RARE WINES, STAGE FURNINSHINGS AND COSTUMES - EXCEPTIONAL BOTTLES AT THE BENEFIT AUCTION FOR THE TEATRO DEL MAGGIO MUSICALE FOUNDATION (17 MAY, 7 PM, FLORENCE). A PREVIEW TO “ALLE CORTE DEL VINO” (SAN CASCIANO VAL DI PESA, 19-20 MAY)

The protagonist is obviously Bacchus, but art will also have its role at the 7th edition of what has become the cult auction for Tuscan wines, “Alle Corte del Vino”, held as always in the beautiful 17th century villa of Prince Corsini in San Casciano Val di Pesa (19-20 May).
To inaugurate the event and to emphasize the link between wine and culture, actors Giancarlo and Emanuele Giannini will open the auction of costumes, set pieces, and 50 lots of wine that have been offered by some of the top winemakers in Italy at the Pagliere Medicee in Florence on May 17th at 7 PM. The earnings from this event will go to the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Foundation (for info and registration: http://www.maggiodivino.com/catalogo.aspx?lingua=2).
The auction will include such pieces as the sphinxes and the statue of Anubi from the set of the 1996 performance of Aida by Verdi (directed by Mariani), and the bathtub and the two cars in fiberglass (a Fiat 1100 and a Lancia Appia) that were used for the coronation of Poppea in 2000.
These works will be auctioned together with some of the most prestigious Italians wines of 2001: from the Rosso del Conte di Tasca d’Almerita to the Sagrantino di Montefalco “25 Anni” (magnum) di Caprai, from Ornellaia (double magnum) to Faro Palari, from the top wines of Planeta to San Leonardo (magnum and double magnum) of the Guerrieri Gonzaga family, from Granato di Elisabetta Foradori to Chianti Classico di Castello di Fonterutoli, passing on to Avvoltore (Moris Farms), Don Tommaso e Marsiliana (by the host of the event, Prince Corsini, both in double magnum bottles), Il Carbonaione (Podere Poggio Scalette), Tignanello (double magnum signed Antinori), Percarlo (San Giusto a Rentennano), Flaccianello della Pieve (Fontodi), Le Pergole Torte (Montevertine), Castello di Brolio, Sassicaia (Tenuta San Guido) and Casanuova di Nittardi.
Various wines of previous vintages will also be auctioned off: a double magnum by Cabreo “Il Borgo” 1985, two double magnums by Lupicaia 1994, a bottle of Krug Clos du Mesnil 1996, a magnum of Nozzole Il Pareto 1998, three magnums of Cerviolo Rosso 1998, a magnum of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio all’Oro Castello Banfi 1999. For the vintages between 2002 and 2006, there are numerous varieties of Turrita, Rosso di Sera, Tenuta di Trinoro, Galatrona, Tenuta di Valgiano, and Ben Ryè-Passito di Pantelleria Donnafugata.