Super Vintage Weekend

by Marques de Riscal on Friday, August 15, 2008

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Vinos de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal winery in Rioja, Spain, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts and Christie's are proud to host extraordinary epicurean decadence at the Marqués de Riscal's Super Vintage Weekend.  Throughout the celebration, The Luxury Collection will offer guests culinary delights prepared by Michelin-starred Chef Francis Paniego, a range of vintage Marqués de Riscal wines and the opportunity to attend a series of lectures on wine, regional art, design and architecture.  Idyllically set beneath the billowing titanium canopies of the Frank Gehry-designed hotel, the Super Vintage Weekend (http://www.luxurycollection.com/events ) begins Friday, October 24th, and continues through Sunday, October 26th, culminating with the sale of a unique Superlot that includes 131 Riscal vintages dating back to 1862.

The highlight of the weekend events will be a gala dinner and live charity auction, conducted by Christie's, featuring wines and exclusive Luxury Collection experiences from around the globe.  Wine aficionados from around the world are invited to bid on a range of rare and limited-edition lots, and curated experiences from The Luxury Collection's global destinations.  The featured Riscal Superlot includes one bottle of every available vintage dating back to 1861, released directly to the buyer from the historic wine library of the Marqués de Riscal. This marks the world's largest vertical wine collection ever released by a winery. Estimated proceeds ranging between € 80,000 and € 130,000 will be donated to charity.

Exclusive packages are available for global explorers interested in indulging in the three day experience, with prices starting at £1,926 (€2,495) per person based on two sharing a twin/double room.  The weekend package includes:

• Two nights accommodation at Hotel Marqués de Riscal
• Three days of epicurean delights, prepared by Michelin-starred Chef, Francis Paniego, accompanied by an extraordinary range of Riscal wines
• Two tickets to the gala dinner and live auction conducted by Christie's
• Opportunity to attend speaker sessions on wine and the region, visit vineyards and the historic Riscal cellars with the owners of the winery, plus alternative lectures on regional art, design and architecture
• A unique wine inspired wrap and massage, available throughout the weekend in the hotel's own Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa.

For visitors interested in attending only the gala dinner and Superlot Live Auction conducted by Christie's, a special package is available for  € 250.00 per person.   

Designed by Frank O. Gehry, the Hotel Marqués de Riscal is a world-renowned architectural landmark in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa regionof Spain.  From the sweeping pink and gold titanium canopy to the mirror-finished stainless steal, the heritage and natural beauty of the region is reflected in every angle of its remarkable façade, ideally merging a deep rooted wine-growing tradition with twenty-first century avant-garde design.

The 150th anniversary celebration began on June 28, 2008 with a Fine Wines auction at Christie's London.  The auction included Marqués de Riscal vintages from 1863, 1871, 1898, 1900, 1918, 1924, a magnum of 1938, a case of 1938, and magnums or bottles from 1945, 1946 1947, 1952, 1955, 1958, and 1964. 

To book or learn more about the weekend event, program details and reservations please visit: http://www.luxurycollection.com/events  or telephone + 34 945 180 888

 

For further press information contact Starwood Hotels & Resorts press office:
Brenda Zimmermann
PR Manager EAME – Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Brenda.zimmermann@starwoodhotels.com / Ph. +393316116577

Or

Vanessa Ferrer, PR Manager Hotel Marqués de Riscal
Vanessa.ferrer@luxurycollection.com / + 39 945 180 885

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection® is a selection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination's indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent décor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Today, The Luxury Collection is a glittering ensemble of more than 65 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in more than 26 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning hotels that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class in some of the most desired destinations in the world.   Most recently, Mystique, a Luxury Collection Resort, was honored with the 2008 Travel + Leisure Design Award for Best Small Resort in the world. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world's finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com.

 

 

 

About Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched AloftSM, and Element SM.  Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodpressclub.com.

About Vinos de los Herederos de Marqués de Riscal
Vinos de los Herederos de Marqués de Riscal has always been a pioneer in its field. In 1858 it became the first winery in Rioja region that produced wine using according to the Bordeaux system. In 1972 Marqués de Riscal was the first winery to promote the D.O. where the famous Marqués de Riscal white wines are made. It was also the first winery to create a wine of a new age: Barón de Chirel. Marqués de Riscal products can be found in more than 70 countries and its wines have earned some of the most distinguished international awards and acclaim as well as media recognition from professionals.

About Christie's: The World's Leading Art Business
Christie's is the world's leading art business with global auction sales in 2007 that totaled £3.1 billion/$6.3 billion.  This marks the highest total in company and in art auction history.  Christie's is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie's offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $80 million. Christie's has 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Zurich, Milan, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Hong Kong and Zurich. Most recently, Christie's has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai..  Christie's also offers its clients worldwide access to its sales through Christie's LIVE™, its unique, real-time online bidding service.

Christie's International Wine Department
Reported its best year ever in 2007, with a global auction total of $71,647,944/?36,003,991/€52,925,868.  With an unrivalled network of nine international sale centers that span across two continents, the Department is firmly at the front of the international wine auction markets. Christie's is the only international wine auctioneer to offer sales on both coasts of the United States, and in Europe, the only auction house to hold regular sales outside London
For further information, please contact Christie's PR department: 44 207 389 2664 or lashfield@christies.com or visit www.christies.com

 

 

About Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa
CAUDALIE, the French cosmetic niche brand was created in 1995 by Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas in collaboration with Dr. Vercauteren from the University of Bordeaux and President of World Polyphenol Group. In 1999, CAUDALIE offered its products a beautiful showcase creating the first Vinothérapie® Spa in the world, in the middle of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Bordeaux, France. The
adventure continued with the inauguration of leading Spas: in Sonoma Valley, in California and in 2003 the firm opened a beautiful Spa in the Relais Château San Maurizio, in the Vineyards of Piemont, Italy. In 2008 two new opening will take place, one in New York and the other one in Paris.
Implemented today in 28 countries all over the world, Caudalie sells millions of products of its more than 40 references, which efficiency (scientifically proven) is due to patented molecules from the grape-seed Polyphenol that are, 10,000 times more powerful than Vitamin E in fighting free radicals; the Resveratrol that stimulates cell renewal by 25 % and Viniferine, the most powerful anti dark spot on the market.

About Francis Paniego, Chef-advisor of the Gastronomic Restaurant
Francis Paniego, together with his mother Marisa, is in charge of the cuisine of both, the Echaurren and El Portal Restaurants, situated in the historic centre of the beautiful town of Ezcaray. After five generations of the family focused on the highest standards of traditional Riojan cuisine, the creativity of Francis Paniego, more based on the avant-garde cuisine, was awarded in 2005 with one Michelin Star.
The Echaurren Team and Francis Paniego are the Chef Advisors of the Marqués de Riscal Restaurant in Elciego. To ensure that this is carried out perfectly José Ramón Piñeiro, a young chef trained at the Echaurren and winning chef in La Rioja in 2004, as well as being Francis' right hand man in the current structure of the Echaurren, will be in charge of the kitchens and cuisine at the Marqués de Riscal restaurant