Oswald Mosley wine collection for sale

Bonhams is to sell a wine collection previously owned by 1930s British Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley.

The recently discovered bottles will form part of the Fine and Rare Wines auction on Thursday 13 May at New Bond Street in London.

Mosley was a British politician primarily known for being the founder of the British Union of Fascists. He was married twice – first to Lady Cynthia Curzon, and then to Diana Guinness née Mitford with whom he had several children.

After WWII Mosley moved to Ireland where the wines have since been kept. They were stored at the Bishop’s Palace, Clonfert, Co. Galway and Ileclash, Co. Cork until 1963 and then at Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford, home of the Dukes of Devonshire until the present.

There they were forgotten about until their recent rediscovery, and they are now being offered for auction by Mosley’s grandson.

The wines on offer include four bottles of Volnay 1937 (estimate £160-220); three bottles of Château Cheval Blanc 1934 (estimate £300-360); one bottle of Château Cheval Blanc 1952 (estimate £200-260); one bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild 1952 (estimate £200-260), and a bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild 1953 (estimate £400-480).

“It is very exciting to be offering these few remaining bottles with such historical resonance during the election period,” said Richard Harvey, head of Bonhams Wine Department.

The sale also includes three further important collections. One is from a continental cellar and consists of seven vintages of Le Pin, mostly in magnums.

Another collection from a Scottish cellar includes a case of Mouton Rothschild 1959 (£10,000-12,000) and a case of Latour 1959 in magnums (£12,000-14,000).

And the third includes a range of top Tuscan wines such as Sassicaia, Solaia, Ornellaia and Tignanello, with many in large formats.

Patrick Schmitt, 15.04.10