wine lot or experience to be auctioned to benefit The Roots Fund, please contact charity@therootsfund.org by March 15.
Julia Murray, Managing Director of Zachys Auctions commented, “Zachys is thrilled to partner with The Roots Fund for its First Annual Charity Auction in support of creating inclusivity for communities of color in the wine industry. The Roots Fund’s mission to secure the pathway for communities of color in wine is near and dear to our hearts at Zachys, and we are honored to participate in this exciting initiative to enrich and enhance the future of the wine industry.”
“Everyone has been doing all types of inclusive work in the wake of social justice. We wanted to create something impactful. This auction will be a first-of-its-kind event, directly affecting the industry. By partnering at this stage, Zachys shows their commitment to change. Hundreds of scholars will reap the rewards of this event and will be forever changed,” said The Roots Fund Executive Director Ikimi Dubose-Woodson.
The auction will be presented to a global audience from New York, and although there will be limited attendance capacity for the event at The Lighthouse, in addition to bidding in the room, bids will be welcomed on the telephone, live online, or by submitting an absentee bid with Zachys in advance of the sale, via email or their website. Tickets will go on sale for pre-sale on March 9th and open to all on March 14th.
About The Roots Fund
The Roots Fund is a non-profit organization focused on securing the pathway for the BIPOC community in wine. Built to create financial support for education, mentorship, and job placement opportunities, The Roots Fund is out “doing the work,” to create inclusivity for communities of color in the wine industry. Since its foundation in 2020, they have raised over a half million dollars and created more than 100 scholarships that will bring years of change and equity into the wine industry. For more information and to learn how you can help, visit www.therootsfund.org.
About Zachys Wine
Zachys is the world’s premier auction house and purveyor of fine and rare wines. Founded in 1944, Zachys is a family-owned business headquartered in Westchester, NY with international offices in Asia and Europe. In 2021 Zachys sold over $153 million of fine wine and spirits globally, including over $1.6 million in charitable lots sold to benefit restaurant workers affected by Covid-19.
