FINE WINE AUCTION

I am delighted to chair this year’s Fine Wine Auction. Due to the pandemic we cancelled our 2020 auction and I miss the community and connection we achieve through this event. For the first time in its long history, the Canadian Opera Company’s Fine Wine Auction will be taking place online during the week of April 19, 2021 in partnership with Iron Gate Auctions. This digital auction will allow people from across Canada to bid on some of the world’s finest wines. A highly anticipated annual event, the COC’s Fine Wine Auction is widely respected for the quality of wines we offer. This year, in partnership with Stephen Ranger of Ranger Wine, we have curated excellent classed growth Bordeaux and Burgundy, Italian Super Tuscans, great California Cabernets, and outstanding wines from Spain, Portugal and Australia. To enhance our catalogue we have a number of exceptional fortified wines and spirits to augment our offering.

All proceeds from the Fine Wine Auction will go directly toward our Ensemble Studio Training Program. Despite the pandemic, we are pleased to report that the COC’s young artist training program, the Ensemble Studio, continues to provide Canada’s emerging artists and creative professionals with industry mentorships, rigorous training, and creative opportunities delivered through safe digital collaborations and virtual coaching sessions. The generosity of our supporters and all those who partake in this event ensures our talented young artists have the resources and support to thrive, during the pandemic and beyond.

As we move forward with this virtual and newly expanded edition of this much-loved COC fundraiser, we also pause in recognition and remembrance of Ken Lewis, our friend and long-time fine wine appraiser. Ken was very dedicated to help build the profile on the caliber of products for our auction and contributed greatly to our financial successes over many years. He will be fondly remembered and sadly missed for his expertise, his professionalism, and his passion.

Maximizing the fundraising potential of this event required the hard work of dedicated colleagues, partners and donors. Thank you our sponsors and donors who have made serious financial contributions to the success of the event and our fundraising efforts. I wholeheartedly thank all of our generous supporters who opened their cellars and made significant contributions. I would also like to thank the team at Iron Gate Auctions, Stephen Ranger and the hard-working team at the Canadian Opera Company.

In closing, I sincerely thank you for your participation in our auction and encourage you to bid generously in support of the Canadian Opera Company’s young artist training program.