Our Stories

Rebuild Wine Country: A Silent Auction

On Friday November 17th at 09:30 a.m., bidding will begin on our inaugural Silent Auction. This important event, occurring in tandem with the world-famous Hospices de Beaune charity Wine Auction (and Beaune’s three-day wine festival), will raise awareness – and lots of money, hopefully – for the California Wildfires relief fund Rebuild Wine Country in conjunction with Habitat For Humanity.

Pommard may be thousands of kilometres away, but for anyone who knows us, and understands how much we appreciate terroir no matter where in the world it can be found, knows how heartbreaking these wildfires must be. Our Silent Auction, then, is the best way we know how to stand in unison with our friends in California, shout out loud our support, and hope that through all of our affirmative action one day in the near future we will be able to reduce the impact of these wildfires and their powerful impact on nature.

“The fires ragged just 15 minutes from our family home. Friends of ours have lost their homes and many residents are wondering how they will return to the places that have been destroyed. We feel compelled to help the least fortunate among the victims to move forward with their lives. As a global community of winemakers and wine lovers we hope you will join us in whatever way you can.”

– Michael Baum, CEO and propriétaire, Château de Pommard

Bid and Buy: What’s On Offer?

There are ten carefully chosen items to bid on during the Silent Auction – each one unique and priceless in their own way.

Which one calls out to you the most?

High Bid, High Reward: Family-made Pinot Noir, 1977 and 1979 vintages are just some of the sought-after auction items.

1. Barrel Tasting for Two

Join our Winemaker Emmanuel Sala in the Cellar for an intimate wine tasting.

2. Lunch with Michael Baum

A 3-course traditional Burgundian lunch feast, paired with fine wine and conversation with Silicon Valley Big Data pioneer and philanthropist Michael Baum, Château de Pommard’s propriétaire & CEO.

3. Sommelier Experience

For four friends; our most intense and educational Wine Experience. Become a professional wine expert in two hours.

4. Mixed Case of Clos Marey-Monge Monopole vintages

Our award-winning and acclaimed flagship wine could be all yours to take from our home to yours. Includes five stellar vintages: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

5. A Bottle of Simone 2013

The jewel in Clos Marey-Monge’s crown, bottles of Simone are produced only when an exceptional vintage comes along. This will be a treasure to bury for several decades until that extra-special occasion to celebrate in style arises.

6. A Mixed Case of Chardonnay

Bid to win some of our most acclaimed Family Chardonnays, including: Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2013, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2013, Ladoix Premier Cru “Les Gréchons ” 2013, Meursault 2013, Chassagne-Montrachet 2013, and Bourgogne Chardonnay 2013.

7. Château de Pommard Grand Vin 1977

1977 may have been the year the Californian wine industry caught the attention of the whole world, but Burgundy was still the best.

8. Château de Pommard Grand Vin 1979

A charming Burgundy vintage ready to reveal its charms.

9. Château de Pommard Grand Vin 1989

A large and very successful vintage that produced wines with superb concentration and balance. 1989 was also vintage that paired perfectly with the more famously full-bodied appellations, such as Pommard.

10. Château de Pommard Grand Vin 1996

The 270th anniversary of Château de Pommard saw the arrival of an extra elegant vintage we’re still talking about today.

Make it Count: How to Bid

  1. Open to all Wine Experience visitors, the Silent Auction takes place in our Tasting Room onsite.
  2. All bids must be made onsite in our Silent Auction Room. This room will be signposted upon entrance to the premises.
  3. Upon entry to the Silent Auction Room, a Registration and Bidding form will be presented for each entry ticket purchased.
  4. Bidding commences at 09:30 a.m. on Friday November 17th and concludes at 6 p.m. on Sunday November 19th.
  5. All bids will be sealed until 7 p.m. on Sunday November 19th.
  6. All bids will be submitted to the Auction host who will ensure anonymity for all bidders.
  7. Bids are only revealed at the end of the auction, and the bidder who places the highest bid wins.
  8. The highest bidders for each item will be announced at 7 p.m. on Sunday November 19th.

For one night only our Tasting Room will transform into a Live Auction room, live-streaming Christie’s Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction on a large screen. Wine and food will be available.

About the Cause: Rebuild Wine Country

Château de Pommard is proud to support Rebuild Wine Country, in partnership with Sonoma County’s Habitat for Humanity, to rebuild homes in Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties in California. All final proceeds from the Silent Auction will go to rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed by these wildfires.

About the California Wildfires

Californian Wildfires

A Californian resident overlooks the too close-to-home destruction

In the first week of October 2017, a series of wildfires of unprecedented size started decimating large areas of California’s wine country. Within days, it was reported that 17 separate wildfires had spread through the Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte, and Solano counties inflicting huge damage to businesses, buildings, wineries, homes and, of course, livelihoods.

“You spend decades putting something together by hand, you nurture it, and then – boom – within 15 minutes there’s nothing.”
– Charles Johnston, Helena View Johnston Vineyards

Within two weeks, the wildfires had razed more than 245,000 acres (100,000 ha) – more than 30 times the size of Burgundy and over 4,000 times the overall hectare size of Clos Marey-Monge. In the process, 60mph winds sent flames and smoke hurtling towards everything in their path, destroying an estimated 9,000 structures, and forced more than 100,000 residents to evacuate their homes. At least 42 people have died with many more still reported missing. With firefighters recounting having never seen fires so fierce, one fact remains clear: these are the deadliest wildfires in Californian history.

California Wildfires

Smoke: 60mph winds gave the wildfire flames the fuel to spread and burn for weeks

Read our report for Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction 2016!