The 47th Annual l’Eté du Vin Smashes Fundraising Records

Guests of the Nashville Wine Auction’s 47th annual l’Eté du Vin arrived at the JW Marriott — and as the escalator began its ascent, so did anticipation for the evening’s festivities. What began as a backyard fundraiser has grown into a major force in the fight against cancer. In its first year, the event raised $5,000, and supporters opened and drank the bottles they purchased that night. Since then, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $45 million to fund cancer research and support those experiencing the disease.

Co-chairs Noelle Daugherty and Jay Erter visited with guests as revelers carefully examined the expansive silent, super silent and live auction lots on display. Guests of honor Frédéric Rouzaud, of Maison Louis Roederer, and Nicolas Glumineau, of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Château de Pez, moved through the crowd, graciously answering questions from admirers of their wines.

The reception featured selections from Frédéric and Nicolas’ labels, including Champagnes, red Bordeauxs and more. And many guests tried their luck in the Lucky Meets Luxury raffle, which included prizes, like a five-night Mykonos escape.

As usual, revelers made their way to their tables carrying wine bags loaded with favorite bottles to share. Throughout the evening, Frédéric and Nicolas drew a steady stream of guests, who offered the vintners tastes of wines pulled from their home cellars. The winemakers’ glasses were never empty.

Then it was time for the main event. It would be a stretch to say a hush fell over the room — the energy and magnetism of a wine auction create a constant din — but when auctioneers Fitz Hatton and Charles Antin took the stage, guests knew it was time to get down to bid-ness.

And bid they did.

Eager supporters snapped up spectacular lots, including one titled “The Last of the Legendary Three-Liters from Cristal.” The lot, featuring the last jeroboam bottle of 2002 Cristal, proved exactly as advertised, commanding $105,000.

And by the end of the evening, the auction had raised a record-breaking $2.6 million to fund the fight against cancer.