How It All Began

It began simply enough. In the summer of 1980, a group of Nashville friends, led by Tennessean critic Homer Blitch and businessman Thomas J. Milam, were looking for a new and entertaining way to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

What was needed was something elegant but relaxed, an evening filled with good food, great wine, and the laughter of friends. Then inspiration struck: an auction of favorite wines. Most of the bottles sold at the first (Un) Eté du Vin, A Summer of Wine, auction were opened and shared on the spot, with some $3,000 raised for the cancer society.

By 1993, l'Eté du Vin had become the nation's largest one-day charity wine auction outside the California wine industry. Its success has inspired a large number of similar events, but its unique character has never been duplicated.

Over the years, l'Eté du Vin has expanded to include a number of events outside the Grand Auction, which remains its centerpiece. In 1995, the Vintner's Tasting was added offering a seated tutorial tasting of wines from the year's guest of honor. The Grand Events audience is principally composed of chief executives, entrepreneurs, senior operating officers and leaders in the medical, legal and financial communities from all over the nation.

In 1997 the Premiere Events were established. Separate and more informal, the Premiere Auction and the Premiere Tasting reach a audience of local and regional wine lovers from a cross-section of business and professional fields. Each l'Eté du Vin event has a character and style all its own. Over the years, l'Eté du Vin has raised and contributed over $14 million to support the fight against cancer.

While l´Eté du Vin continues to contribute to the important work of the American Cancer Society, its horizons have expanded in support of the fight against cancer. To that end, l´Eté du Vin now offers grants in financial support of other cancer related non-profit organizations.

What sets l'Eté du Vin, apart? Part of the answer is the unique mix of wines available for auction. Part of the answer, too, lies in the friendly and convivial mix of the events' attendees. Finally, l'Eté du Vin is unique because it has never lost sight of its original purpose. As science grows ever closer to finding better answers for detecting, diagnosing and treating cancer, the organizers and guests of l'Eté du Vin find renewed purpose. l'Eté du Vin remains focused on its cause because it is one that each of us has reason to cherish and support.