Live Auction
See the stars of the show in the 2020 live auction below. For a full list of auction items, download the catalogue pdf.
L1 CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CIGARS FROM THE VANCOUVER CLUB
Value: Priceless
Cap off the evening, and satisfy your sweet tooth, with a box of chocolate cigars in a cigar box for your table. Hand-crafted by The Vancouver Club’s pastry chef, Saskia Nollen, the cigars’ rich, nutty centre of hazelnut & almond praline with milk chocolate ganache is rolled in a layer of premium Valrhona Jivara and Valrhona Caramelia chocolate. A decadent pairing with the evening’s dessert wine.
Saskia Nollen was born and raised in the Netherlands. A year of travelling in her early twenties led her to settle down in Vancouver. Once here, she followed her passion for baking and attended the Dubrulle French Culinary Institute. After stints at Chocolate Arts and Lesley Stowe Fine Foods, Saskia moved back to the Netherlands to open her own specialty cake shop. Her North American style cakes proved popular with the Dutch Royal Family as well as famous soccer players. Five years later Saskia sold the cake shop and moved back to Vancouver. Saskia has been with The Vancouver Club since 2017, leading the pastry team in a breath of house-made creations, from chocolate art and confectionaries to elaborate wedding cakes and fresh breads.
Ned Bell is a chef advocate, keynote speaker, educator and founder of Chefs for Oceans. Bell’s interests and talents have led him to his current roles as Executive Director of Culinary for The Vancouver Club, Ocean Wise Executive Chef, Chef Ambassador for International Year of the Salmon, and author of bestseller – Lure: Sustainable Seafood Recipes from the West Coast.
Donated by: The Vancouver Club
L2 1988 CHÂTEAU LAFITE ROTHSCHILD
Value: $6,520
Two 750 ml bottles.
Lafite is Bordeaux’s most famous property and arguably creates its most collectible wine, whose status and demand amongst collectors has risen dramatically in recent years. It is a rare treat to be able to acquire older vintages of Lafite. The 1988 was rated 94 points by the Wine Advocate upon release with the following tasting comments: “this is a classic expression of Lafite … Extremely concentrated, with brilliantly focused flavors and huge tannins, this backward, yet impressively endowed Lafite-Rothschild may well turn out to be the wine of the vintage”. Wine Spectator agreed with the 94 point rating indicating that the wine is “beautiful and subtle on the nose … everyone talks about 1989, but this is very close in quality”. A rare opportunity.
Donated by: Cal Bergen
L3 DINNER FOR 10 IN THE BEARFOOT BISTRO WINE CELLAR
Value: $8,000
Experience an unforgettable evening beginning with a champagne reception at the Bearfoot Bistro. In the privacy of the underground 20,000-bottle wine cellar, enjoy a five-course tasting menu prepared by Executive Chef Melissa Craig. Wine pairing for each course will be selected by the restaurant’s founder André Saint-Jacques. The evening includes an incredible champagne sabering demonstration and a visit to the renowned Ketel One Ice Room for vodka tasting.
This experience is for ten guests and is subject to availability. Advance reservations required.
Donated by: The Bearfoot Bistro
L4 1990 CHÂTEAU HAUT BRION
Value: $9,640
Six 750 ml bottles.
One of the famed First Growths of Bordeaux, Château Haut Brion produces a classic and age-worthy wine that is sought out by collectors worldwide. The 1990 vintage was a great one, and Château Haut Brion took full advantage of the conditions. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate rated this wine 98 points, commenting as follows: “In terms of the brilliant complexity and nobility of the aromatics, scorched earth, black currants, plums, charcoal, cedar, and spices, the 1990 offers an aromatic explosion that is unparalleled. It is always fascinating to taste this wine next to the 1989, which is a monumental effort, but much more backward and denser, without the aromatic complexity of the 1990. The 1990 put on weight after bottling, and is currently rich, full-bodied, opulent, even flamboyant by Haut Brion’s standards. It is an incredible expression of a noble terroir in a top vintage.”
Donated by: Cal Bergen
L5 CHÂTEAU MARGAUX VERTICAL (’82, ’83, ’85, ’86, ’89, ’95)
Value: $10,475
Six 750 ml bottles.
Margaux is sought after around the world as one of the most elegant of the First Growth Bordeaux wines. It is eminently collectible and its quality has increased exponentially over the past few decades. The wine is opulent and rich yet complex and with a finesse that demands contemplation. It is a very rare and unique opportunity to be able to acquire a vertical of 6 different vintages of Margaux spanning the decade when Robert Parker argues that “there was no better wine made in all of Bordeaux than Margaux”. The scores reflect critical admiration for the wine. For this vertical, there is an opportunity to acquire 1982 (a legendary vintage receiving 98+ points RP), 1983 (96 points RP), 1985 (95 points RP), 1986 (98 points RP), 1989 (90 points RP) and 1995 (95 points RP). Invite your friends to a tasting of this vertical and enjoy a never-again opportunity to experience the history of one of Bordeaux’s most famous wines.
Donated by: Cal Bergen
L6 DINNER FOR TEN ON THE BARD STAGE
Value: Priceless!
