Christie's turns wine into water with Decanter charity auction

Christie's will turn wine into water on October 23 in London, as it offers 65 lots on behalf of Decanter magazine to raise funds for WaterAid.


Marks and Spencer's Eclipse Riesling won an 'International' award from Decanter, and will likely feature in the lots offered at Christie's


The lots form part of the Fine and Rare Wines auction, with 24-60 bottles offered for each. They are drawn from the "over £10" category sample bottles submitted for the magazine's 2014 World Wine Awards.

Estimates range from £360-950 ($579-1,528), providing low budget collectors with a brilliant opportunity to own acclaimed wines. All proceeds benefit WaterAid, which aims to bring safe access to water, hygiene and sanitation to those in need.

A further 56 lots will be offered online in a sale that closes on October 30.

Each lot is grouped, with red Bordeaux, Rhone Valley reds and white Burgundy offered alongside Spanish and Italian reds, as well as a selection of Champagnes. Vintages range from 2008-2013, with each case containing 12 bottles from the region indicated, packed in new Christie's cartons.

"Whereas the traditional sales appeal to our traditional clients, the online auctions are reaching a completely different audience bringing a new set of clients who may not have participated in this charity sale before," Christie's international head of wine, David Elswood, told Decanter.

The sale also includes Symington ports, which have been selected from the family reserve by Charles Symington. Featuring Graham's, Dow, Warre's, Cockburn and Quinta do Vesuvia, they are all previously unreleased for sale bottles, with large formats including a 15-litre bottle of Graham's 2000 valued at £550-650 ($884-1,065).

The lot is offered together with two seats on the Graham's boat in the annual Barco Rebello race, held during the festival of Sao Joao, Brazil.

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