Incredible bids on vintage wines, collectable rarities memorabilia including
Once-in-a-Lifetime experiences and guitars donated by
• Rock and Roll Hall of Famers
• Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush
Grapes for Humanity "Save Hospitality Fundraiser" virtual fine wine auction presented by Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers closed October 7th with an overwhelming global response. The auction had over 370 bids from Canada, UK, Hong Kong, Poland and USA, raising over half a million dollars for the hard-hit hospitality sector facing incredible strain due to COVID19.
Proceeds will directly benefit Ontario Hospitality front-line workers through the Toronto Restaurant Workers Relief Fund; the Bartender's Benevolent Fund; The Full Plate and independent Ontario restaurants through savehospitality.ca.
This special auction featured some of the world's finest and rarest wines, but also many lots of exceptional ready-to-drink wines from the finest wine regions. A specialty item of a dinner with Rock Hall of Famers Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush was the top bid, fetching a whopping $70,000. The Cuvée de Heart , a 2020 Pan-Ontario wine made by 37 Ontario wineries led by Winemaker, Thomas Batchelder was one of the coveted highlights that had a flurry of action in the final minutes of bidding.
"After years of enjoying their service, it was our turn to serve them," said Geddy Lee. "The Chefs, Sommeliers, Waitstaff, Delivery personnel, Farmers, Fisherman, Bakers and more whose livelihood has evaporated virtually overnight. We did this auction for them. I'm so thankful to everyone who donated items and time to the cause, and to the happy bidders who got some cool items and great wine but also raised money for such a good cause to support them."
Thank you to Waddingtons, Irongate Private Wine Management, Lifford Wine Agency, Vinifera Wine Services, Vintage Conservatory Canadian Association of Professional Sommerliers, Toronto Restaurant Workers Relief Fund, Bartender’s Benevolent Fund, SaveHospitality, The Full Plate, Château Latour, Domaine Tawse, Raymond Vineyards, Il Borro , Ata Rangi, Felton Road, and Penfolds. Plus special thanks to Steven Campbell, Thomas Bachelder and the wineries all across Ontario for contributing to the very special Cuvée de Heart.
A Grapes for Humanity Representative will be in contact with your invoice.
To submit payment, please have your paddle identification number, lot number and final hammer total ready for processing. Upon payment verification, you will receive pick up instructions for your lot.
Gift cards will be issued to successful bidders through Canada Post at a later date.
Important Note: Buyer's Premium and HST are NOT applied to the sale of these lots.
Proceeds will directly benefit Ontario hospitality front-line workers through:
The Toronto Restaurant Workers Relief Fund; the Bartender's Benevolent Fund;
and independent Ontario restaurants through savehospitality.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Doris Miculan Bradley
2dry@rogers.com
Lot 10 - Penfolds Estate Visit and Grange 1982-1999 Vertical
Lot 82 - HARLAN ESTATE 2003 (OWC)
Lot 280 - QUINTA DO NOVAL NACIONAL VINTAGE PORT 1996
Lot 2 - Rush Fender Bass Guitar Signed by Geddy Lee
Watch Toronto's leading chefs go head to head competing for the title of King/Queen of Veg. Sample a dozen different veg dishes, accompaniments and the wines to match. Vote on your favourites and see if they are in line with our panel of culinary experts and celebrity judges. See if your palate is in sync with our team of Sommeliers who will determine the best wine matches.
We can't live on veg alone so there will be other food to enjoy including meats and sweets. Your support will benefit a child's education by supporting a needed school in Tanzania, Amani Children's Home, Rescuing Street Children. Restoring Hope. Transforming Lives. www.amanikids.org/who-we-are/
For more information,contact Doris Miculan Bradley
OJoe Canavan, a great supporter of Grapes for Humanity, invited eleven of his friends to join him at Barberian's Steak House on Elm Street, Toronto, for this fund-raiser dinner. The celebrity guests were Geddy Lee and Alex Liveson of Rush who regaled the company with stories of their touring and recording. The wine flowed…like wine and Barberian's owner, Arron Barberian pledged $2,000 to the cause: the construction of a new home for street kids in Moshi, Tanzania.
Blair Walter from Felton Road Winery and Board members from Left - Liz Gallery, Geddy Lee, Cathy Martin, Garrett Herman
On Monday, October 26th, 2015, Grapes for Humanity held an intimate dinner hosted by Gaia Gaja at George Brown's The Chef's House in Toronto. Following a champagne reception, graced by the presence of the Consul General of Italy, Giuseppe Pastorelli, Gaia led off with an eloquent presentation of the family's wineries in Piemonte and Tuscany. (The village of Barbaresco, where the Gaja family lives, has, apparently, 600 inhabitants and 100 wineries!)...
In recognition of the contribution that Geddy Lee has made to Grapes for Humanity, the Board of Directors, created a scholarship in his name, in perpetuity, for a second year student in winemaking at Niagara College. The recipient in 2015 was Christian Scagnetti, pictured here with Helen Armstrong, Niagara College Foundation Development Officer.
Grapes for Humaity Canada representative experience the Guatemala's Access Education Program...