Join Bard Artistic Director Christopher Gaze and other special artistic guests for an unforgettable evening of songs and stories, all taking place on the BMO Mainstage at Bard on the Beach. Enjoy this exclusive dinner onstage for ten provided by Emelle’s Catering, with wine pairing from Vanessa Vineyards selected by Howard Soon, Master Winemaker. Enjoy the company of Christopher, Howard and other special guests, as you take in the beauty of Vanier Park and the city lights.
An unforgettable – and priceless – evening!
Due to Bard’s performance schedule, the dinner must take place on either Monday, August 3, Monday, August 17 or Monday, August 24, 2020.
Donated by: Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, Emelle’s Catering, and Vanessa Vineyards
L7 1990 CHÂTEAU LATOUR
Value: $15,875
Six 750 ml bottles.
One of the famed First Growths of Bordeaux, Château Latour produces a large-scaled, masculine, and complex wine that is sought out by collectors worldwide. The 1990 vintage was a great one, and Château Latour took full advantage of the conditions. A favorite wine of famed writer James Suckling, the 1990 Latour scored a perfect 100 points from the Wine Spectator, which published the following comments about this wine: “Full-bodied, with layers of silky fruit and masses of currant, mineral and berry character. Amazing. It’s a wine with perfect structure, perfect strength. It’s 1961 Latour in modern clothes…”.
Donated by: Cal Bergen
L8 1989 CHÂTEAU PETRUS
Value: $17,685
Two 750 ml bottles.
Perhaps the most legendary, scarce, and expensive wine in Bordeaux, Château Petrus holds a near-mythical status with wine collectors everywhere. The 1989 vintage of Petrus is particularly monumental: it garnered dual 100-point reviews from Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate, and also from the Wine Spectator. Very few wines have accomplished this recognition of perfection. Robert Parker wrote: “Multi-millionaire collectors will have fun comparing the 1989 and 1990 Petrus. The 1989 has a slightly more saturated color, and seems more tightly knit both aromatically and on the palate. However, this is splitting hairs, as this is another stunningly opulent, rich, full-bodied, amazingly concentrated, exotic, flamboyant Petrus that remains remarkably youthful, and in need of 7-8 more years of bottle age. Additionally, the tannins are slightly more elevated, at least from a tactile impression. However, the 1989 looks to be another 30-year wine, with extraordinary equilibrium between all of its component parts. An amazing effort!”
Donated by: Cal Bergen
L9 WALK-ON ROLE IN LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST
Value: Priceless!
Have you ever dreamed of treading the boards at Bard on the Beach? Then this is the perfect one-of-a-kind experience for you!
During the run of Bard’s Roaring 1920s production of Love’s Labour’s Lost in the 2020 season, you will take your place as one of the cast for a walk on role during the first scene of the evening’s performance. Artistic Director Christopher Gaze will guide you through every step – from your costume fitting to the moment you make your entrance – an experience only a lucky few can have.
This auction item also includes six play tickets and gourmet picnics from Emelle’s Catering so your friends and family can cheer you on as you make your debut!
Donated by: Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, and Emelle’s Catering
L10 1994 CHÂTEAU PETRUS
Value: $14,000
Three 750 ml bottles.
Perhaps the most legendary, scarce, and expensive wine in Bordeaux, Château Petrus holds a near-mythical status with wine collectors everywhere. The 1994 vintage of Petrus is an overachiever in a vintage that is otherwise largely uninspiring. Despite the obstacles mother nature threw at Bordeaux in 1994, Château Petrus produced a true ‘vin de garde’ – an old-school cellar treasure that required years of aging to show its greatness. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate rated this wine 93 points, commenting on the wine as follows: “Opaque purple/black in color, with a sweet vanilla, pain grillée, jammy cherry and cassis-scented nose, this full-bodied, densely packed wine reveals layers of flavor, and an inner-core of sweetness with huge quantities of glycerin and depth. A tannic, classic style of Petrus, with immense body, great purity, and a backward finish, this wine requires a decade of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2035.”
Donated by: Cal Bergen
L11 1996 CHÂTEAU LAFITE ROTHSCHILD
Value: $8,810
Four 750 ml bottles.
Lafite is Bordeaux’s most famous property and arguably creates its most collectible wine, whose status and demand amongst collectors has risen dramatically in recent years. It is a rare treat to be able to acquire older vintages of Lafite. The 1996 was rated 100 points by Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate upon release with the following tasting comments: “This massive wine may be the biggest, largest-scaled Lafite I have ever tasted … this huge Lafite is oozing with extract and richness yet has managed to preserve its quintessentially elegant personality. … It should unquestionably last for 40-50 years. Anticipated maturity 2012-2050.” Don’t miss this prized wine!
Donated by: Cal Bergen
L12 BACCHANALIA REVISITED
Value: $4,400
Enjoying tonight’s wine and food pairings? Impress and delight your friends with a repeat of your evening!
Executive Chef Colin Burslem and his team will re-create tonight’s incredible menu and fantastic wine pairings for your own special occasion and serve it to you and your seven guests in your very own private dining room – complete with butler. This is your only opportunity to once again savour the creativity and perfect blend of food and wine from this evening.
A first-class dinner to be experienced one more time!
Donated by: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
