A toast to Lyric

The Lyric Wine Auction — this year dubbed “A Divine Duet” — is back with its signature blend of spectacular bottles and impactful philanthropy.

The splendid offerings on the Ken Pigott stage at the Lyric Opera House have always been the company’s calling card to the world. 

But since 1988, another kind of production has garnered a great deal of international attention as well. It’s the Lyric Wine Auction, one of the most dazzling dates on Chicago’s social calendar (and certainly the city’s most significant wine event of any kind). A signature initiative of Lyric’s Women’s Board, the event has evolved, survived the pandemic, and raised significant funds for Lyric for several decades now. What hasn’t changed is the festive environment — a sense that it’s a great party, for a great cause — and that it’s worth the wait. As with wine, the rarity of the auction is part of its appeal.

“There’s a lot of excitement about it, particularly since it’s only done every three years,” says Karen Z. Krehbiel, current president of the Women’s Board — and, for some time now, a leading force in the auction. “It’s an opportunity for a lot of creativity, and to share incredible wines, and above all it’s a really fun weekend. It’s about celebrating friendships and shared passions.”

The wine world’s book of record, Wine Spectator, named the Lyric event a “Top Charity Wine Auction,” and evidence backs that assessment. Since its inception, the event has brought in close to $15 million in support, a generous tally from the guests in attendance and those bidding from afar. The funds raised support all the efforts of the company — onstage productions, of course, but also programs like Lyric’s education and engagement efforts for children and adults across the community, the training of professional artists, and even the creation of new works.

This season’s edition, to be held May 8 and 9, promises to be every bit as stellar as in years past, and there are a couple of fun twists — literally. Krehbiel, and the event’s co-chairs Jenni Sorenson and John Holmes, have deemed the weekend “A Divine Duet.” That refers to two true firsts in the auction’s history: Not only are Sorenson and Holmes the first to co-chair as a couple, but also there will be two honored guests instead of the usual one — Chateau Cheval Blanc, from the Bordeaux region, and Domaine Faiveley, from Burgundy, will be honored.

“One reason we’re doing that is really because, at home, we can’t decide if we love Bordeaux or Burgundy more,” laughs Sorenson, who is also a member of the Women’s Board. “They are the two most legendary wine producing regions in the world, so we thought: Why don’t we have both?”

Representing Chateau Cheval Blanc is proprietor Pierre Lurton, an important figure in Bordeaux and beyond. Cheval Blanc rests on a storied plot of land that has seen grape production since Roman times, and the estate is widely acknowledged as the greatest producer in the St. Emilion region. Lurton’s family has been a key part of Bordeaux for centuries and today also owns the legendary Chateau d’Yquem, producer of perhaps the world’s finest sweet wines.

Erwan Faiveley’s ancestors created the family winery in 1825 and today the house produces wines from the most exclusive areas of Burgundy. With his sister, Eve — they represent the 7th generation of ownership — Erwan and his team are known for hand-picking plot by plot, sorting the grapes as they come in from the vineyards, and precise monitoring of each barrel. They have continued their old-school approach in the New World, as proprietors of California’s Williams Selyem, a Russian River Valley operation also known for its exquisite Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

“The significance of this event is evidenced by the honorees we’ve had over the years — it’s truly just a who’s-who from the wider wine world. And this is really a banner year,” says Holmes. “Jenni and I have known Pierre Lurton for at least 15 years, and he’s about as significant as you get, running two iconic chateau. We’ve become friends with Erwan more recently, though we’ve known the wines for a long time. It probably goes without saying that both these houses make extraordinary wines.”

An assortment of both will be served to attendees at both nights of the weekend — first during a walk-around tasting event Friday evening in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer, sponsored by Taittinger champagne and featuring wines from a stellar list of featured vintners. That’s to be followed by a smaller VIP dinner to toast the honored guests. The next evening, a fully formal affair with dinner on the Lyric stage, will feature special bottles from Cheval Blanc and Faiveley and, of course, the auction itself, to be called by Ben Ferdinand and Dale Salentiny of the Hart Davis Hart wine company.

Highlights in the auction include exceptionally generous donations from the major wine regions of the world — a tour and tasting at Napa legend Quintessa; a visit to Piedmont titan Gaja; extravagant tours and tastings at some of the leading wineries in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, to give just a taste. From the honorees themselves come a number of one-of-a-kind lots — a visit for eight at Cheval Blanc (and, for good measure, another at Chateau d’Yquem); and a mixed case of 2020 Grand Cru bottles from Faiveley (or perhaps you’ll be interested in an Imperial [eight standard bottles] of their 2005 Clos Vougeot?). 

Krehbiel, who began her term as president in 2024, is quick to note the efforts of her co-chairs as well as fellow Women’s Board members. “To be able to share the incredible wines that Jenni and John have secured for us is truly a pleasure,” she says. “And this Women’s Board is really a wonderful combination of talents — businesswomen, creatives, philanthropists, all of them with a wide range of interests throughout our community. It’s going to be an exceptional weekend.”