US$300k raised for Cité du Vin

A New York auction featuring special visits to top Bordeaux châteaux has raised US$300,000 for the benefit of the Cité du Vin museum.

Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin, set to open in June 2016

Organised by the ‘American Friends of the Cité du Vin’, the Sotheby’s-hosted sale on 27 April saw buyers able to bid on lots such as visits and lunches with winemakers and château owners at estates such as Yquem, Petrus, Laifte, Mouton Rothschild and Haut-Brion.

“Exceptionally keen bidding” brought in US$40,000 for the ‘Petrus Experience’, another $38,000 for the Mouton package, $26,000 for the Yquem experience and the combined lots offered by Domaine Clarence Dillon raised a further $41,000.

The funds raised from the sale will go towards supporting the Cité du Vin’s ‘Thomas Jefferson Auditorium’.

George Sape, president of the American Friends, commented: “The American Friends are the first group outside of France to support the Cité. 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.”

Domaine Clarence Dillon’s president, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, who was also at the event, added: “An extraordinary night celebrating the impending opening of the Cité du Vin on 1 June 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.”