Acker Launches Charity Auction For The United Sommeliers Foundation; Over $350,000 In Fine And Rare Wine Available
Hundreds of Wine Bottle & Experience Lots Donated Direct from Screaming Eagle, Hundred Acre, Kistler, Dujac, Meo-Camuzet, Ponsot & Many More
NEW YORK, May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Acker, America's oldest wine shop and the largest fine and rare auction house in the world, announced on Monday the opening of its web auction dedicated to help furloughed sommeliers. In the wake of widespread restaurant closures and the subsequent employment loss of wine professionals around the globe due to COVID-19, Acker partnered with the United Sommeliers Foundation to host an auction raising money for the foundation's robust grant program, which provides immediate financial assistance to sommeliers in need. The auction, which launched on Monday, May 25th, will accept bids on the hundreds of lots in the sale through Sunday evening, May 31st, concluding with a "live online" close starting at 8pm ET, presided over by chairman and auctioneer, John Kapon. Collecting consignments direct from numerous wineries, both in Europe and in the United States, in addition to generous donations of prestigious bottles by private collectors, the auction contains a potential $350,000+ of wines and experiences sure to bring out bidders with charity in mind. Acker, as well as many of the French producers, have also donated lots to benefit the Union de la Sommellierie Francaise for furloughed French sommeliers, with those lots properly denoted as well.
Highlights of the consignments direct from Europe include bottles from Domaine Dujac, de Montille, Fourrier, H. Lignier, Meo-Camuzet, Domaine du Pegau, Pierre Peters, CVNE, Vega Sicilia, Weingut Keller, and many more. Not to be outmatched, donations from prestigious United States wineries include Bond, Chateau Montelena, Colgin, Hundred Acre, Jordan, Kistler, Mayacamas, Opus One, Peter Michael, O'Shaughnessy, Quilceda Creek, Screaming Eagle and many, many more. Several of these producers have also provided "experience lots" including a tour of Champagne house Laurent Perrier, an exclusive virtual tasting from Lokoya, and a custom vertical owc and tasting from Taittinger otherwise unavailable to consumers. Some of the world's most esteemed collectors searched deep in their cellars to offer highly coveted bottles from Rayas to Roulot, Leroy to Le Pin, and Chateau Palmer to Dom Perignon. Even renowned importer, Martine Saunier has donated two bottles of legendary and rare Henri Jayer from her own personal collection to this worthy cause. The auction can be accessed through Acker's live bidding platform at bidlive.ackerwines.com or via the company's bidding App for iPhone or Android.
"The generosity we've witnessed from collectors, Domaines and wineries both of we've known for years and have not previously worked with has been outstanding," said Acker Chairman, John Kapon. "Seeing so many from every corner of the globe come together for this cause has reaffirmed my belief that wine is truly a uniting force in the world. I am so looking forward to the live close of this sale, getting bidders engaged in a final flurry of activity on Sunday night, as we support the sommeliers who have assisted us, in business and in pleasure, during the regular course of our lives. We are honored to have partnered with the United Sommeliers Foundation for this occasion."
Donations to the United Sommeliers Foundation will continue being accepted after the auction's close. Donation and bidding inquiries can be directed to Acker's Auction Department at [email protected]. To learn more about the United Sommeliers Foundation visit http://www.unitedsommeliersfoundation.org. The Union de la Sommellierie Francaise website is http://www.sommelier-france.org.
The auction season continues for Acker with a "live online" Spirits-only auction in Hong Kong on May 28th, with another two-day sale in Hong Kong on June 11th and 13th and also in New York on June 24th and 25th. Acker is always accepting wines for consignment. Weekly web auctions are closing every week. Acker is hosting Virtual Vintage Tastings with John Kapon on Zoom on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8pm ET and Fridays at 12:30pm ET with some of the food and wine world's most interesting guests. For more information, email [email protected].
About Acker
Established in 1820, Acker is the oldest wine shop in America and the world's largest fine and rare wine auction house. Since third generation wine merchant John Kapon, Chairman of Acker, started the auction business in 1998, the house has gained worldwide recognition. Acker offers a vast array of services, including cellar consultations, a deep retail inventory of fine and rare wine for immediate sale, first class wine education amenities, in-store tastings daily, and its ne plus ultra – fine and rare wine auctions.
SOURCE Acker
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