A few weeks ago a wine auction at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne raised $68,000 for The Deafblind Association, a charity that does exceptional work for people with both visual and hearing impairment. This was the fifth staging of this auction, which is steadily growing in its profile and awareness, and in its ability to raise funds for this very important cause. A large number of Australian wineries generously donate both old and current release wines to make this event possible. American wine writer Dan Berger recently wrote about the recent Napa Valley Wine Auction, an event that raises money for a range of local Napa Valley health charities including the Queen of the Valley Hospital, which according to Dan actually has an alcohol treatment centre! One of the lots donated for this auction, and the price it fetched, is certainly worth reporting. The ‘Bidder’s Brand’ lot comprised no less than five tonnes of premium Napa Valley Cabernet grapes; the assistance of wine maker Philippe Melke; French oak barrels for ageing the wine; a world-class label design; a sales and marketing plan; wine bottles and packing materials and a one-year membership in the Napa Valley Vintners Association. Dan calculates that this would produce around 4,000 bottles of wine. The price paid by John and Tamra Gorman for this unusual lot was US$320,000, which works out around US$80 per bottle. Canny observer of life as he is, Dan Berger then suggests that it’s not an unreasonable call that the Gormans might end up selling the once-off collector’s wine for around US$100 per bottle, which would actually net them a handsome US$80,000 profit on the deal! Now that’s how to raise serious money for charity. All Australian wineries should consider themselves on full alert for my call. Dan Berger’s newsletter can be found through his website: www.VintageExperiences.com.
