Nashville Wine Auction raises more than $2.1 million at the 43rd Annual l’Eté du Vin
Nashville Wine Auction raised more than $2.1 million at the 43rd Annual l’Eté du Vin, held July 23 at the JW Marriott, matching the record-setting previous event held only 9 months ago due to Covid. Proceeds from l’Eté du Vin, the country’s longest-running charity auction, will help fund the fight against cancer by supporting nine local non-profit organizations whose purpose is directly related to cancer research, innovative patient treatment, and caregiver/patient support.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have back-to-back l’Eté du Vin events that each raise $900,000 over our previous watermark 2018 event,” said President/CEO Loren Chumley. “Bringing together the wine community to raise money for cancer-fighting organizations in Middle Tennessee is what we are all about. I am so grateful to our donors, patrons, sponsors, and supporters for helping us fund the fight against cancer.”
This year’s Guests of Honor encapsulated the Bubbles & Burgundy theme: Christophe Prieux from Champagne Gardet in Chigny-les Roses, France, shared Champagne Gardet Tradition Brut, Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut Champagne and the stunning Cuvée Prestige Charles Gardet Brut 2006 during the weekend festivities. Father and daughter duo Christian and Justine Clerget from Domaine Clerget shared Domaine Christian Clerget Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2020, Vougeot Les Petits Vougeots Premier Cru 2019 and Chambolle-Musigny Les Charmes Premier Cru 2019. The weekend also featured extraordinary white Burgundy wines from Domaine Alaine & Christiane Patriarche. Special guests and moderators, Steve and Gloria Pignatiello of P. Comms Int’l, expert importers of small, single-family winemakers in Champagne and Burgundy, made this event especially memorable.
Other featured vintners were Cakebread Cellars, Caymus Vineyards, Caymus-Suisun, Kistler Vineyards, PATEL Napa Valley, and Williams Selyem.
The top three lots sold in the l’Eté du Vin Live Auction included:
>> An incredible experience called “Whiskey, Wine, Cattle and Dine” donated by Bryant Estate, Kistler Vineyards, Pappy Van Winkle and Nashville’s new Hall’s Chophouse, and curated by patron Gary Rzucidlo, sold for $80,000 for 8 lucky couples
>> A South Africa Exclusive Wine & Wildlife Experience donated by Travel Sommelier, a curated luxury travel provider, sold twice for $140,000 combined.
>> The event included several auction lots dedicated to the memory of Nashville Wine Auction’s beloved patrons, Bill Nunnelly and Dennis Condra. Wine lots donated either by their spouses, Rosann Nunnelly and Rhea Condra, or donated by friends in their memory raised over $85,000. A Dinner Tribute in honor of Bill Nunnelly sold for $60,000
This year’s event chairs were Dr. Michael and Cindee Gold, Chase Cole and Christie Wilson– all longtime supporters of the Nashville Wine Auction. The popular Vintner’s Tasting, a seated and moderated tasting returned after a three-year Covid hiatus and sold out very quickly. In addition, the l’Eté du Vin weekend included a Patrons’ Dinner at The Hermitage Hotel on July 22, co-chaired by Vicki and Rick Horne.