Last winter, members of the Wilmington Wine Guild scoured the globe in search of two bottles of every wine on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list for 2013. With a little luck, they could be yours for $100. “It’s the first time it’s been done by anyone, ever,” says wine-guild member Bill Stimson. Actually, it’s the second time—sort of. The first batch of 100 bottles was auctioned during the MidAtlantic Wine + Food Festival in May. The second batch will be raffled off on Aug. 16, with proceeds to benefit local charities. The idea was hatched among friends on New Year’s Eve, who sent members of the guild on the hunt a couple of weeks later. About 80 of the wines were available in the United States, Stimson says. The remaining 20—including the exclusive Olivier Ravoire Gigondas 2011, sold only at the winery in France, and a $10 bottle available only in Italy—were located by friends abroad. With retail prices of some bottles soaring after they’ve been named to the Top 100, “It’s kind of a moving target,” Stimson says. The suggested retail price of just over $5,000 translates to a fair market value of about $5,500—and the undying envy of your friends. That’s not a bad return on your investment. For tickets, email Stimson at billinde@aol.com. “Now, we’ll have to find something else that’s never been done before,” he says.
