Master of Wine auction raises £1m

As much as £1 million has been raised for the Institute of Masters of Wine’s Endowment Fund following a dinner and auction at Bonhams in London last night.

The super lots auctioned at Bonhams last night have raised £1 million for the Institute of Masters of Wine’s Endowment Fund

The total has smashed estimates by the IMW, which sought to raise around half this sum, and will enable the organisation to significantly extend its range of activities in the global wine world, enhance the support it gives to its members worldwide and encourage Masters of Wine of the future.

Chairman of the Institute, Jane Masters MW said, “We are overwhelmed by the astounding success of the dinner and auction which, together with the money raised from the online auction, will put the Institute on a very sound footing for the future. We are extremely grateful to the many IMW members, supporters and our friends in the wine trade who donated so generously and helped make the evening so successful.”

Bonhams international director of wine, Richard Harvey MW commented, “Bonhams has always been a strong supporter of the IMW’s work in setting and maintaining rigorous standards in the modern wine business. We are very pleased to have been able to play a role in helping the IMW establish its Endowment Fund, which will ensure its vital work can continue and grow in the future”.

Some of the super lots and the sums they went for can be seen below, while a full list of the super lots can be viewed here.

£150,000:
A private tasting of Screaming Eagle wines, led personally by a member of the Screaming Eagle team, and a position on Screaming Eagle’s exclusive mailing list.

£145,000:
An exclusive stay at Le Pin and Cheval Blanc plus visits and meals at the acknowledged five greats of the Right Bank; Le Pin, Petrus, Lafleur, Cheval Blanc and Ausone.

£90,000:
A three-night trip to Burgundy for four people, visiting top Domaines across the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. This includes a lunch in the private dining room at Clos de Lambrays, visits to Fourrier, Grivot, Lafon, Leflaive, Louis Jadot, Louis Latour and Rousseau.

A further 100 lots are being offered online and bidding will continue until 15.00 (GMT) on Tuesday 21 November 2017. All lots can be viewed here.

Among these lots are:

• A 12-bottle case of Guigal’s famous ‘LaLa’ Côte-Rôtie wines from four of its exceptional single vineyards.

• A chance to experience the best of Italy through the most prestigious wines of Istituto Grandi Marchi, including wines from Donnafugata, Marchese Antinori and Masi.

• A unique opportunity to experience the three and a half day To Kalon Certification – the signature event for Robert Mondavi Winery, usually only available to the wine trade.

• A private once in a lifetime dinner for six with Jancis Robinson MW and the Lander family at one of award-winning restaurateur Will Lander’s London restaurants.

• A place at the world’s most intensive Fine World Bootcamp at La Verrière in the Southern Rhone, which offers enthusiasts an immersion course of tuition in all aspects of wine.