It occurs to me that wine auctions have a lot in common with horse races. Both are loud, edge of your seat, and fast paced (although a 2.5 MINUTE racing event does have an attention span advantage over a 2.5 HOUR auction). Both involve more almost winning than actual winning. Both involve lots of alcohol, lots of money moving around and maybe some betting (bidding) remorse. I have gotten caught up and raised my paddle and experienced a 30 second terror before being outbid. No one lets me hold the paddle anymore. And you will be surprised which names below are horse names and which are wine lots.
Horse or Wine?
Instilled Regard 🐴
Nautical Dawn 🍷
Velvet Fury 🍷 Yup not 🐴 , 🍷
Playing Favorites 🍷
Vino Rosso 🐴 Seriously 🐴 NOT 🍷
Chance Meeting 🍷
Promises Fulfilled 🐴
Whole Lotta Love 🍷
Magnum Moon 🐴
Black Diamond 🍷
Vesper Bell 🍷
Credit David Shaerer
2018 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Auction – by the numbers
Total earnings – $800,000, not the $250+ million of the Kentucky Derby but not bad.
Average price per bottle – $124
Top 5 Lots:
- Antica Terra “Alder Creek” Pinot noir (5 cases): $33,000
- Zena Crown Vineyard “Barrel and Foot” Pinot noir (5 cases): $24,000
- Alexana Estate Winery “By A Landslide” Pinot noir (5 cases): $20,000
- Hyland Estates “The Perfect Pair” Pinot noir (10 cases): $20,000
- Bethel Heights “Vesper Bell” Pinot noir (5 cases): $19,000
Let’s unpack that $33,000 bid. That equals $550 a bottle, $110 per glass, $22 per swallow.
And they’ll do it all again next year – April 6, 2019. You have to be wine trade to attend but if that happens to describe you, ask for a ticket. It is a jolly good time. www.willamettewines.auction.
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