I’m still recovering from a week of sipping, spitting, speaking and socializing. The Vancouver International Wine Festival is truly a marathon tasting where stamina is put to the test. Besides trolling booths for great new finds, learning the latest at sit-down seminars and rubbing shoulders with wine producers from around the world, the other objective of this festival is to raise money for Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival.
Fundraising endeavours are at the fore of the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction which always kicks off the VIWF. On Saturday, Feb. 20, myself and 399 other guests dressed to the nines and indulged in a five-course meal with stellar pairings while we bid on a bevy of collectible wines.
Wine is a common auction item at many local benefits, but Bacchanalia surely offers the most extensive selection. Local and international wineries contribute special cuvées and large formats to garner excitement. Big-ticket items hail from private collectors who dig deep in their cellars to find a prized bottle that might cause a bidding war. These philanthropists donate rare bottles that have increased in value over the years. Why would they give them away? Perhaps their tastes have changed or they purchased more wine than they can consume themselves. In many cases, it is simple generosity.
The cream of the crop is featured in a live auction where public bidding will hopefully drive up the price. The spotlight this year was placed on a bottle of 1906 Château Latour. Valued at $10,000, this 110-year-old bottle from one of Bordeaux’ most prestigious properties went for $8,500. I guess you could say the highest bidder got a deal but it’s certainly not something he’ll crack on a Monday night, or even ever perhaps. The most successful lot was a quartet of Bordeaux first-growths from the highly touted 2000 vintage. Together a bottle each of Mouton-Rothschild, Lafite, Latour and La Mission Haut-Brion exceeded the $10,750 value bringing in a final bid of $13,000.
Well over a hundred other lots ranging from $60 to $3,600 were sold off in a silent auction. Traditionally these wines were displayed in a reception area accompanied by a sheet of paper where eager purchasers could place their bids. This year the VIWF introduced electronic tablets at each of the dinner tables. After perusing the selection, guests sat down to eat and didn’t need to interrupt their meal to continue bidding. A brilliant move indeed. In playing with the tablet, I somehow found myself one click away from being the proud owner of six bottles of 2002 Château d’Yquem Sauternes. (That was the $3,600 lot.)
Between live and silent auction, Bacchanalia drew in $210,000 this year. The total net proceeds that the VIWF will contribute to Bard on the Beach will be announced in June. By that time, Bard on the Beach will be in full swing. Even if you didn’t make it to Bacchanalia or any of the other VIWF events, you can still support our local Shakespeare Company by catching a show. Best of all you can purchase an affordable glass of wine and take it into the theatre with you, kind of like in ancient Roman times. Cheers to that I say.
