Bidding Now Live For Lyric Opera's Wine Auction 2018

The Women's Board of Lyric Opera of Chicago is pleased to announce the Lyric Opera Wine Auction catalogue is now live for viewing and online bidding online at www.lyricopera.org/wineauction2018. The triennial fundraiser's digital platform offers wine enthusiasts across the globe the ability to access some of the world's most sought-after wines as well as one-of-a-kind travel and dining experiences.

Since its 1988 inception, Wine Auction has raised more than $9 million in support of Lyric Opera. The 12th Wine Auction takes place Saturday, April 14, 2018, and aims to entice bidders of all ages and interests with an expanded roster of lots for online bidding.

"We understand that many people are interested in supporting Lyric and intrigued by our lots but may be unable to attend," said Women's Board president and Wine Auction 2018 co-chair Nancy Searle. "By providing this online bidding component, we are thrilled to open up the auction to wine aficionados and travel enthusiasts everywhere."

With the click of a button from March 26 - April 13, 2018, interested parties can join the excitement while also supporting the activities of Lyric Opera of Chicago through online bidding. Top lots for 2018 include:

· A Day To Discover The Heart and Passion of Morlet Family Vineyards: Signed, etched and numbered double magnums of 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon: Mon Chevalier, Coeur de Vallée, Passionnément & Morlet Estate; Private blending session, picnic lunch, wine tasting, vineyard tour and gourmet dinner for a party of six (6); One signed copy of Napa Valley Iconic Wineries and Wine Country Women of the Napa Valley signed by Luc and Jodie Morlet; transportation for the day within the Napa Valley provided by Magnum Tours; Six blending-session etched magnums to be shipped after special bottling

· Ahoy! Set Sail for the Party of a Lifetime: Dinner party on a yacht for 50 with Master Sommeliers Ken Fredrickson and Alpana Singh, James Beard Award winner Sarah Grueneberg, and a private concert from a Broadway star Jenn Gambatese who performed the role of Maria in Lyric's production of The Sound of Music. Wines for the evening include an imperial of Château Margaux 2005, an imperial of Taittinger Champagne, a case of Château Haut-Bailly 2008, a case of Château Haut-Bailly 2010 and two cases of Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2014.

· An Evening at Crabtree Farm: An exclusive dinner at the home of Neville and John Bryan, a Colonial Revival structure designed in 1926 by Chicago architect David Adler in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Dinner will be hosted on the ivy-lined indoor tennis court accompanied by a performance by Matthew Polezani and a number of exquisite wines, including Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux 2005, a Nebuchadnezzar of Champagne Taittinger Brut La Française, Lyric Opera's very own SONGTM commemorative wine and Domaine Thibert Chardonnay. Tickets, while available, can be purchased ahead of the auction at the Individual and Patron levels by calling 312.827.5682.

· Imperial (8-bottle format) of 1986 Château Margaux: Purchased on its release in the late 1980s, still in its original wooden case, untouched and in great condition. This spectacular item has been donated by Stephen A. Kaplan, a Lyric board member and Wine Auction advisor emeritus, in honor of Corinne Mentzelopoulos, the widely admired owner and CEO of Château Margaux since 1980.

· Irish Holiday: Three (3) night stay with two (2) rooms at Ballyfin, a five-star luxury country house in the heart of Ireland, a two (2) night stay with two (2) rooms at Ashford Castle, a five-star luxury hotel in Country Mayo and roundtrip airfare from O'Hare to Dublin provided by American Airlines.

· Napa Valley, Private & Intimate: Three (3) night stay for six (6) with Tom Futo of Futo Wines and Beth Novak Milliken of Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery at the home of Carl and Marilynn Thoma; Private tour and dinner of Futo with Tom and Kyle Futo at the Futo Estate in Oakville; Private tour and dinner with Beth Novak Milliken and her husband John at the historic, private Spottswoode Estate in St. Helena; VIP reservations at select restaurants in Napa; One (1) signed magnum each of the Spottswoode 2013, 2014 and 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon; One (1) signed magnum each of the Futo 2012, 2013 and 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon

· South American Fly Fishing Adventure: Two (2) night stay at the Alvear Icon Hotel in a Deluxe Room with buffet breakfast at Sunny Yard Restaurant; three (3) night stay at Estancia Arroyo Verde in a double room with full board: breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner with outstanding Argentinian wines and open bar; two (2) full days of fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, bird watching and swimming in the lake; two (2) night stay at Llao Llao Hotel & Resort in deluxe studio at Moreno wing with breakfast included.

Bidding for these and dozens more irresistible lots including three featuring 100-point wines will be expertly auctioned live by Michael Davis and Ben Ferdinand of the venerable Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. and can currently be found online at Lyric Opera Wine Auction's website, courtesy of Lyric Opera Wine Auction technology partner Gesture.

Wine Auction draws nearly 500 guests and is held in Chicago's historic Lyric Opera House, built in 1929 and renowned for its beautiful Art Deco/Art Nouveau décor. Wine Auction 2018 will commence with a reception and sizeable silent auction in the Daniel F. & Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer, followed by an elegant dinner and live auction on The Ken Pigott Stage of the Ardis Krainik Theatre, especially expanded and decorated for the occasion. The setting underscores the Wine Auction's raison d'être, which is to support the productions and community-engagement activities of the internationally acclaimed opera company.

Tickets

Tickets are available for $1,500 per ticket; sponsor level tables begin at $30,000. A limited number of sponsorship packages, which include additional benefits, are still available. Please call (312) 827-5682 or contact lyricwineauction@lyricopera.org.

Sponsors

Northern Trust is the Presenting Sponsor of Wine Auction 2018. Liz Stiffel is Wine Auction's Catalogue Sponsor.

Travel

American Airlines is the Official Airline of Wine Auction.

About Lyric Opera of Chicago Wine Auction

Lyric Opera of Chicago's Wine Auction, whose affair has been named among "Top Ten Charity Wine Auctions" by Wine Spectator, has netted more than $9 million since its 1988 inception. The proceeds go directly to Lyric's annual campaign, which supports the world-renowned opera company's activities. For more information, visit the website, call (312) 827-5682 or visit the auction's Facebook page.

About Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago's mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, Music Director Sir Andrew Davis, and Creative Consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become the great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

To learn more about Lyric, go to lyricopera.org. You can also join the conversation with @LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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