A Divine Duet: Introducing the Lyric Wine Auction 2026 Honored Guests

The Lyric Wine Auction began in 1988, and with few interruptions it has taken place every three years since — nearly four decades of festive fundraising for all the efforts of the company. The event presents “an opportunity for a lot of creativity, and to share incredible wines,” says Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel, president of the Lyric Women’s Board, for whom the event is a signature initiative. “Above all… it’s about celebrating friendships and shared passions.”

This year’s edition, to be held on May 8 and 9, has a special twist — a pair of honored guest vintners, both major figures in the wine world, instead of the usual single honoree. The two winemakers give the event its unique moniker — A Divine Duet. “Really we can’t decide if we love Bordeaux or Burgundy more,” says Jenni Sorenson, a member of the Women’s Board and, with her husband, John Holmes, one of the weekend’s co-chairs. “They are the two most legendary wine producing regions in the world: Why don’t we have both?”

Representing France’s Bordeaux region is Pierre Lurton, proprietor of Château Cheval Blanc (as well as the storied Château d’Yquem), and, from Burgundy, the event will honor Erwan Faiveley, seventh generation head of Domaine Faiveley (and also owner of California’s Williams Selyem, a Russian River Valley titan).

Please read on, to learn more about these wine world stars:

Pierre Lurton of Château Cheval Blanc

Cheval Blanc rests on a storied plot of land that has seen grape production since Roman times. The estate has long been considered one of the top wineries in Bordeaux and is widely acknowledged to be the greatest producer in St. Emilion today. The blends here often consist of near-equal parts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc based on a mix of limestone and blue clay soils. The wines possess an ethereal blend of power and finesse, with exceptional aging capacity.

Pierre Lurton’s family has deep connections in Bordeaux and he has decades of experience in making some of the best wines ever produced. He also has the unique position of overseeing not one, but two of the greatest estates in the world. In addition to Château Cheval Blanc, he is also responsible for Château d’Yquem, home of the greatest dessert wines ever produced, making him among the most important figures in the world of wine. Located in Sauternes, Bordeaux, Château d’Yquem’s history goes back four centuries, and was denoted the only Premier Cru Supérieur in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Bottlings from both these storied producers will be in the Lyric Wine Auction 2026, a chance to acquire rare treasures.

Wine Auction 2026 presents an extraordinary opportunity to see firsthand how Lurton and his winemaking team continue to achieve magnificence, vintage after vintage.

Erwan Faiveley of Domaine Faiveley

A labor of love dating back to the 1825 creation of the family winery, Faiveley straddles the line between tradition and progress. Now helmed by sister Eve and brother Erwan, the estate continues its rigorous path of improvement. Both a domaine and a negociant, Faiveley excels whether they purchase grapes from esteemed growers or create it all themselves. 

Now in the 7th generation of family ownership, the winery employs numerous labor-intensive measures such as hand-picking plot by plot, sorting the grapes as they come in from the vineyards, and monitoring of each barrel as it progresses toward becoming the wine we love so much. The style is exciting, full of fruit and specific to each section of the land. The wines are everything you would expect from great Burgundy, yet somehow, much more. 

The family winery has also branched into ownership of the famous Russian River specialist Williams Selyem, with the intention of keeping the whole of this special winery intact. The reds and whites here mirror the grapes of Burgundy – Pinot Noir for the reds, Chardonnay for the whites. And the Faiveley wines, to be offered at auction (and served) on May 9 demonstrate the mastery of this storied Burgundy vigneron.

For more information, please visit lyricopera.org/wineauction