President and CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon Named Honored Vintner at 2012 Naples Winter Wine Festival

Prince Robert of Luxembourg, president and CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon, has been named honored vintner at the 2012 Naples Winter Wine Festival and proudly supports the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF).  Commemorating the 75th anniversary of their family company, Domaine Clarence Dillon continues its series of worldwide auctions by donating one beautifully crafted, limited-edition wine console to the Festival’s “Believe in the Magic” live auction on January 28, 2012 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Resort in Southwest Florida.  Designed and commissioned by HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg, the console’s auction proceeds will directly benefit the important work of the NCEF, which has improved the lives of more than 125,000 children to date.  As the founding organization of the festival, the NCEF’s mission is to support charitable programs serving underprivileged and at-risk children in Southwest Florida.

The auctioning off of the console will be the fourth of its kind after amfAR, Clinton Foundation and Children’s Medical Foundation respectively in Cannes, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, where a total of five exceptional wine consoles holding a selection of the most remarkable wines produced at Château Haut-Brion over the past eight decades received winning bids. Now, with a limited quantity left, Domaine Clarence Dillon has donated one console containing a selection of red wines in support of the NCEF.  Having participated previously in 2004 and 2010, HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg believes the Naples Winter Wine Festival and NCEF represent a very important cause for the family company.

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is the most successful charity wine auction in the world and has raised more than $94.5 million for the NCEF since 2001.  The 2012 Festival welcomes 28 vintners from around the world.  As honored vintner at this year’s Festival, Domaine Clarence Dillon will participate in a variety of weekend events, including “C’est Magique” Honored Vintner lunch and comparative vertical tasting, taking place before the Festival’s launch on January 26 and a dinner hosted in a private home with chef Joachim Splichal of Patina Restaurant Group on January 27.  A special event entitled “Meet the Kids Day” will take place on January 27 and invites Festival supporters to meet some of the children who have directly benefited from the raised funds.

The three-day weekend of events culminates in the much anticipated “Believe in the Magic” live auction on January 28, in which Domaine Clarence Dillon’s limited-edition console will be auctioned off.

In collaboration with Lord Linley (the founder of Linley fine bespoke furniture), Prince Robert of Luxembourg, commissioned and designed a limited series of 20 wine consoles and cases (15 holding red wines and 5 holding white wines), a true work of art intended to house the most prestigious collection of Château Haut-Brion vintages produced over 8 decades of Dillon family presence at Château Haut-Brion.

More than two years of work were required to complete this project.

The result is a true masterpiece: a wine console marquetry inlaid table and chest, made from rare woods and with the capacity to hold eight of the most prestigious wines by Domaine Clarence Dillon. A true treasure trove of the finest Château Haut-Brion wines, the console also has various secret drawers with magnificent silver inlaid objects designed by the famous Italian jeweller Buccelatti. All of the objects within the caskets are inspired by vine leaves, the emblem of Domaine Clarence Dillon, and are stamped Château Haut-Brion or Domaine Clarence Dillon.

Included in the console are the following vintages: 1935, 1945**, 1959, 1961, 1975, 1989, 1990 and 2009.

For a schedule of 2012 festivities and more information about the Naples Winter Wine Festival and live wine auction, please visit www.napleswinefestival.com or call 888-837-4919.  Festival tickets sell quickly: packages are $8,500 per couple; $20,000 for reserved seating at the same vintner dinner for two couples.  Tickets for the C’est Magique Honored Vintner Wine Tasting and Lunch are $2,500 per person.

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