Grand Auction Committee plans to gather past event chairs, generous wine donors,
enthusiastic bidders, and former staff and volunteers
The Nashville Wine Auction announces details for the 40th Annual l’Eté du Vin with guests of honor Carlton McCoy, Jr., MS, President and CEO of Heitz Cellar from Napa Valley, and François Servin, Winemaker and Owner, Domaine Marcel Servin of Chablis, France.
“It’s exciting to mark our 40th year by bringing together our past and present to celebrate our traditions and accomplishments within our community,” said Nashville Wine Auction CEO Holly Whaley. “I think wine lovers are going to enjoy meeting our guests of honor old and new world from Chablis and Napa.”
The theme for this year’s event is “Taste the History, Savor the Wine, Find the Cure” in recognition of the milestone anniversary of the non-profit organization – as well as the heritage of the iconic wines from the guest winemakers.
The 40th anniversary year officially starts off with the l’Eté du Vin Impact Party which takes place June 11 at OZ Arts Nashville. This special occasion’s guest list includes 200 significant supporters of the non-profit organization. Past event chairs, generous wine donors, enthusiastic bidders, and former staff and volunteers will gather with current leaders to celebrate the many years of positive impact made on our community. Robert Lipman will present Ann Eaden with the Norman M. Lipman Award in honor of Ann and her late husband, Glenn Eaden. The Eadens have been fixtures of the Nashville Wine Auction events since its inception. Glenn Eaden passed away in December 2018.
Tickets for all the following l’Eté du Vin events are available to the public now at NashvilleWineAuction.com:
· Patrons’ Dinner, Saturday, July 20, 2019 at The Hermitage Hotel - $1,000 per person
· Vintners’ Tasting, Friday, July 26, 2019 at The Hutton Hotel - $200 per person
· 40h Annual l’Eté du Vin, Saturday, July 27, 2019 at JW Marriott - $350 per person
The Patrons’ Dinner on July 20 will be a black-tie affair held at the elegant Hermitage Hotel providing the ideal setting for a gourmet dinner featuring some of the best wines in the world donated by collectors from across the country. Chef Jose Gutierrez of Memphis will prepare the feast in collaboration with Executive Chef Derek Brooks of The Hermitage Hotel.
The Patron’s Dinner is chaired by Loren Chumley and Jim Lewis.
The Vintners’ Tasting on July 26 moves to the Hutton Hotel to accommodate the ever-growing demand from local wine enthusiasts. The event includes a seated structured tasting of wines from Domaine Marcel Servin and Heitz Cellar as well as the opportunity to hear stories and ask questions of the guest winemakers, moderated by Sabato Sagaria, MS. Vintners’ Tasting is business attire. is chaired by Keri McInnis and Tara Mullaney, begins at 6:00 pm.
The 40th anniversary event culminates on July 27 with l’Eté du Vin, the country’s longest-running charity wine auction, at the JW Marriott. The venerable evening overseen by The Grand Auction Committee begins at 5:30 pm with a wine tasting reception and Silent Auction followed by dinner at 7:00 pm and the spirited Live Auction at 8:00 pm. Fritz Hatton of Zachys will return as auctioneer for the seventh year in a row.
Valet and self-parking are available at each event; however, the Nashville Wine Auction recommends ride services like Uber or Lyft.
Sponsors at this this time include Mercedes Benz of Music City, JW Marriott, Heitz Cellar, KPMG, Tennessee Oncology, City Winery, The Edwards Pharris Group at Morgan Stanley, Gold Skin Care, Pinnacle Financial Partners, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, The Starling Davis Group, Movement Mortgage, Clinical Solutions Pharmacy, Gary Musick Productions, Scripps Howard Foundation, Nashville Wine Storage, Emily Dyer Design, Mednikow Jewelers and the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center.
INFO ABOUT NOTED GUESTS
Carlton McCoy, Jr. MS, President & CEO, Heitz Cellar – Napa Valley
Carlton McCoy, Master Sommelier, became President and CEO of Heitz Cellar in December 2018. To Carlton, Heitz Cellar represents a very particular style of Napa wines: ones that speak to an earlier era in California winemaking. His vision will highlight the winery’s consistent focus on remaining true to its elegant, pure style.
“There has to be reverence when it comes to these older brands that create the greatest wines in the country,” said McCoy. “It is fortunate that the Heitz family believed in that style and didn’t change it over the years. It makes the wines the unique experience that they are.”
About Heitz Cellar
Founded in 1961, Heitz Cellar is a true Napa Valley legend that has helped shape the story of California winemaking. Pioneering vintner Joe Heitz ushered in Napa’s modern era with his iconic, globally celebrated wines, including Napa Valley’s first vineyard-designated wine, the renowned Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, first made in 1966.
Heitz Cellar’s vineyards lie within six of Napa Valley’s 16 appellations; a diverse palette that conveys the breadth of geography and climate that makes the Napa Valley one of the world’s finest winegrowing destinations. Heitz proudly crafts an illustrious wine portfolio of prestigious Napa Valley varietals, including four Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel. The winery also creates both a red wine and a Rosé made from Grignolino, a charming Italian variety rarely found in the US., and a Port made from Portuguese grape varieties.
For nearly 60 years, Heitz Cellar has been synonymous with the very best of Napa Valley. Made with an unwavering commitment to quality from organically farmed, 100% Napa Valley fruit, Heitz celebrates both its winemaking and farming with a commitment to the stewardship of Napa Valley.
François Servin, Winemaker, Domaine Marcel Servin – Chablis, France
François Servin has managed Domaine Servin since 1988 utilizing a delicate mix of modern-day technology and a respect for his family’s heritage.
François Servin took his personal vines from the family domaine to create Domaine Marcel Servin. The name, Marcel Servin is in respect for his father, grandfather and great grandfather who were all named Marcel.
His family can be traced back to the very first marriage records in Chablis in 1654, but their roots stretch even further. In 1537, the Monks of the Abbey of Pontigny established a list of the owners of vines in Chablis and the Servin’s name is inscribed there. This uninterrupted succession of generations of passionate winemakers has created an important legacy of old vines and a profound understanding of terroir.
The consistent high quality of the Servin wines soon made their way to the best tables in Paris with Le Taillevent, Prunier and La Tour d'Argent being their first clients. The first major export partner was Alexis Lichine (American of Russian origin – Château Prieuré Lichine in Margaux) who opened doors to the U.S. market. The Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York was the first overseas customer, with a Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre 1943 on its prestigious wine list.
Servin is a fervent advocate for the aging capacity of Chablis,
“I remember tasting legendary vintages, such as 1959, 1947 and 1929, with my parents and grandparents,” said Servin. “These wines were spectacular. It surprises me when I hear people say that white wines can’t age. I have the proof in my cellar that they can. I want my wines to be ‘real’ Burgundy wines like the ones of my forefathers."
Nashville Wine Auction Beneficiaries
· American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge
· Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee
· Leukemia Lymphoma Society
· Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee
· PearlPoint Nutrition Services
· Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
· Saint Thomas Cancer Network
· St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
ABOUT NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION: Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. Throughout the year, Nashville Wine Auction hosts four major events – Pairings: The Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend, l’Eté du Vin: The Country’s Longest Running Charity Wine Auction, Champagne & Chardonnay: A Sparkling Evening Just for Ladies and The Men's Event: Honoring the Life and Spirit of Billy Ray Hearn. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $25 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to treatment, patient care and the eradication of cancer here in Middle Tennessee.
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