2023 Auction Lots

1 – 3 Liter 2018 Peter Michael Winery Le Chapeau Blanc Estate Cabernet Franc
3 – 1.5 Liter Peter Michael Winery Point Rouge Estate Chardonnay (1 each: 2012, 2013 and 2014)
1 – 1.5 Liter 2014 Peter Michael Winery Les Pavots Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
1 – 1.5 Liter 2015 Peter Michael Winery Au Paradis Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

One (1) one-of-a-kind gold Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique timepiece, customized with a bespoke image engraved by one of Blancpain’s resident artists
One (1) one-of-a-kind gold Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe timepiece, customized with a bespoke image engraved by one of Blancpain’s resident artists 

Eight (8) nights with Peter Michael and Blancpain in California and Switzerland for two (2) couples

Private ground transportation for all stated activities in both California and Switzerland

Napa, California:
Four (4) nights’ accommodations in Peter Michael’s Main House in Knights Valley for two (2) couples
Curated experiences at the estate, coordinated with the Peter Michael team, to include options such as guided hikes, tour of art in residence and swimming in the lake or Main House pool
Private guided tour of the estate vineyards with vineyard manager, Javier Avina
Private wine tasting of Peter Michael wines with winemaker, Robert Fiore, followed by a lunch prepared by the estate chef and paired with Peter Michael wines
One (1) multi-course dinner prepared by the estate chef and paired with Peter Michael wines

Vevey, Switzerland:
Four (4) nights’ accommodations in luxurious Suites overlooking Lake Geneva and the mountains at Five-star Hôtel des Trois Couronnes in Vevey for two (2) couples
Visit to Blancpain’s ateliers in Le Brassus to meet with the Blancpain artist who will create the engraved images for the two (2) special Blancpain timepieces
Private cooking class at Three Michelin-starred Restaurant Hôtel de Ville with Chef Franck Giovannini
One (1) 50-minute massage per person at Puressens SPA

Founded in Villeret, Switzerland in 1735, Blancpain is both the world’s oldest watchmaker and a monument to classic, elegant craftsmanship—a firm both steeped in tradition and devoted to progress. On the other side of the ocean, the Peter Michael Winery is dedicated to producing artisanal wines of the highest quality, which reflect the terroir of their individual vineyard.

Sharing the same values of family, authenticity and artisanal craftsmanship, the Michael Family and Marc A. Hayek, who leads Blancpain, have come together to create this lot of exquisite and rare watches and wines. Peter Michael’s vineyard-designated wines are limited production, collectible gems, each wine displaying the distinct terroir of the estate vineyard from which it is sourced. In parallel, each Blancpain watch is hand crafted in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux, the legendary cradle of Swiss watchmaking.

Your odyssey begins in the secluded Knights Valley. It was here in 1982 that Sir Peter Michael, after a six-year search, purchased 630 acres of volcanic ridges on the western face of Mount St. Helena. From the beginning, Sir Peter’s vision was simple: he wanted to make California wines in the classic tradition of Burgundy and Bordeaux.

The home base for your four nights at the property will be the Main House, consisting of three bedrooms and three and one-half bathrooms, with views of Mount St. Helena and the estate vineyards. The house is equipped with two outdoor patios, swimming pool, gourmet kitchen, dining room and lounging spaces for rest and relaxation. During your visit, you’ll participate in the Peter Michael lifestyle with guided hikes, a tour of art in residence and swimming in the lake or Main House pool.

Of course, you’ll receive an immersion into some of the most exquisite wines produced in California. You’ll tour the estate vineyards with vineyard manager Javier Avina. During a private tasting with winemaker Robert Fiore, you’ll experience the extensive range of the Peter Michael portfolio, and you’ll have the chance to drink those wines at several meals with dishes prepared by the estate chef.

The second half of your exceptional journey will take place in Western Switzerland, where you’ll stay at the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes in Vevey. Built in 1842, the hotel is registered as a cultural property of national value. Your suite will offer breathtaking views of Lake Geneva and the Alps and each person will receive a 50-minute massage session at Puressens SPA.

You’ll receive a personalized cooking lesson from one of the world’s greatest chefs, Franck Giovannini of the Restaurant Hôtel de Ville. Located in the town hall of Crissier, the restaurant was founded in 1955 by the Girardet Family and became known as one of the pioneers of nouvelle cuisine beginning when Chef Fredy Giradet manned the kitchen.  Fredy Girardet earned Three Michelin Stars, an honor which the restaurant has maintained continuously ever since. Today Crissier is helmed by Chef Franck Giovannini. Under Chef Giovannini, the restaurant is ranked in the top 5 of the world by the prestigious “La Liste 2022.”

The highlight of your Swiss stay will be a visit to Blancpain’s workshops in Le Brassus located in the Vallée de Joux.  These workshops are home to Blancpain’s highly complicated watches and artistic crafts, called métiers d’art. There, you’ll witness the handcrafting of some of the world’s most complicated and rare timepieces including tourbillons, minute repeaters and more. Next door, you’ll meet with one of Blancpain’s artisans to design the images for your customized pair of timepieces, personally engraved to make each unique and a limited edition of one.

The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms debuted in 1953, born of the passion of its then CEO who was an early scuba diving pioneer. Navies around the world recognized the genius of Blancpain’s conception, and the Fifty Fathoms became the dive watch for the U.S., France, Germany, Israel, Norway and others. More than that, Blancpain’s design came to define this sport genre for the entire watch world, a role that endures 70 years later. Today, of course, sport diving watches are as much at home worn with jeans or in board rooms.

The Bathyscaphe traces its lineage to 1956 when it was conceived to meet the desires of those who wished to enjoy the virtues of a Fifty Fathoms in a smaller size fitting as an everyday watch as much at home in a business setting as underwater. Today’s Bathyscaphe continues that tradition of sport chic for both men and women.

In addition, the Michael Family is sharing a collection of rare estate wines in varying Large Formats. The cellar treasures include a highly prized vertical of Point Rouge Estate Chardonnay and an exclusive bottle of the one-time release of Chapeau Blanc, a single block Cabernet Franc sourced from their Oakville estate in Napa Valley.

Simply put, this lot has it all: a pair of elegant, unique timepieces and an immersion into the world of exclusive Swiss watchmaking and one of California’s greatest wine estates. Raise your paddle and take it home!

Insider's Info

Airfare to California and Switzerland is not included. All ground transportation to and from stated activities is included. Winners will receive two (2) Blancpain timepieces after their meeting with a Blancpain artist in Switzerland to customize them. The listed timepieces are as described and cannot be substituted. Main House in California will be stocked with breakfast items like fruit, yogurt, English muffins, coffee and juice. Due to the historical era of the Main House, it is not ADA accessible. Meals and beverages are only included as stated above. Any additional meals are at the winning bidders’ expense. Any additional meals are at the winning bidders’ expense.

Donor

Peter Michael Winery, Blancpain, Hôtel des Trois Couronnes and Restaurant Hôtel de Ville