In the words of Julien Fouin, founder of the Vendanges Solidaires association, this week’s auctions have a very special flavour to them. This is because all the proceeds from this auction (including commission before tax) will be donated to the Vendanges Solidaires association, which he founded in 2016. Every year, it comes to the aid of winegrowers in difficulty – which wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of winegrowers, restaurant owners, wine merchants and, of course, you as bidders. iDealwine, for its part, organises the auction and promotes it free of charge. So now’s the perfect time to bid for a good cause.
Winegrowers helping to help winegrowers
The association was founded following a particularly tough year in which winegrowers were battered by frost, hail and drought. Its support helped them to keep going so they could continue delighting us with their wines. The work of the association is even more important today, given the growing number of climate-related disasters. Winegrowers can see their vines ravaged by adverse weather one, two or even three years in a row. Admiring the work of winegrowers, restaurant owner Julien Frouin was moved by this situation and set up the Vendanges Solidaires fundraising scheme to support them. The initiative is based on giving back, since winegrowers donate bottles to help other winegrowers. So the support really comes full circle.
Who will the funds raised help?
Exactly which winegrowers will benefit from the auction is not determined in advance. The association in fact helps winegrowers throughout the year. However, for a winegrower to benefit from support, certain conditions must be met: they must be a “young” winegrower, i.e. have been established for less than ten years, they must never have received aid from Vendanges Solidaires and must have lost at least half their harvest. The supported winegrowers receive funds in the form of an unsecured interest-free loan.
The not-for-profit’s actions have enabled many winegrowers to brave the storm and get back on their feet, seeing their vines bloom and bear fruit again. These include:
- Domaine de Villarzens: This estate, nestled in Bram in the Aude department, is run by Eva and Aurélien. They set up in 2019 and quickly converted the estate to organic and biodynamic farming. However, in 2023, mildew and drought hit their vineyard. Eva and Aurélien appealed to the association to help them buy the tractor they needed so that they could start the next season with greater peace of mind.
- Domaine du Petit Bouchon: Vincent founded his estate in Alsace with the idea of producing artist’s wines, but had to contend with two hail storms in a row in 2022 and powdery mildew in 2023. Fortunately, he was able to count on the support of Vendanges Solidaires, which helped him buy a micro-tractor and a ratchet press, enabling him go on with life as an artist and winegrower.
An extraordinary catalogue for an extraordinary auction
Every year, the association is aided by generous winegrowers and estates that step up to help their peers. All lots in the auction come from wine estates. They include bottles from Domaine Dujac, Petrus, Cheval Blanc, the Bret Brothers and many others.
This auction is an opportunity to treat yourself to those exceptional wines you’ve been dreaming of, direct from the estates.
- Don’t miss these Bordeaux legends
- 2013 Petrus
- 2014 and 2017 Cheval Blanc
- Not forgetting these Burgundy greats
- 2022 Beaune Premier Cru, Clos des Mouches, Joseph Drouhin
- 2014 Chambertin, Clos de Bèze, Pierre Gelin
- Little gems from Provence
- 2021Trévallon
- Champagne for sparkle season
- Ultra D, Devaux
- 2008 D vintage, Devaux
- Natural wine stars
- 2020 Terre Mère, Clos des B
- Large formats
- 2022 Saint Amour Côte de Besset Zen, Bret Brothers
- 2021 Vinsobres, Domaine Serre Besson
You’ll find many other great lots too!
The charity auction on iDealwine
iDealwine is delighted to be part of this chain of solidarity to aid winegrowers and to be involved with associations such as Vendanges Solidaires. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Vendanges Solidaires association, including the buyer’s commission before tax (there is no seller’s commission on this auction).
Our contribution to this initiative consists of making the iDealwine auction website available free of charge, as well as the preparation and promotion of the auction by our teams. So we encourage you, dear wine lovers, to put your passion for wine to help those who make it.
