French online wine auction house iDealwine.com has opened bids for a charity auction to support French winemakers in need. All proceeds from the auction will go to Vendanges Solidaires, a French charity that provides financial and practical assistance to winemakers negatively affected by climate change.
The catastrophic frost at the beginning of April, which partly affected up to 90 percent of the vines, has cost the French wine industry an estimated €2 billion. The auction started on 15 April and will continue until 30 April. Wine lovers from all over the world are invited to bid. Currently, more than 300 bottles of French wine estates are up for auction, among them wines from Rousseau, Château Petrus, Clos Rougeard, Château Leoville Poyferré, Domaine de Chevalier and Jean Foillard. Three magnum Champagnes of the 2008 vintage were also donated by the Champagne producer Selosse, with the vintage only launched on 1 September. ed
