37th Annual l’Eté du Vin to Honor GAJA, Legendary Italian Wine Producer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 18, 2016) – The Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce the 37th Annual l’Eté du Vin, “Generations of Greatness” will take place from July 28-July 30, 2016. This year’s auction will honor legendary Italian Wine Estate, GAJA, represented by special guest of honor, Gaia Gaja. l’Eté du Vin is chaired by Kimberly Cooper, Marjorie Feltus-Hawkins and Pam Taylor.
GAJA is recognized as one of the greatest and most venerated winemaking estates in Europe. As one of the earliest independent bottlers of fine wine in Italy, GAJA has been instrumental in raising the perception and value of Italian wine across the globe. Fifth-generation owner, Gaia Gaja, will come to Nashville to share her family’s story and wines. The daughter of Angelo Gaia, recognized by Wine Spectator as the “Italian Colossus,” Gaia entered the family business in 2008 and serves as the winery’s top ambassador.
“When talking about the best wine in Italy, it does not get better than GAJA,” says Holly Whaley, President/CEO of Nashville Wine Auction. “We are honored to recognize this legendary Italian estate and introduce the charming Gaia Gaja to our wine community.”
Tickets are anticipated to sell out very quickly. This year’s schedule of events is as follows.
- Grand Cru Evening, Thursday, June 22, 2016 at the home of Sharon and Bill Piper – $250 per person
- Vintners’ Tasting, Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Richland Country Club – $150 per person
- Patrons’ Dinner, Friday, July 29, 2016 at The Hermitage Hotel – $1,000 per person
- 37th Annual l’Eté du Vin, Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel – $325 per person
The Grand Cru Evening will kick off l’Eté du Vin with a cocktail party at the home of Sharon and Bill Piper. Country music superstar, Kix Brooks, will be honored as the 2016 Norman M. Lipman Award recipient by Robert S. Lipman. Guests in attendance will have the first opportunity to preview the upcoming l’Eté du Vin Auction and meet representatives from the organization’s six cancer fighting beneficiaries.
The festivities with Gaia Gaja will begin at the Vintners’ Tasting, chaired by Elise and Harvey Crouch. Upon arrival at Richland Country Club, guests will be able to interact with Gaia, as she guides the audience through a structured, seated tasting of the extraordinary wines of GAJA.
The Patrons’ Dinner celebrates the marriage of GAJA’s fine wines with cuisine prepared by some of the country’s best chefs. Patrons will enter the majestic Hermitage Hotel and enjoy a Champagne Reception in the lobby before being seated in the ballroom for a spectacular meal prepared by Chefs Michael Hudman and Andrew Ticer and Chef Cory Untch of Capitol Grille. Chefs Hudman and Ticer, of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in Memphis, TN, have garnered national acclaim as finalists for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2015 and 2016 and are in the process of opening their fifth restaurant later this year. Chef Cory Untch recently moved to Nashville after more than 10 years with Relais & Château properties. Most recently, he served as executive chef at The Inn at Dos Brisas.
At l’Eté du Vin guests will experience the thrill of the wine community coming together to support the country’s longest running charity wine auction at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Attendees will indulge in a gourmet dinner and bid on fine wines, unique dinners and tastings, one-of-a-kind trips and luxury items in the Silent and Live Auctions. Fritz Hatton of Zachy’s will return as auctioneer for the fourth year in a row.
ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne and Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men’s Event. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $20 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care, and eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee. The 2016 list of beneficiaries includes American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, PearlPoint Cancer Support, Gilda’s Club/Nashville, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Saint Thomas Cancer Network.