LCBO'S 12th annual VINTAGES auction features legendary Haut Brion 1945 in a six-bottle offering

TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - The 12^th annual VINTAGES auction features a vast array of fine and rare wines suited to collectors of all levels.

The event features two live bidding sessions. The first takes place on Friday, October 18 in the Grand Ballroom of the Trump International Hotel & Tower following a pre-auction dinner at the hotel located at 325 Bay Street, Toronto. Bidding begins at 8 p.m.

"This year's auction provides bidders with a broad selection of classic wines and spirits at estimates that will appeal to both new collectors and our established clientele," says Barry O'Brien, LCBO's director, Special Projects, and a chief organizer of the auction.

The second phase of the auction takes place at Waddington's Auction House at 275 King Street East on Saturday, October 19 starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until bidding closes.

Both live auctions are free and open to the public.

This year's auction presents such legendary wines as Haut Brion 1945 in a six-bottle offering, a1945-through-2001 vertical of Mouton Rothschild and two bottles of 1913 Hennessy Cognac bottled in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Perennial favourites such as crus classés Bordeaux and cult Napa reds are available in quantity as are volumes of grands crus Burgundy.

In all, more than 1,400 lots of rare wines valued between $1.8 and $2.4 million will be offered for bidding. All wines consigned to the auction are stored in temperature and humidity-controlled conditions at LCBO's Toronto warehouse.

Each lot can be viewed at www.artfact.com where customers can also register for the sale and bid live during the auction. Catalogues are available at the auction or as a download at www.vintages.com/events/auction.

Additional offerings will be available at an online auction running from November 25 -30.

LCBO is Canada's largest retailer of wine, spirits and beer with sales in 2012-13 exceeding $4.892 billion.

Waddington's is a Canadian-owned and operated company that has been in the auction and appraisal business since1850, and is considered Canada's largest purveyor of international calibre fine art.

SOURCE: LCBO

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Heather MacGregor, Media Relations Coordinator, LCBO
Tel. [phone]; Cell: 416 587-3729; E-mail: [email protected]

Barry O'Brien, Director, Special Projects, Marketing & Customer Insights, LCBO
Tel. [phone]; Cell: 416 627-7055; E-mail: [email protected]